A dear friend's Parents are on their way to Adelaide tonight, via the Black Hole of Calcutta known as Heathrow.
They are flying with Cathay via Hong Kong and I'm sure it will be OK but they've already been travelling for most of today to get to Heathrow, plus Terminal Three is such an absolute pit that it does not help.
I vividly recall Mum and I being stung last year in a grimy "cafeteria" close to where one goes through to Departures. Three croissants and two small coffees were nearly a tenner. I said, "Where is the butter and where are the knives, please?" I was informed that we wouldn't need knives since there was no butter for sale in the emporium concerned.
Jeez! Ask somebody in France to provide extra butter and they say, "Bien sur" and bring best Normandy butter!
I've never flown with Cathay but I've heard they are good? What is the food like, please, because my mate's Parents don't want to eat Chinese food for 48 hours. I love Chinese food but they are in their 70s, haven't done much travelling and are not adventurous with food. What is Hong Kong airport like, please? They'll be on the ground there for about 5-6 hours by the look of the schedules.
Take off is 21:50 tonight. Will they be offered dinner once airborne or are they supposed to risk food-poisoning in Terminal 3 beforehand? I can't remember because I've so rarely used overnight departures myself. I've done the Red Eye Special to Perth once, arriving at about 01:00 local time. A week later, my sister sat up with me till 4am so that we could jog my body-clock onto Australian time. With Perth, I think that an afternoon arrival is preferable.
Mny thanx
Gill
Last edited by Gollywobbler; 06-11-2007 at 09:38 PM.
..i agree with you..i think an afternoon arrival is definately better..i really hope your friend's parents trip goes well as you are obviously concerned for them..try not to worry..i'm sure before you know it you'll hear they've arrived safely..:) Pingpong
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Hi Gill,
we took Dad to Heathrow a couple of weeks ago and it was much better than I thought it was going to be, we arrived about 6ish for a 9:15ish flight with Korean. the queue into the departure lounge was not very long at all, last year it was horrendous, it took more than an hour to get anywhere near the departure lounge
We have flown at around 10pm and 11pm and you get fed about an hour after take off and then they dim the lights and the cabin is nice and quiet so people can sleep if they need to - that was with Emerates and Singapore.
They usually offer 'western' food and asian options so I am sure they will be fine.
should be in the air now
you are such a nice friend
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Thank you both VERY much fior your reassurance. I've just checked the Black Hole of Caluctta's website. The plane is taxi-ing out to the runway, it seems.
I'm going to hang on till I know it is airborne, then I'll trot off to bed.
I am reassured to hear that they will be offered food soon. The only time I did the overnight to Oz, I worked flat out for a week in the City of London and then caught the Friday night 10pm-sh flight via Singapore. I was dead on my feet before I even got to Heathrow. I can remember arriving in Perth. I can remember shopping (big style) in Singapore Airport since it was Cshristmas. I can't remember anything about the feeding arrangements en route
The thing is still yapping around on the ground at 10:20 pm when it should have been in the air half an hour ago, but they can make that time up, as we all know.
Hoping for the best at the mo
Gill
Last edited by Gollywobbler; 06-11-2007 at 11:34 PM.
Greetings! Currently in Adelaide on a reccie! We flew Cathay through hong kon a few weeks ago with 3 young children. Food was very good with an Asian choice (that was still very western) and two western choices. Snacks available all the way through the flight. You are encouraged to ask for anything in the middle of the night if you are hungry. Breakfast was a choice of fish porridge???! or an omelett and hash browns. I didn't hear of anyone not getting their choice. Flight attendants were very good. Hong Kong airport is very spacious and relaxing. The absolute worst part of our journey was the trip from Cornwall to Heathrow but after we boarded everything went smoothly from there. Hong Kong has lounges you can pay to enter for a nap and 24 hours/ free buffet or free lounge chairs in several relaxing areas. I've heard singapore airport is amazing but we were incredibly impressed with Hong Kong Airport. I don't know where they swallow up the people! We're coming back to England on th 12th of Nov and the only thing I'm dreading is heathrow arrivals and the train back down to Cornwall. I'm sure your parents will be fine!
I love those late leaving flights! Yes they would have been fed unless, like me, they buckle up then wake up on the descent into HK!!! It really helps to be utterly knackered because you do get a good sleep.
