Premium travel packages, amenities for HK visitors

By: Cheche V. Moral
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cathay Pacific Airways offers special package tour to Hong Kong

The Package seems thoughtfully designed so there’s money left for your trip’s main objective: shopping.

In time for Hong Kong’s summer shopping festival, Cathay Pacific Airways is offering a three-day, two-night “Visit Hong Kong Now” package starting at US$275 (plus taxes), inclusive of Manila-HK round-trip air ticket, hotel accommodations plus a selection of free gift offers. (Business Class package starts at $717. There are similar packages for flights departing from Cebu. Call 7570888 in Manila, 2313747 in Cebu, and 2228901 in Davao.)

CX has 30 hotel partners to choose from, and the package is valid for departure until Aug. 30 (selling period is until Aug. 27). As a freebie, passengers can choose from round-trip airport-hotel transfers, Ocean Park entrance ticket, a copy of Hong Kong-Macau Michelin Guide 2011, a Peak tram Skypass and admission at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum or a duty-free coupon worth HK$150.

It seems that even as there are now budget airlines servicing the Manila-Hong Kong route, CX still enjoys the patronage of travelers who prefer the comforts of flying with a premier carrier. CX and its partner Dragon Air fly to Hong Kong from Manila 42 times each week.

“They [budget airlines] have not really taken a chunk of our passengers from us,” says Jan Charmaine Te-Agoncillo, CX marketing manager in the Philippines. “It’s just that the traveling market has grown a lot.”

CX has just launched its newly redesigned business class – wider, more relaxing and comfortable private space for long-haul travelers. Akin to the old, long-haul business-class seat of the airline, seats convert into a flat bed with foams ergonomically designed to ensure a restful sleep. While the new seat provides utmost privacy, it will also delight claustrophobes as it’s not as confined as the previous design.

The New Business Class has ample storage space for passenger belongings like handbags and laptops. There’s a side cabinet that doubles as a privacy screen, a shoe locker, and even a vanity mirror inside the cabinet door. Unlike before when the window is to your back, the seat is now angled to provide a view of the window.

Along with the New Business Class, CX has also just launched The Cabin, its ultra-modern lounge for first- and business-class passengers, as well as Silver and above Marco Polo Club, Sapphire, Emerald and oneworld members, located at Gate 23 of Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1.

Sleek design

While smaller than CX’s other lounges (The Wing, The Pier, G16 and The Arrival), The Cabin’s sleek, contemporary design makes up for what it lacks in size.

Designed by the London firm Foster + Partners, The Cabin is the default destination for many passengers in transit at this time as The Wing is undergoing a facelift. In place of The Wing’s famous noodle bar is The Deli, which serves a good selection of antipasti and salads, as well as hot, grilled sandwiches, and a buffet of Asian and Western dishes.

The Health Bar on the other side of the lounge serves the usual alcoholic beverages and cocktails, as well as fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies and shakes, and herbal teas.

There’s an IT Zone that has high-speed WiFi Internet, 11 PCs, six iMacs, as well as 20 iPads preloaded with the latest apps and reading materials. Adjacent is a coffee machine with a selection of cookies and tea cakes (and magazines and newspapers) if you can’t be bothered to cross the room to get to the main mess hall.

The Cabin also features the Solus Chair, handcrafted by the Italian firm Poltrona Frau, so designed to provide an individual private space to work, eat or relax.

From the privacy of the New Business Class, to the privacy on the Solus Chair. In the frenzy of an airport as busy as Hong Kong’s, sometimes we all just vant to ve alone.

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