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KA 875 PVG - HKG
Clear Skies, Air Traffic Delays?
Flying in China these days can be a very stressful experience. With sudden airspace closures and air corridor restrictions, delays can quickly spiral out of control despite clear weather. 10 May seemed to be a picture-perfect day in Shanghai, and I hoped for the best as the taxi pulled into the airport.
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No Delays
The check-in agent informed me the flight is expected to depart on schedule. Hope that comes true. The whole check-in process was quite quick and I was ready to head air-side in a jiffy.
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Pudong is a decent plane spotting airport, but since the windows slope outwards and there is an annoying safety bar in the way, I had to go underneath the bar to bend in an awkward way to get to the window surface. Otherwise, a bad glare would result.
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CX Lounge
I was travelling in Business Class today, so I headed upstairs to the Cathay Pacific Lounge for a snack and to explore the lounge a bit. Just past the entrance, there was a self-serve bar with a huge magazine and newspaper rack. The selection was extensive.
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With so many flights between Shanghai and Hong Kong, the lounge was quite busy. I refrained from taking too many photos out in the open pit. The chairs were short and there wasn't too much privacy, but it was comfortable and bright. There were a few rows of computer desks at the back, where I sat down to check the flight timings once again.
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Today's flight would be operated by a tiny A320 jet.
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Business Class was full today. The seats are comfortable and wide, unlike Cathay's claustrophobic herringbone layout. The seats faced the front, which meant easy access to the window, but a little more troublesome to reach the aisle for the lavatory. The catering was not downsized though. The food tasted quite good and the portions were sufficient.
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I waited a bit for the ice cream to defrost before digging the spoon into it. It was a fairly clear day along the eastern Chinese coast anyway, which kept me busy looking out for views and taking pictures.
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The lights dimmed and the window shades drawn down. This was a bit weird as it as a late afternoon flight.
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We approached the airport from the east, flying above the city along the way. Luckily I chose a left window seat. The suburb of Shatin soon came into view.
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Although it was reaching sunset and light was starting to fade, Hong Kong's tallest building was still visible, reflecting the setting sun's rays.
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We landed at 19:01, 4 minutes earlier than scheduled, despite a 5 minute departure delay. It was a good day.
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