Review: Cathay Dragon Business Class, Hong Kong-Hanoi

Cathay Dragon business class, Hong Kong to Hanoi

After staying overnight at the Regal Airport Hotel, it was time to take my flight back to Hanoi where I began this trip to the US. Find out what it was like flying Cathay Dragon in business class from Hong Kong to Hanoi.


Trip from Europe to the US via Asia flying Qatar Airways Qsuite & Cathay Pacific First Class

In 2014, I did two round-the-world trips, flying Asiana Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways first class using miles. This year, I´m doing it again although it will be a bit different. I will fly from Europe to the US via Asia and will take the same route on the way back so it won´t really be a complete round-the-world tour. I´m flying Qatar Airways business class and Cathay Pacific first class (thanks to the mistake fare) so I´m really looking forward to a trip full of jet lag but nevertheless fun!

Review: Qatar Airways A359 Qsuite, Stockholm-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways A359 Qsuite, Doha-Singapore
Photo Review: SATS Premier Lounge, T2 Singapore (SIN)
Photo Review: Qantas Singapore Lounge, T1 Singapore (SIN)
Photo Review: British Airways Lounge, T1 Singapore (SIN)
Photo Review: NIA Business Class Lounge T2 Hanoi (HAN)
Review: Cathay Dragon Business Class, Hanoi-Hong Kong
Photo Review: Ibis Hong Kong North Point
Video Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge, Hong Kong (HKG)
Review: Cathay Pacific B777 First Class, Hong Kong-New York JFK
Photo Review: The Madison Washington DC, a Hilton Hotel
Review: Conrad Washington DC
Photo Review: Capital Hilton
Exploring Washington DC
Photo Review: Millennium Times Square New York
Photo Review: American Flagship Bridge Lounge, New York (JFK)
Photo Review: American Airlines Flagship Dining New York (JFK)
Review: Cathay Pacific B777 First Class, New York JFK-Hong Kong
Photo Review: Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong
Review: Cathay Dragon Business Class, Hong Kong-Hanoi
Photo Review: Vietnam Airlines Lotus Lounge, Hanoi (HAN)
Photo Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Photo Review: SATS Premier Lounge, T1 Singapore (SIN)
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Singapore-Doha
Review: Qatar Airways Business Class, Doha-Stockholm

Flight: KA297
Departure time in Hong Kong (HKG): 8:20 Terminal 1
Arrival time in Hanoi (HAN): 09:25 Terminal 2
Aircraft: Airbus A321
Seat: 10A
Duration: 2h 5m
Date of flight: August 17, 2019
*This is a revenue ticket, Business Class flight #197

Video from my YouTube Channel 📺

Hong Kong International Airport

I left the Regal Airport Hotel around 5:25am and reached the terminal in a few minutes. I already had my boarding pass as well as a lounge invitation so I headed straight to security. The check-in desks are otherwise located in Aisle H in case one doesn´t have a boarding pass.

Lounge invitation

First Class Lounges

After clearing security, I headed to the Wing First Class Lounge where I had some breakfast.

Then, I transferred to the Pier First Class Lounge where I booked one of their day suites.

Aircraft, Airbus A321

Cathay Dragon Airbus A321

Cathay Dragon (DragonAir) Airbus A321

Boarding, Gate 510

At 7:37am, I took the bus to gate 510.

Gate 510

Boarding started at 7:50am and as usual, there was priority boarding for business class passengers and those with top tier status.

Business Class Cabin

The business class cabin on the Airbus A321 consists of seats from row 10 to row 17 (without rows 13 and 14) in a 2-2 configuration, with a total of 24 recliner seats. On this flight, 10 of the 24 seats were occupied.

Right side of the business class cabin

Seat Map

Seat, 10A

My seat 10 is a window seat (and a bulkhead seat at the same time) 😉

Personal screen

Below the personal screens are the magazines and headphones.

Magazines, safety instruction card

Pillow and headphones

I was also offered a blanket 👍

Movie selection

Seat controls

Headphones socket

IFE controller

Power ports 👍

Foldable tray table

Pre-departure Beverage

Around 8:03am, the flight attendants offered some pre-departure drinks with a choice of apple juice, smoothie and water.

I settled for a glass of apple juice.

At 8:05am, Captain Jonathan came on the PA to welcome us onboard. He gave the usual flight time of 1 hour and 35 minutes, the temperature in Hanoi which was 27 degrees and that it would be turbulent about 30 minutes after departure.

At 8:11am, newspapers were offered and a few minutes later, a flight attendant came to my seat addressing me by my name and offering me the breakfast menu card.

Safety Video & Take Off

At 8:16am, the safety video was played on the screen. After 8 minutes, the captain was back on the PA informing us of a delay and that we would be taking off at 9:05am. Meanwhile, the crew started taking food order for breakfast. I chose the dim sum and asked for a cup of Japanese green tea to drink.

At 8:44am, we began our push back and 21 minutes later, we had our take off.

View after take off.

Dining

Business class menu card

Breakfast menu

• Seasonal fresh fruits
• Yoghurt
• Scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs, veal sausage, turkey bacon, potatoes and grilled tomato

or

• Braised rice sticks with roasted duck and snow vegetables
• Assorted breakfast bread, preserve and butter
• Illy coffee and a selection of teas

The whole meal was served on a tray.

Braised rice sticks, dumpling

Fruits, yoghurt

Moments later, we were offered some bread.

Water and Japanese green tea.

Lavatory

There is one lavatory located in front of the cabin.

Jurlique toiletries 😉

Fresh orchids 👍

Lavatory

Airshow

Airshow enroute to Hanoi showing that we had a detour to avoid bad weather.

Landing in Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport

The captain was back on the PA informing us that we would be landing in Hanoi at 9:37am.

View before landing.

We landed in Hanoi Airport at 9:37am and while taxiing to our gate passed by these planes ...

... including the newest airline from Vietnam, Bamboo Airlines. We reached our gate at 9:43am.

CONCLUSION

This was my second time flying Cathay Dragon in business class. I thought the crew were very friendly and professional. I was always addressed by my name and the meal served on board tasted great. The recliner seats were comfortable and movie selection was more than enough for a short flight. Overall, I had an enjoyable flight with Cathay Dragon and would not hesitate to fly with them again.