My previous Asian reviews:
- JetStar Hong Kong - Singapore
- Scoot Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
- AirAsia Kuala Lumpur - Nha Trang
This review will focus on the flight from Cam Ranh Airport in the Vietnamese resort of Nha Trang to Hong Kong International Airport. The flight was operated by a low-cost airline from Hong Kong - HK Express.
Overview content:
1. Departure from Nha Trang
2. On the platform of Cam Ranh Airport
3. Takeoff
4. On board the A320 HK Express
5. Arrival in Hong Kong
Before starting the story about the flight, I would like to say a few words about the tariff policy and service of the carrier HK Express.
Airline from Hong Kong HK Express positions itself as a low-cost carrier. However, the carrier offers a fairly high level of service. The tariff policy is based on offering minimum prices for traveling light. Then there are higher rates for trips with luggage - several levels for 20, 25, 30 kg of luggage carried. The choice of a seat in the cabin is paid. Meals and drinks on board are also paid, but the range of dishes and drinks on offer is quite large.
Aircraft are fresh, well-maintained, with a comfortable cabin. On board during the flight organized trade and catering (for a fee). Another additional service is priority boarding (cost 5 USD). The airline also has a frequent flyer program called "reward-U".
1. Departure from Nha Trang
As I mentioned in the previous review, a new modern passenger terminal 2 was recently built at Cam Ranh Airport. Now it is used for international flights.
At the time of my departure from Nha Trang, the terminal was at the final stage of construction, but had not yet been launched. I only managed to look at it from afar.
My flight took off from the old terminal 1, which is now used for domestic flights.
Terminal 1 is quite cramped inside, but with a rather pleasant station square. There is a spacious taxi rank in front of it.
Passengers pick up/drop off areas are covered with a large canopy that protects from the scorching tropical sun.
Next to the terminal 1 is the airport administration office.
Opposite the entrance, in a small square, there is a street cafe. Good Vietnamese food and reasonable prices. You can have a good meal before the flight.
We go inside. The common area is a large hall. On the two sides, opposite each other, there are check-in counters.
On the one hand, the international check-in area:
On the opposite side, check-in for domestic flights:
General view of the terminal from the escalator leading to the screening area on the second floor:
In the center of the hall there are kiosks with various services - currency exchange offices, ticket offices, representative offices of several airlines and tour operators. From the interesting - an advertising stand with an advertisement for real estate on the coast. The resort of Nha Trang is being actively built up. Apart from the hotels, residential buildings with apartments for sale are also being built here.
Luggage claim is nearby. It is clearly visible through the transparent walls.
Special control and departure area is located on the second floor of the terminal, where you can climb the stairs or escalator. For illustration, I use a photo from a previous review when I just arrived in Nha Trang.
Despite the fact that there are relatively few departing flights at the airport, it is a little crowded in a clean area. The departure hall reminded me of the same cramped Krasnodar airport.
As befits an international airport, there is a duty-free shop here, modest in size.
Landing is announced...
2. On the apron of Cam Ranh Airport
Terminal 1 of Cam Ranh Airport has only 2 boarding bridges reserved for full-service airlines. Low-cost carriers such as HK Express operate from remote parking lots. Our A320 is a couple of hundred meters from the terminal.
A bus ride allows you to look around on the platform. In addition to our board, the Airbus A321 of the Chinese airline Capital Airlines.
And a number of parked A321 of the Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet Air. Cam Ranh plays the role of one of the key airports of the carrier's route network.
Hong Kong A320 in all its glory. The HK Express livery is unlike any other...
The drawing of the back of the liner is stylized in the skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
Boarding on the car ladder is possible only through the front door.
From the platform you can see both terminals of Cam Ranh Airport. To the left is Terminal 1, to the right is T2.
Going inside the airliner.
The cockpit.
3. Takeoff
By the time of departure, the sun was already setting. Despite the fact that I took a seat by the porthole, I didn't manage to take good photos in the coming dusk and against the sun. Here are some illustrations of what we could see.
Terminal 1 of Cam Ranh Airport:
A little further on is the new Terminal 2.
A strip of coast near the airport, actively built up with luxury hotels.
Even while climbing, the liner began a sharp turn. Nha Trang city could only be seen from afar.
The tropical sun quickly set below the horizon in just a few minutes.
4. On board the A320 HK Express
The cabin of the HK Express looks very decent. The airline serves as Hong Kong's base low-cost carrier. In such a rich city, you need to match the general level. And Airbus HK Express keeps the mark. The salon gives the impression of a new and clean.
As befits a low-cost airline, there is no business class here, only economy. Seats with a thin back are trimmed with black leather.
There are also comfort elements - folding tables.
I was also pleased with the capacious pocket for "literature". After flying the Pobeda often with their sewn pockets, I've come to appreciate this feature more.
The printed set for in-flight entertainment is extensive. It includes the in-flight magazine "Uexplore", the catalog of goods for trade "Ushop", on-board catering menu "Utaste" and safety instructions. As you can see, all names start with U. The carrier's marketers have designated the letter U as a distinctive feature of the corporate identity.
You can get information about the airline in the logbook. The carrier's route network covers the cities of East Asia - China, Japan, Korea, etc. The fleet consists of medium-range airliners Airbus A320/321.
You can also buy souvenirs with HK Express symbols on board.
The front bulkhead is quite interestingly painted in the cabin. The HK Express logo and a sketch of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, which has become another part of the corporate identity of the company.
Meals on board are available for a fee, but the dishes are very attractive in the pictures.
They are accompanied by a wide selection of teas and soft drinks.
I ordered dinner for my flight in advance. The order was delivered in high-quality branded packaging.
Steamed chicken with rice, mushrooms and vegetables. Also green tea. As cutlery, both wooden sticks and a fork are offered (for Europeans who do not know how to eat with sticks).
It should be noted that the choice of dishes for ordering in flight is quite extensive. You can choose different options costing from 6 to 13 USD. Below is a photo from the HK Express website for illustration. As expected, there is nothing to complain about here.
5. Arrival in Hong Kong
Our flight arrived in Hong Kong in total darkness. Again, a distant parking lot and disembarkation through an attached gangway. Then on buses to the terminal.
Access to the city through the common area of I love this airport, for me it is almost like my own.
Next, I want to talk about Hong Kong taxi. Its work is organized according to an interesting scheme with marking cars in different colors.
Boarding in a taxi is made on a special underground platform located under Terminal 2. To get there, you need to follow the signs - first towards T2.
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Then down to the basement of Terminal 2.
On the way, I stopped for half a minute to look at the decorations. My flight was on the eve of the Chinese New Year.
All taxi cars are painted in one of these 3 colors, which indicate the area where the taxi operates.
That is, the entire territory of Hong Kong is divided into 3 zones. Red cars carry passengers to the central part of Hong Kong.
Green cars serve the so-called "New Territories" - a remote northern region of Hong Kong.
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And the blue taxi cars operate on Lantau Island - this is a nearby area where the airport is located. Of the popular places, there is also Hong Kong Disneyland and a monastery with a large Buddha statue. In this case, it was just my option, because I booked a hotel closer to the airport.
It is very important to know what color taxi you need to get into. If you get into the wrong car, then the driver will not be lucky in someone else's zone.
Landing platforms are also reserved for cars of the same color, so that there is no confusion. Here, for example, a green taxi to the New Territories:
And then the blue cars. Boarding is on a first come, first served basis.
Arriving in Hong Kong, my 3-week trip to Asia came to an end. Then there was a standard Aeroflot flight to Moscow.
That's all for now. Thank you for your attention! Until next review.
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