Hong Kong Express bursts with local flavour, just like its menu

Passengers have a wealth of choices when flying the three hours between Hong Kong and Japan, from full service airlines like Cathay, ANA and JAL, to a variety of low-cost carriers from both countries. Keen to try out Hong Kong Express, a Cathay sister airline since 2019, their PR team invited me to fly from Hong Kong to Takamatsu as a guest of the airline, which included a front row seat, a checked bag, U-First airport priority and a few items off the inflight menu.

The U-First priority check0in lane worked really well, with only four other people in front of me, and at check-in I learned that boarding would be from one of the bus gates on the ground level of Hong Kong airport. I’d actually never been to this section before, and it’s quite different to the airy atmosphere in the rest of the airport. 

The downstairs bus gates are a little grim, but they’re very close to where you enter departures. Image: John Walton

There’s nothing down there apart from seats for the bus gates, but on the plus side, it’s pretty much right underneath the area you enter after security, so it was quick to get to. With just half an hour to wait until boarding, I plonked myself down on one of the chairs and people-watched rather than head down the long Y of the main concourse to one of the lounges my credit card gets me into.

The bus to the plane wasn’t full, and neither was the flight: I estimate perhaps a 20 percent load, which of course is always a passenger experience plus. HKE’s PR team had pre-selected me a seat in row 1 at the bulkhead, but I wanted to see just how tight their seating was and so called up customer services to move myself back to row 3, and indeed to buy myself a very inexpensive extra seat to ensure that my large carryon would be allowed on board. (As it happened, the flight was so empty that nobody was checking, and there was no overhead bin space issue whatsoever.)

HKE visually separates the exit rows and front row seats with red headrests, which is smart given that it upcharges for them. Image: John Walton

On boarding the 8-year-old A320neo from the airstairs, I was struck by the pleasing purpleness of it all, from the livery view, to the crew uniforms and the cheery welcome, to the flashes of purple on the headrest areas and the snazzy carpet. The cabin was very much on the efficient and cheerful side of inexpensive in aesthetic.

This might sound weird, but I really liked the carpet. Image: John Walton

The pitch and overall space were very decent for a low-cost carrier and, genuinely, I had more space for my shins and knees than I’ve had on many a European full-service airline in their Eurobusiness sections. With the recline, I was pretty comfortable for economy on this three-hour flight. 

I found the seat pitch, recline, shin clearance and seatback bucket sculpting above average. Image: John Walton

I had understood that HKE chose Recaro SL3510 seats, but these didn’t look like Recaros, and a seatmaker representative confirmed it.

Whosever they are, though, they were comfortable and I particularly liked the relatively high tray mechanism.

I did miss a power outlet or even USB socket — three hours is quite the long flight to drain your phone when you know that you have to present a QR code for immigration and customs on arrival in Japan. I always carry a power bank, but power in the paid upgrade seats would be a valuable addition for many passengers.

HK Express’ menu is, therefore, the primary form of inflight entertainment on board, and it’s excellent.

Local options included a siu mai and curry fish ball combo, the Hong Kong style egg waffle, sweet red bean soup, milk bubble tea, and more. 

A Hong Kong-focussed menu was smart, and very tempting. Image: John Walton

Their PR team selected me three options for this 0925 departure: the French toast that is the cover star of the menu, the mushroom pasta, and the soup bursting dumplings. 

French toast is the star of the HKE menu. Image: John Walton

The French toast was pretty good.

The French toast reheated well and tasted fine. Image: John Walton

The mushroom pasta (something I’d never have chosen) was dry given that the sauce was inexplicably not mixed in with the pasta, but the soup-bursting dumplings were great. 

Alas, HKE’s mushroom pasta was not a success. Image: John Walton

I love shengjianbao — if you’re in Shanghai, find a branch of Yang’s Fried Dumpling — and these were honestly pretty good representations given that they were reheated in an airline oven. I do wish there had been a little packet of vinegar with them, though.

It seems my excitement for shengjianbao got the better of my camera’s focusing ability… Image: John Walton

The crew passed through with duty free and to take orders for food and drinks several times during the flight, and soft drinks were very reasonably priced for the sky at 25 HKD (roughly US$/EUR3).

Soft drinks and snacks were reasonably priced. Image: John Walton

On arrival into Takamatsu, the joy of a smaller airport with just a handful of gates compared with one of Japan’s big arrivals hubs was very clear. There was practically zero taxi time.

Tiny Takamatsu airport was a highlight. Image: John Walton

Moreover, there was almost no walk to immigration (nor any queue there at all), and one single baggage belt where my suitcase came out first in very short order.

Just one bag claim carousel, and mine was out first. Image: John Walton

If I’d bought this ticket, it would have been 480 HKD, roughly US$/EUR60, for the lead-in no-frills fare, and 2-3 times that to include seat selection, baggage, U-First priority and an inflight meal. For an efficient, cheerful flight, I’d happily pay that.

I miss the iconic old livery with the Hong Kong skyline, but this purple is cheery and stands out from the crowd. Image: John Walton

Hong Kong Express provided tickets to enable this review, but all views are independent and those of the author.

Related Articles:

• Cathay refines mini-suite category to near-perfection with Aria
• No frills, low cost, Peach offers nothing more or less on CTS-SDJ
• Enjoy a blast from the past aboard JAL 787-8 on TSA-HND
• Air Do delivers AvGeek fun and personal touches on venerable 767
• ANA wows with 9min boarding, generous legroom on domestic 777
• Positive JAL A350-1000 experience tarnished by IFE snafu

Featured image credited to John Walton

The post Hong Kong Express bursts with local flavour, just like its menu appeared first on Runway Girl.