ANKY N KURTIS TRAVEL

在疫情前，Anky仔以前就好喜歡從香港飛往台北的。大家也知道以前就只有國泰航空，國泰港龍航空，長榮航空，香港航空及中華航空幾間公司執飛。大家不多不少應該也坐過吧。現在的港台線還加了香港快運及大灣區航空 。這次，Anky仔先帶大家去看看國泰航空台北回香港的航線吧。Anky仔就覺得服務變差了，大家也看看吧。

Taipei was my favourite destination before COVID.  As you may've already known, only a handful of airlines operate this route, namely Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, EVA Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and China Airlines.  At present, 2 new airlines have joined the fierce competition, and they are Hong Kong Express and Greater Bay Area Airlines.

在2023年3月，國泰航空就每天只有3玨飛機來往香港及台北，分別是CX488/489、CX494/495及CX402/479。前2班飛機是早上飛機，只有CX402/479是晚上的飛機，而機型方面，如果大家想試一下國泰航空的新飛機就可以選搭CX488/489，通常也是A321NEO飛機執飛。CX494/495就有時候是B777-300ER，有時是A350飛機。而CX402/479就大部份時候也是用A350-1000飛機了。

As of March 2023, Cathay Pacific only operates 3 daily flights to Taipei and they are: CX488/489, CX494/495 and CX402/479.  The first 2 flights are daytime flights whereas the thrid is an evening flight.  CX488/489 are usually operated by the newest A321NEO; CX494/495 are split between the 777-300ER and A350; and CX402/479 are largely flown by the A350-1000.

國泰航空在台北桃園機場第一航廈辦理登機手續，而國泰航空在台北桃園機場也有自己的貴賓室，但是，因為疫情及維修問題，Anky仔坐的時候還是在關閉的狀態。所以大家也看到貴賓室邀請卡上是寫著歡迎你使用環亞貴賓室的。地勤人員也會提醒你及通知你貴賓室的位置。

Check-in counters for Cathay Pacific at Taipei Taoyuan Airport can be found in terminal 1.  Cathay Pacific operates their own lounge at Taoyuan Airport but it was closed at the time of my flight due to ongoing maintenance.  Therefore, you'll receive a lounge pass for you to use at the Plaza Premium Lounge.  You'll also be notified by the check-in staff.

環亞貴賓室就不多說了，因為一樣也是人很多，食物就不太多，味道也一般了。當天的CX495是使用B5登機門，與疫情前的一樣。前段航班CX494因桃園機場空域繁忙，導致飛機晚到。幸好，CX495是準時的。飛機是執飛B777-300ER，是有頭等艙的飛機，但由於港台線是不賣頭等艙位置，所以飛機的頭等艙是商務艙，但頭等艙位置通常是預留給鑽石卡旅客，所以大家如果不是鑽石卡，就可以不用想了。當天的頭等艙全有人，還有一些鑽石卡旅客也坐了商務艙座位......

There isn't much to write about the Plaza Premium Lounge since it was packed and the food quality was just average with limited choice.  Our flight CX495 boarded through gate B5, as was the case before COVID.  The incoming flight (CX494) came in late due to the busy airspace but fortunately CX495 departed on time.  This flight was operated by a 777-300ER, which is the version configured with First Class cabin.  Since First Class isn't sold on Hong Kong - Taipei flights, the cabin is reserved exclusively for Diamond members, though the service received would still be that of business class.  On my particular flight, the first class cabin was occupied, and there were even Diamond members in the business cabin.

• 座位：25K (商務艙第二區最後兩排的右邊靠窗位置)

跟其他航線一樣，餐單和枕頭已經預先放在你的桌子上及座位上。主餐上，因港台線是超短途航班，所以只有兩個選擇，分別是中式及西式。當天的中餐由於有臘腸，所以很多旅客也不會選擇。大家想想看，金卡本來是有優先點餐的，但當天沒有這個服務，只有鑽石卡有優先點餐，就知道大家有多麼的不喜歡中式了，國泰航空也應該改改餐單了。

Same as other Cathay Pacific flights, a menu and pillow were placed on my seat before boarding.  As for the main dish, since it was only a short flight, there were only 2 options - Chinese or Western.  It is quite obvious that the Chinese option, which contains Chinese sausage, is not a popular since only Diamond members were offered to have their orders taken first.  Cathay Pacific should think of ways to improve their menus.

空服人員在大部份商務艙旅客登機後派發歡迎飲料。艙務長也跟著派發熱毛巾。歡迎飲料方面並沒提供特色飲料 -- Cathay Delight，空服人員說是沒貨了......

Welcome drinks were offered after most business class guests were settled, followed by hot towels.  Disappointingly, Cathay's signature beverage, Cathay Delight, was not available on this flight.

飛機也準時的離開停機坪。當天飛行時間是1小時15分鐘，飛機起飛後，空服人員就開始派發餐點，台北線跟以前一樣也是一盤方式上。只是空服會不斷說沒有西餐，只有中餐的句子。麵包也是只有一款。在吃飛機餐的時間，沒有空服會在通道的，所以有事要他們就要按空服燈。

在一小時多的旅程，令我感到有點失望的不是飛行時間太短，很快下飛機，而是選擇飛機餐的數量真的付我傻眼。其實多做一些研究及國泰是大公司，為何西式餐點比率只有那麼少？中式可以上了一些大部份旅客也不吃的東西？連鑽石卡也沒餐選的航班，你會覺得這是一間五星級航空公司的服務？又有注意及尊重高級會員嗎？如果你是沒身份的旅客感覺又是怎樣？我覺得國泰自己要先想清楚了。

飛機最後早了5分鐘抵達香港，停在卡達航空B777-300ER旁邊，也跟大家說這台飛機以前也是國泰的B777-300ER飛機來的。