ANKY N KURTIS TRAVEL

疫情過後，航空界的復甦也比較慢，只是比疫情其間好了很多。疫情其間，多間航空公司也因沒收入來源，導致倒閉，又或要尋找新投資者，就好像：泰航、勝安航空，香港航空及國泰港龍航空。其實國泰港龍航空的飛機去了哪裡，大家又知道嗎？國泰港龍航空的機隊就只有空中巴士的A320，A321及A330-300飛機。在疫情前，他們亦訂了A321NEO。其實，大家有可能已經坐過了~

Post-pandemic, the path to recovery in the aviation industry is a long one, but there have already been improvements.  Due to financial loss, a lot of airlines ceased operations; or they had to seek new investors.  Examples of such airlines include Thai Airways, Silk Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Dragon.  Do you know where did Cathay Dragon's aircarft go?  Cathay Dragon's fleet consist of only A320, A321 and A330-300; orders for the A321NEOs were also placed during the pandemic.  You might have actually flown on one, but did not realise it.

國泰港龍航空的A320有一部份是給了香港快運，而A321NEO及一部份A330-300飛機就送回國泰航空執飛，亦是國泰機組人員最不喜歡的，因為多了飛機，航線也多了，機型也多了，令他們記得的東西也多了。大家應該也知道國泰港龍的A330有2種，但是商務艙也是不可平躺的，而其實一種就是跟國泰沒分別的A33P (座位配置：24個商務艙293個經濟艙)，另一種就是國泰曾經有過的A33B (座位配置：42個商務艙及265個經濟艙)。Anky仔這次是特別選擇的，看看飛機回了國泰有沒有分別。

Some of the A320s in the Cathay Dragon fleet were given to Hong Kong Express, while the A321NEOs and A330-300 were returned to Cathay Pacific.  This is actually an unwelcoming move for the crew as there are more to memorise with the new aircraft types.  As you may have already known, there are 2 configurations on Cathay Dragon's A330s - one with angled-beds in business class (similar to Cathay's A33P with 24 J and 293 Y seats); while the other is configured like Cathay's previous A33B (with 42 J and 265 Y seats).  I chose to fly with the latter (A33B) to see if anything has changed after being returned to Cathay Pacific.

首先，飛機的名字是沒有改變，也是B-LBD。座位配置也是一樣。但飛機的港龍航空標誌就有紅色變回了國泰的綠色。空服也由港龍的改了國泰空服。

First off, the aircraft registration remained unchanged (B-LBD); so is the seat configuration.  The only thing that changed was the livery and logo, which apparently reverted back to the Cathay Pacific livery.

• A330-300 B-LBD (A33B)，大約9歲 approximately 9-year old

如果大家也想試一下，Anky仔建議大家可以坐坐CX751/CX708 香港/曼谷/香港。因為這航班固定是用A33B的，而後一班的CX701/CX704就是B777-300飛機而已，所以最後兩班的曼谷/香港也是區域性的飛機。

If you're interested in trying out this configuration, you can book yourself on CX751/CX708 between Hong Kong and Bangkok, since the A33B is consistently used for these flights.  The last flights out of Bangkok (CX701 & CX704) use the 777-300, so you'll also expect the regional configuration.

貴賓室 Lounge

泰國曼谷有3間寰宇一家的貴賓室可使用。包括是國泰自營的貴賓室。他們位置G登機門附近，因為國泰的飛機是停在G區比較多。

There are 3 Oneworld lounges in Bangkok, with one of them being the Cathay Pacific lounge, which is located near G gates.  This is because that is where Cathay's flights normally park.

第二間就是日本航空的。如果大家時間可以的話，也可以去去看。日本航空的貴賓室因為是讓日航的貴賓使用，所以只有2段時間是開放的。
The second lounge is operated by Japan Airlines.  It is a lounge that I'd also suggest visiting but since it is catered for JAL's guests, the lounge is only open 2 times a day.

時間：05:35-09:45 及 19:05-00:25
Hours: 05:35-09:45 & 19:05-00:25

第三間就是卡達航空的。開放時間比日本航空的貴賓室多，不竟航班的數目也日航的多。
The 3rd lounge is Qatar's.  It is operated more frequently than JAL's, since Qatar operates more flights.

時間：05:00-09:40 ; 16:00-20:40 ; 22:30-02:00 
Hours: 05:00-09:40; 16:00-20:40; 22:30-02:00

登機門 Boarding Gate

登機門是在G3。由國泰的貴賓室前往登機門只需10分鐘左右，但因為飛機上一段已經慢了一小時，所以CX708也晚點20分鐘左右。下登機門前，地勤人員會核對姓名及航班。所有資料正確才可以下去的。國泰在登機門會分了兩部份的座位：一部份是經濟艙，另一部份是國泰銀卡或以上及商務艙旅客坐的。前往商務艙區會有地勤人員看登機證。

We boarded through gate G3, which is a 10-minute walk from the Cathay Pacific lounge.  Since the inbound flight was late for an hour, so CX708 was subsequently delayed for 20 minutes.  Before proceeding to the boarding gate, each passenger's name and flight will be verified.  The boarding lanes are divided into 2 sections: one for economy passengers, and the other for elites and those in business.  

登機 Boarding

我們大約17:05左右登機，登機也會先安排商務艙區旅客先行登機，直至沒人才放行經濟艙區。商務艙使用第一條登機橋進入飛機。區域性A330-300航班的商務艙以2-2-2座位配置，有7排，Anky仔也是選了最後一排，結果旁邊是沒人的。

Boarding started at 17:05, with business passengers among the first to board.  Business guests would board via the first jetbridge.  The business class in the regional A330-300 is in a 2-2-2 layout across 7 rows.  I was seated at the last row and was lucky to have the seat next to me empty.

個人電視系統跟長途航班是沒分別，只是大小不同。餐桌就放電視下。USB插頭就在個人電視旁。環球插頭就在你的座位下方。起飛及降落不可使用環球插頭。餐單就在兩個座位中間擺放著。由於Anky仔旁邊沒人，所以餐單只有一份，其他兩個人的就有兩份。所以看餐單也可以知道你旁邊有沒有人了~~

The IFE system is identical with those you'll find on long haul flights, with the only difference being the screen dimensions.  The tray table is stored below the screen, with the USB power port being next to it.  An universal power port is also found under the seat, which could not be used during takeoff and landing.  You'll find the menu between 2 seats.  Since no one was seated next to me, there was only 1 menu.  You can tell if there's anyone next to you by looking at how many menus there are.

主餐也是有3個可選，跟其他航線一樣 ，香港風情，西餐及泰國餐。Anky仔就會選擇泰國餐，因為有咖哩可以食，同時飛機餐也是泰國上餐的。空服人員也是在起飛前記錄旅客的主餐選擇及飲料選擇。曼谷香港線是少於3小時的航班，所以飛機餐服務不是全式服務。

The main dish comes with 3 choices, just like other routes, they consist of Hong Kong style, Western meal and Thai cuisine.  I chose the Thai option since there is curry, and that the meals were loaded in Thailand.  Meal orders are taken before takeoff.  Since the flight time is just under 3 hours, there is no full meal service.

服務 Service

空服會派發歡迎飲料及熱毛巾給商務艙旅客。在飛機滑行期間收回杯子及毛巾，讓飛機安全起飛。另外，在播放安全須知時，飛機便後退推出機位，其滑行至跑道。

The cabin crew handed out welcome drinks and hot towels to business class guests and they were taken away during taxi.  We then pusehd back from the gate while the safety demonstration was being played.

起飛後 After Takeoff

空服人員便使用香港的母語廣東話歡迎閣下乘搭，客服經理再使用英文希望旅客投入國泰服務。飛機餐於起飛後40分鐘便派發，但由於空服人員數目減少，旅客等待的時間也變長。真的希望國泰可想想機組人員的辛苦！空服人員不會推出餐車派餐，而是手送出來。餐盤上有前菜，麵包，水，飲料，主餐，餐具及消毒紙巾。主餐後，空服人員便問飲料及冰淇淋的選擇。冰淇淋有3種，也是泰國上的，所以也有泰文字樣。

We were warmly welcomed with Cantonese, the official language of Hong Kong.  Later on, we were also greeted with English.  Meal service began 40 minutes after take off but since there were fewer crew onboard, it took longer than usual to have our meals served.  Instead of having a meal trolley, meals were served in a single tray.  On the tray, you'll find appetisers, bread, water, drinks, a main dish, cutleries and sanitising wipes.  After the meal, we were asked our preference for the drink and ice cream.  The ice cream comes in 3 flavours, which were also loaded in Bangkok, so you'll find Thai writings on the package.

服務於降落前大約1小時10分鐘完成 ，空服人員便關閉及調暗機艙的環境燈光，讓旅客可以休息一會。在降落前30分鐘空服人員才開回燈光，讓機組人員檢查乘客的安全，讓飛機安全降落。

Meal service concluded 1 hour and 10 minutes before landing, after which the cabin lights were dimmed for us to have a chance to rest.  30 minutes prior to landing, the lights were back on for a safety check and most importantly, a safe arrival into Hong Kong.