Random J trip to Poland via South Africa

[Cessna 180]

CX 270 AMS HKG

 

[Cessna 180]

The next morning, I was up early and hoofed around the city on my own. I ended up at East Kowloon and found where the ‘In town’ check in was and noted that the whole station seemed pretty quiet for 7-8 o’clock in the morn. Back to the Butterfly and we got ready and took our bags to reception and just wandered down to the water front. This was the last day of our trip and We were on the QF30 and GF was on the 98. We didn’t really feel like doing anything on this day. We had managed to waste time and it was nearly midday. I was looking longingly at the InterContinental and was kind of wishing that I had lashed out for our last night. We looked at each other and said “is it too early to go to the airport” in true AFF er style.?! Well in hindsight, we wished we went earlier. What a fun afternoon was in front of us…

Now one thing that I had become increasingly annoyed about in the preceding days was the lack of connectivity to Qantas from overseas. I don’t have international calling option on my Telstra pre paid and I don’t really see that I need it. I also didn’t feel the need to line up and buy a local sim card in Europe. After a few days without one we kind of did not even notice not having one.
I can Whats app or messenger call, or even use an iphone to ring using internet for work and friends anywhere in the world. Not Qantas however. I didn’t even bother with the online message thing from results I have read about here. There had been a reward seat on the QF30 showing on my flight for several days. I tried to twitter them and a day later they came back to me asking to confirm everything that I had just written before they could do anything. I then confirmed this and they wanted me to confirm that I was authorised to make changes to the booking…. No big deal, it just meant I had to wait in MEL for a few hours whilst GF arrived via BNE.
Anyway, arriving at In town check in, expecting they would be unable to do anything either, I was incredibly surprised by the understanding and keenness of the lady there to acquiesce my request. She was on the phone to someone straight away and a bit of back and forth and two boarding tickets for QF30 in our hands. Winning. And thankyou HK lovely check in Lady.

On to the near empty train from the empty station to alight at the fairly empty check in counters. No one from Qantas in sight so the three hour rule must be an actual thing here. Thank goodness for Intown. Through the near empty immigration and security to a pleasantly not so empty but not too crowded departures area. It was almost 1400 by this time. Only 4.5 hours till boarding…..
So we followed the signs to airport lounge and ended up at the joint entry for J and F at The Wing. I wanted to enter via the plush red chairs, so I was not sure if I was in the correct place. I discovered afterward that we had come the long way around. No matter, I was to leave and re enter a bit later. As we had not had breakfast, straight into The Haven for something to eat.

 

[Cessna 180]

Streets of HK and people lining up for masks

 

[Cessna 180]

West Kowloon InTown train stop. Could anybody suggest what this would normally be like around lunch time? Or perhaps it is just a quiet time of day normally? There were five people in total who jumped on and probably a similar amount already in our carriage.

 

[Cessna 180]

This was a proper F class restaurant, quite intimate. Probably about one third full. Some starters and the obligatory French Fizz and we repaired back out to the main lounge with the big wing chairs.
I wished to explore the airport a bit and GF was content to just relax and enjoy the surroundings. It was at this point I suggested she try the Cabanas. I was not even sure myself exactly what they were. THE biggest bathroom ever. Only downside was one is precluded from taking any drinks other than water.
I headed out the main gate past the welcoming plush red Chesterfields (which I ended up not bloody sitting at all) and down toward the long corridor of gates. I made my way down the escalator to the train and in the direction of The Pier. I was here in 2016 and only visited the F section so I thought I would check out the J today seeing as that was open only.

On arrival I was met straight away by a very excellent hostess who straight away apologised that the F was shut. Without me saying anything she was escorting me to a “special area reserved for our Emerald and First guests”. This was just a little section at the far end near the windows. I thanked her very much but said I was happy to wander around a bit. She said they had some better wines there and she could bring me some food if required.
I had a look around and just went back and selected a glass of the “good” red and took a perch in the main section. I probably should have written down more of the wines or taken photographs. I guess to me it does not really matter. If it is something, I cannot get at home I like to try it and either I like it, or I do not.
I took a perch in the main section and contemplated how this and the Wing F were around a third full and the two other J lounges were shut. Perhaps the Wing J was packed? I never ended up getting there. We should have left town at about 0900 and spent the entire day here… Haha.

I decided to commence the long walk back to The Wing. I like to walk at a decent clip and I would say allow at least ten-fifteen minutes without stopping. On the way past gate 29, the 787 that we would be going on was already parked. I think it was around 1600 at this time and I still wanted a Cabana and a quick visit to QF!
I found the correct entrance to Wing this time and enquired at The Haven if they could deliver some food to my outside chair. They told me they were unable to serve out there but if I was to order from them, they would bring it to the door, and I could pick it up from there when it was ready.
The Cabana: I have never seen such an impressive bathroom. A giant bath with a three head shower and a plush, comfy couch! After all this and a perusal of the snacks at the buffet it was around 1730 and we wished to go and check out the QF lounge prior to boarding at 1830.

This is another great space. Really, one needs more than one flight to fully explore and enjoy HKG airport. It is almost like a destination of its own. Also, quite empty. It seems that either the HK airport has an excess of space in the lounges or the Corona virus is really making a dent in things. When we were taxxiing out to the runway a bit later this question was answered when I observed just how many CX planes were parked up.
Well it was time to make our way to the gate, boarding was about to commence. The J cabin looked to be full save for three seats and I think economy was a decent load. The flight attendant when he came around commented that when he came up yesterday however there were only seventy on board. A lot more departing HK than going in.
I was pretty full after an entire afternoon of lounging so a bit of a snack and then some reading and dozing all the way to Melbourne.
A brief visit to the Domestic lounge for a coffee and shower before the three and a bit hour drive.

And that is the end of the trip. I probably should re name it to “random J trip to a lot of places briefly”……

 

[Cessna 180]

Thanks to everyone for the likes and encouragement to keep writing! It really was a great trip.
I best keep the points accumulation going!

 

[Cessna 180]

Back at work this week. From the highest Pub in Africa to the highest point of Australia....

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for the TR - you certainly bounced around a bit!

 

[VPS]

Thanks for making the effort - very interesting and some different places

 

[craven morehead]

Balltearer TR something different and from your perspective !! Keep the points accumulating. Where to next? Cheers CM

 

[rginoz]

Enjoyed your TR very much Cessna 180. Thank you for your hard work.

 

[Antoallison]

Thanks Cessna 180 for the TR. I enjoyed reading along.

Poland sounds interesting and a cheap European country.

I often ask friends if there was anything thing they would do differently during their trip ?

Any thoughts ?

 

[Cessna 180]

Thanks for the TR - you certainly bounced around a bit!

Ha, yes I certainly did. Perhaps I should rename it the express trip half way around the world!

 

[Cessna 180]

Thanks again everyone for the positive feed back. Where to next Craven? Well that is a difficult one. There are so many places I would like to go as well as seeing some of the places I have been in more detail.

I like to go to the slightly 'different' places. I mean, as much as I would love to go to Paris, London etc, even dare I say America, I really enjoy going to places that not everyone else tends to go to.


Antoallison, yes I think Poland has a lot to offer. To answer your question as to what I would do differently: Well perhaps spend more time in Poland as this was my original intention way back when. Also spend more time in one place. I did find I seemed to spend a considerable amount of time some days during the trip working out where we would be sleeping the next night. I could have planned more in advance too I suppose, but then I find that part of the fun is just letting things evolve and meeting someone or hearing something along the way can dictate the next plan.

And that is what this trip was from the start. I had been threatening to myself to go to Poland for quite some time and when I originally booked back in August this was mostly the plan however it reincarnated itself a bit over the subsequent months.

Overall, I actually would not change much. I wanted to do a few different flights on other carriers for 280k. I also wished to go to Poland. This was achieved. I also am really glad I took GF. She got so much out of it and seeing her enjoy her first big trip and doing it in style really brought me some pleasure.

I have been thinking back to what the best/worst bit was and even that is hard. It was all just so much fun.

I do think our QR flight from DOH to WAW was the favourite flight. Again it is hard to say why though....