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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Checking-in had never been easier and faster as I made my way through all the mandatory queues in just five minutes in spite of the
snaking lines. I accomplished most of it even before I stepped inside Ninoy
Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for my trip to Hong Kong aboard Cathay
Pacific.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Three days prior to my departure date, I paid my travel
tax at Robinsons Galleria and the day after, I received an email from Cathay
Pacific offering online check-in. So when I finally arrived at the airport, I
went straight to the bag drop counter where I was the only one in line.
Immigration was also faster this time with local and
foreign passport holders segregated and all counters were open with short
queues except one which had none. I hesitated joining it wondering why it was
being avoided but I took my chance and five seconds later, I was headed towards the security check but not before noticing how some people transferred from their
original line and followed my lead.
As I had two hours to kill, I headed straight to Skyview
Lounge, which I am able to access thanks to my membership in an affiliated loyalty program. So there
I was, an economy passenger, enjoying the perks of business class. However, I
was disappointed at the sight of the most limited food offering I have seen at
a lounge. There was just the vegetable rice, noodles, chicken adobo, crackers, and sandwiches but the taste more than made up for it. Don't take my word for
it; take the sporadic burps erupting every now and then across the room.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
After my breakfast, I asked for the wifi password and was
disappointed that it was out of service. Good thing I had my own pocket device.
But entertainment inside was not scarce with one group sharing their
conversation with the entire room with their loud voices and another group of
senior ladies having a hard time taking selfies that another guest rose from
her seat to help them.
Twenty minutes before boarding time, I headed out to my
designated gate and noticed how the business class area was cordoned off with wider leg room compared to ours.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Now for some reason, people started lining up before any
announcements were made so by the time it came, the narrow passage leading to
the ramp was already crowded by those waiting for their row number to be called
while blocking the path for the legit.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Then it came time for my boarding and I was dismayed upon
realizing the mistake I made booking myself a seat online. I misread the
diagram thinking I had gotten myself an aisle seat. Good thing it was a
two-seater row so I had the window seat.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Because I suffer from vertigo, I need to recline my
seat somewhat so I pulled the lever giving myself a surprise when the bottom
seat slid out instead. Good thing I did not slide together with it.
The seat wasn't the most comfortable as it made the TV
screen, which was usually at eye level, now a bit higher so I had to look up
making me fearful for a potential vertigo attack. It subsequently made my movie
viewing more like an audio experience as I settled for listening to it while
glancing at the screen from time to time to see if the image matched the one in
my head.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Then came our snack of a turkey wrap, mango juice and cookie. The turkey wrap was okay but the cookie was a
welcome surprise as it was tasty and flavorful. I inspected the packaging to
see where I could buy some more in Hong Kong but nothing was indicated.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
The remainder of the trip was smooth considering we had
two warnings of turbulence where the crew had to postpone their duties to get
to their seat for safety.
When we were about to descend, naturally, we were told to
open our windows but upon landing and waiting to disembark, we were asked to
close them to conserve the energy inside the plane as it was 34 degrees Celsius
outside.
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| Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
I usually fly our local airlines going to Hong Kong as
they are almost always cheaper but with the other services that Cathay has to
offer, the minimal extra charge is definitely worth it---just as my editor had
told me. Lesson learned: Always listen to your editor!
---THE PARANOID TRAVELER---
Ahh, another entry from the whiner.
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