Living in a jet plane

Do you want to try out the life of a cabin crewmember? Well, I did once when my cousin Cookie Angbetic – a Cathay Pacific senior purser (the position is now known as in-flight service manager) – asked me to sync my annual vacation with her last long haul flight from Hong Kong to New York. (She resigned from CX just before the Handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.) It was such a fun time for us: two-day layover in Hong Kong and another three-day layover in Vancouver, Canada. On the way, I was upgraded from Business to First Class…and I sat in the cockpit silently observing the pilots as we were landing into JFK International Airport.

I thought I would not be able to replicate that once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thanks to CX, I had a similar treat when I joined the CX Delivery Team at the Boeing Factory in Everett, Seattle, Washington. I left Cebu on Business Class for Hong Kong on August 25 (Saturday). In-flt. Service Mgr. Irene Concepcion graciously transferred me to First Class mid-flight so I could have the feel of flying top tier on CX. I had my own cabinet to hang my jacket. In my spacious nook, the entertainment screen was at a comfortable distance from where I sat or reclined. Since we were the first ones to deplane and I hold a Hkg. Frequent Visitors Card (FVC), I went through immigration very fast. I checked-in at Regal Airport Hotel – ten-minutes through the walkway from the arrival/departure areas – and took the Skytrain from Lantau Island to Hong Kong to attend Mass. But I hardly slept that night despite the luxurious pillows and the king-size bed.

After a lovely lunch at the Wing -- CX Lounge, I joined the two Manila media ladies (Tanya Lara of Philstar & Vangie Reyes of Inquirer) and our CX-Philippines escort Ryan Uy for the Hkg-San Fo flight – Business Class -- on August 26 Sunday. We arrived San Francisco still on Sunday and got a domestic connection for Seattle. We got there that afternoon, checked in at our hotel – W Hotel Seattle – and walked to Purple Café & Wine Bar for a gourmet Welcome Dinner, hosted by Boeing, represented by Mr. Wilson Chow, for the Cathay Pacific International Media Group, headed by Ivan Chan of CX-Hkg. (A separate article on this in the Food Issue of the Lifestyle Section)

Despite the wine with dinner, I slept only for two hours, as I was wide-awake by 2am! By 8:30, we headed for the Boeing Factory in Everett (Aug. 27, Monday) where we had a half-day guided tour of their enormous complex where they have their own runway adjacent to the airport. They are delivering more than 30 airplanes in a month, trying to meet outstanding orders. We were walking for miles within their covered assembly complex with branded cafes and canteens for their workers; everything was fascinating and every corner was squeaky clean!

I skipped the afternoon city tour after our late lunch. Opting to have a little lie-in before the Delivery Dinner hosted by Boeing at the Museum of Flight, I had to defer to my new friends Tanya & Vangie who wanted to do some shopping. However, I went back to the hotel earlier for my much-needed rest. By 6pm, we were at the Museum of Flight, taking photos of the various aircraft on display where we could pose in their snug cockpits. It is an airplane hobbyist’s heaven! That night, I eventually slept for a glorious three and a half hours.

By 11:15am on Tuesday, August 28, we had our bags packed and into the Boeing shuttle bus to be loaded to the brand new plane waiting for us at Boeing’s Delivery Center. After lunch and the ceremonial ribbon cutting on the tarmac, we went through immigration (set up at the factory) prior to boarding. We had our first experience of the Premium Economy Class all the way back to Hong Kong. (A separate main story in the Lifestyle section soon.) We had the run of the whole aircraft…a press briefing with CX Chief Executive John Slosar, who headed the CX international delegation…and we even went into the cockpit to have a chat with the pilots!

We arrived Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 29, by 7pm and again my FVC served me well. I got my luggage and checked in at Regal before 8pm. I enjoyed a Hainanese chicken dinner at Maxim’s, outside the arrival area; ordered a roast goose and a roast duck, packed as extra luggage. I slept for 2 hours!

6:30am Thursday, August 30, I walked to the departure area for the 8:50am flight to Cebu on Business Class. Breakfast was again in the Wing Lounge and by 11:30am, I was at the Mactan Bridge on the way home!

I’ve been in the U.S. for three days and two nights – living in a jet plane most of the time. What an experience!  – THE FREEMAN