we,ve booked our flights to perth via hong kong with cathay pacific , can anybody out there let us know wot to expect about the airline as there doesn't seem to be any threads about them .we've also got a 9 hour stopover at hong kong international which doesn't seem long enough to leave the airport but too long to entertain 3 youngsters (8 , 9 and12 )
any advice gratefully received and good advice rewarded with a few beers if we meet up in perth
Thanks
Tony

Airline of the year two years running. Bloody excellent service. Superb cabin crew. Good seat-back entertainment - more room on the 320 than the 340 (Airbus that is). Flown with 'em eight times now - yet to be disappointed.

As for HK - 9 hours is plenty of time to nip into the city for a look-see - there's a superb shuttle train that'll whisk you in and you can have a wander round, ride on the ferry, take some photos and be back in plenty of time for your connecting flight. Alternativley, HK Disneyland is very close to the airport and would probably be the ideal way to entertain your kids.

Here - how to get to Disneyland - http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/jplan...stin=53&spot=1 - it's like two stops up the track and one back down the other line

We flew with Japan airlines and had a 6 hour wait at Osaka. I had checked out the airport website for services - we found that you could book a room for four hours (sleep!) and also have showers which were fantastic after a 12 hour flight. We had taken change of clothing (very prepared). There was a hotel attached to the airport in Osaka. This may be a more convenient option for your family. Having said this we had to clear immigration. I would check out the airport website though.

However, the Disneyland option is sooooo much more appealing!!!!!!

cathay pacific are constantly at the top of the pack...very good...almost as good as b.a...lol i'm biased...two of my friends are flight crew with cathay.. you should expect good cabin service, have a safe trip

Cathay Pacific is my favourite airline.I fly mostly "at night" from choice but can't sleep.The Cabin crew are so attentive and pleasant.They check on me every hour or so often more frequently.Bring me little snacks to while away the time. And often talk to me / I to them in the small hours as the rest of the passengers sleep.I could fill a page for you. The senior Captain more often than not is British often the second officer too.The cabin staff in my experience speak faultless English.Seats comfortable food varied and good,( steer clear of the fried bread at breakfast though!!!!unless I was just unlucky).Inflight entertainment good plane spotlessly clean and toilets clean and well appointed.
My only big moan my first love are 747s ( Jumbo Jets) and they have taken them off the HK to Melb leg of my journey.Also they are cutting them down on the HR to HK leg too.
I whinged about that and the girls all agreed the Jumbos were best but then they wouldn't want to disagree I suspect.
Why do we have to have progress....
Rotten crappyairbuses now YUK Don't worry millions of people fly airbus and they can't all be wrong...well....
cheers

Flown over twice with Cathay now, and I ve to say they are certainly my airline of choice now, haven't been able to fault them at all - excellent food, drink, service,; friendly polite crew, clean aircraft

We had a great flight with them also, service was very good.
One problem- my suitcase never got here, and they would only give me 500 dollars compo, which i thought was an insult. I was insured by post office though, so they paid out.

we flew cathay in november, they were excellent. we have 3 kids, 10,8 and 5 and they were spoilt rotton by the crew. we also went night flights which worked well for us.
HK airport is excellent, so much to see and do and huge and clean.
excellent facilities there to freshen up and relax.
would definitely fly with them again and highly recommend them.

good luck


Trish

the wife and i flew out to perth about a month ago now, our first experience of Cathay and we both have to say we are impressed.

very nice food, cabin crew were very attentive and helpful - told us on the one flight we could all spread out after takeoff as the flight was only half full.

and it was also cheap flights for us to which made it even better as the recommended airline choice from some people who had previously flown cathay.

would certainly recommend them to anyone.

and on one of our flights back i seem to remember we are getting a proper Jumbo not an airbus

Didn't stop over in HK for long so can't help there i'm afraid, but can definitely also vouch for the other good responses of flights with Cathay.
Food pretty good, the flight attendants were very helpful, happy, polite and also absolutely beautiful and immaculate.

We flew Cathay Pacific and they were excellent, but if you book online through another agent, (we did last minute. co uk) then make sure you confirm the meals with the airline. They did not have enough children meals to go round so ours did not get one, ( good job I had pack stuff for them) but apart from that they were brilliant.

As for Hong Kong airport, we had 12 hours to kill so booked in to their hotel which is attached to the airport so you walk to it, its clean and nice and much needed for the kids to run round and burn off some steam. Cant remember the name of it now but put a search online.

Libbyx

CP are pretty much OK ? I've flown to Perth on the other Carriers and in my opinion their pretty much the same if you fly Cattle Class eg the food is always cr@p, limited leg room etc etc. The kids are always happy as they've got their TV screens and plenty of leg room ! I see the flight bit as a means to an end.

As for HK I recommend you leave the Airport,get on the Train and go shopping :-) We had 7 hours and it was plenty of time. You have 9 so no worries there.

Regal Airport Hotel, perhaps?

I think 9 hours is plenty of time to get out of the airport and see a bit of HK. Enjoy your stopover!