Talking Travel: The All Hong Kong Edition

Important commodities note for travelers: Brent Crude hit USD 50 per barrel late last week. That means that the low airfares we've been enjoying to just about everywhere could be coming to an end in the second half of this year. If you're thinking about gong somewhere, plan it sooner rather than later. 

Hong Kong Airlines is about as bare bones as they come. They’re not a low-cost airline, not in the way that a company like Air Asia is, such as seats with no fabric covers, food and seats that must be pre-purchased, and a pat-down before the flight to make sure you’re not sneaking any snacks on board.

But Hong Kong Airlines, which is owned by Hainan Airlines, offers no entertainment of any kind. No monitors. No audio. Nothing. That’s pretty amazing – I can’t remember the last time I saw an airline that had no screens or sound jacks whatsoever. That also means that of course, there’s no in-seat power, and in keeping with tradition among airlines that serve China, there are no ventilation ports either. There are, however, reading lights, so there is that.

As I’ve noted in the past, Hong Kong Airlines reminds me of Dragonair, now Cathay Dragon, in the 1990s. Except that even then, Dragonair gave you Haagen Dazs ice cream at the end of lunches and dinners, and Hong Kong Airlines gives you inedible glop. However, I’m glossing over an important point here: my roundtrip ticket to Hong Kong, including tax, was about RMB 800. Yeah, that’s why. 

I just learned something important: by buying Airport Express tickets, rather than using an existing Octopus card, you save at least HKD 20 over the normal roundtrip fare, paying HKD 180 for both ways. The roundtrip tickets are valid for one month; if you happen to be going back to the airport same-day, they’re even less expensive. 

Visiting Terminal 2, for those of us who don't regularly fly on Hainan Airlines or Skyteam airlines, is a refreshing change from the cavalry charge that is Terminal 3. Dining and other options are certainly fewer, but lines for customs and security clearance, especially early in the morning, are a small fraction of what they are in the larger terminal. Considering Hainan's massive and expanding network, flying out of Terminal 2 becomes a big bonus, especially for people who don't want to spend a lot of time in line. 

More stories by this author here.

Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
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Photo: Wikimedia/Alex Chan