En route to a friends bucks party in Bali, following a very pleasant sleep in Cathay Pacific’s excellent First Class cabin, I chose to visit and review ‘The Wing’ First Class Lounge using my One World Emerald status prior to boarding this five hour Cathay Dragon Economy Class flight to Denpasar.
Cathay Dragon KA350
Hong Kong (HKG) to Denpasar Bali (DPS)
Depart: 12:30
Arrive: 17:40
Duration: 4:50
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
Class: Economy
Seat: 35C
Points And Cost?
Points: 10,000 Asia Miles
Cost: AU$72.30
Usually, I’m adamant about not using points for Economy redemptions however the cash price for a one-way ticket was a staggering AUD$1,199, so I transferred 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards points to my Asia Miles account at a 1:1 transfer rate and happily covered the AU$72.30 on taxes.
Seat Selection And Seat
Holding One World Emerald Status, the entire Economy Cabin was available for me to choose (for free), so I selected 35C the aisle seat in the exit row in the last cabin of the Cathay Dragon A330. Like most exit row seats, with fixed armrests, what was once an 18-inch wide seat feels a little snug.
After taking off in 35C, I moved to 35A, and with no one behind me, indulged in a full 33 inches of pitch with my feet up. If I needed to sleep on this flight, 35A is where I’d want to be – if I couldn’t lie across a full four seats in an empty Economy cabin.
Entertainment And Wifi
After two long haul Cathay Pacific flights earlier in the month, I’d almost exhausted my Cathay entertainment wish list. I spent half the flight writing and then watched Indiana Jones And The Raiders Of The Lost Ark, a part of their classics selection. Unfortunately, the screen at 35A was quite loose and kept falling down towards the floor. No wifi was offered on the flight.
Food And Drink
I wasn’t offered a menu on the flight and simply replied yes to the first option I was presented – chicken. The chicken tasted Asian but, interestingly, was served with penne pasta and steamed vegetables alongside a cold potato salad and a bread roll. I didn’t eat the roll or the potato dish but quite enjoyed the chicken. I was offered but refrained from drinking alcohol, opting for a Diet Coke instead.
Service
I was greeted by two different flight attendants and was gifted a pen to fill out my Indonesian arrivals card which was a lovely touch. Meal service was swift and disembarking the plane was pleasant. Other than those fleeting moments there wasn’t a lot of interaction with the crew.
Ambience And Amenities
Cathay Dragon’s cabin is perfectly pleasant, although it was a little cold. An empty cabin always provides for a less stressful flight, with constant access to bathrooms and a calm and comparatively quiet cabin.
Good Flight?
Aside from my screen falling occasionally, my Cathay Dragon Economy flight from Hong Kong to Denpasar was as good an Economy experience as I’ve had. At just under five hours, a greeting, a film and a bit of palatable grub are about all you need to get through it. I do, however, find it hard to gauge how the flight could cost $1,199!
Have also found a Cathay Dragon flight from Da Nang to Hong Kong the most expensive of all the Asian flights I have booked. Will be interested to see if it is much better than the others!