After spending a good amount of time relaxing in the Asiana lounge and inhaling a good amount of lovely broccoli that was on offer (and some nuts to, o how my tastes have changed, I headed out to explore Incheon airport. I wasn’t really wanting to do or see anything, just wander and see what was out there. The light was fading fast so photos were still not really possible but I took what I could. After making it down to gates in the low 20s I decided it was about time I turned around and headed back towards my gate which was in the 40s. This may not sound like much, but at Incheon, that’s a fair hike.
I still kept browsing through random shops on the way and I swear the lady in the Tumi shop thought I was wasting her time but to be honest, I was genuinely interested in the price, but if I was going to buy anything it would have been in Hong Kong or Singapore. I wandered by the gate, saw that my aircraft was there and before the light disappeared entirely, grabbed a picture (along with the Star Alliance painted aircraft next door).
Pretty soon the boarding area did its usual thing of becoming a scrum with about 10 minutes to go till boarding. I was standing around waiting for a little bit when the business line filled considerably. So knowing that if I didn’t get in it shortly, I would be stuck. So I jumped in. Shortly thereafter (about a minute) they made announcements that the line was for Business and Star Gold only. Low and behold the entire line was for economy! Hah typical.
Asiana Airlines
OZ723
Seoul Incheon to Hong Kong
1950-2240
Boeing 777-200ER (HL7700)
Business Class – Seat 2K
Boarding: 1925 (Gate 43)
Push Back 1953
Take Off Roll: 2009 (Runway 33L)
Top of Descent: 2136
Touch Down: 2209 (Runway 22R)
Shut Down: 2221 (Gate 31)
Boarding was soon announced with the traditional bow greeting to begin the process and I was the first person through the gate, down the escalators and down the airbridge to the aircraft. I snapped a few photos while I could and then realized the person behind me in the queue, was my seat mate, but she did not look happy that she had someone next to her. Not my problem! I got myself settled then realized that this was a non AVOD fitted aircraft. O well. It’s only a 3 hour flight and they still show movies on a loop so I can still watch something!
Menus and pre departure drinks were handed out and unfortunately no Bibimbap on this flight either! But there was a Korean specialty and I was determined to try that. My seat mate as the doors closed tried to take up the spare seat that was on the other side of the aisle however once she moved over, she was sent back by a flight attendant as someone from down the back was apparently getting a battlefield upgrade. Lucky bugger.
We pushed back pretty much on time (and I got a little bit of a smirk for taking a photo of the crew as they prepared for their bow) and we taxied for a while out towards the parallel runways. It was a long taxi but gave me a good look at all the Korean Airlines aircraft that seemingly dominate the terminal (Asiana plays a close second really). The takeoff roll was definitely high power and so was the pull up at the rotate point as the pilots pulled as skywards towards Hong Kong.
Orders were taken and this time my seat mate was allowed to take the spare seat as the other person had not shown so I was 2 for 2 with empty seats next to me. Win! I was happy as larry as we reached 10000ft and the entertainment was switched on, headphones out and time to watch whatever was on the loop (Xmen First Class it is). I watched the movie as orders were taken and I asked if I could have a mixture of the Western and Korean menus as I really didn’t like the sound of the Korean dessert (fruit punch wtf?) . I was told they would see if they could if there was any left so I was hopeful.
As we cruised along dinner service started fairly slowly and the Korean meal seemed extremely healthy and light which was good. I ended up spilling diet coke all over my tray table (good work idiot) and managed to hide it well under the can for photos. When the main came out there was instructions in the menu on how to eat it and for a while I was ok with this, but the weird metal chopsticks which is apparently a Korean thing and just my inability to use them, I got fed up and just made up my own way. I ended up finishing the vegetables and one of the cabin crew tried to bring me more which I declined (I was struggling to eat what I had in front of me). The meal was good and spicy just the way I like it!
The Korean Dessert was handed out and I was told that if they had leftover Ice Cream they would bring it to me as well (score) and after a while they did, along with Coffee and then chocolates. I felt like I had made an absolute pig of myself. Overall the dinner service took up a good portion of the flight and really this was good as there was only roughly an hour and a quarter left of the flight by the time this happened and the seat belt sign came on for a little bit of turbulence.
Pretty soon we were heading for our descent point into Hong Kong. Where had this flight gone? It was a smooth descent followed by a lovely smooth touch down. Unfortunately due to cloud it was hard to see anything out the window and I had no view of Hong Kong at all. We taxied again what felt like an age all the way around to the far side of the terminal from our runway and pulled up at a gate in the low 30s. What I did not realize again was just how big Hong Kong Airport is.
When finally released out into the terminal, I turned toward immigration and saw the walk in front of me. It looked to be a solid kilometre or more to immigration. Which is good because I needed to walk off dessert. Which I did, no moving walkways for me tonight!. Immigration queues were long (no fast track offered) but they moved fairly rapidly and not even a word from the immigration officer, just a stamp and done.
After having walked all the way to one end of the terminal for immigration, I then had to walk all the way back it seemed for my bag as our carousel was all the way back the other direction. Typical. My bag was rolling around on the far side by the time I got through and then grabbed my bag went through customs which wasn’t even a hassle. I bought the tourist pass with the Hong Kong express and was on a train within 10 minutes speeding towards Kowloon and my home for the next 5 nights the Novotel Nathan Road Hong Kong.