“Reinvention” of Hong Kong Express – Hong Kong’s own Low Cost Airline (LCC)
The second airline that I have decided to fly this summer is the “new” Hong Kong Express, which is a subsidiary of Hong Kong Airlines, or shares the same parents, Hainan Airline Group. Honestly it is so confusing that I don’t want to waste too much space to discuss about its origin, other than the fact that Hong Kong Express (UO) has been in existence longer, and began with a small operation of EMB-170 jets flying to various regional cities in China and Taiwan, but eventually it merged with CR Airways, which is another Hong Kong regional airline using regional jets. It has later expanded into an operation using primarily Boeing 737-800s. I flew it once from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur on October 2008, when it was still a two-class traditional airline operation. You could still find my old report, but in 2013, Hong Kong Express has decided to transform itself into a full LCC operation with the support of Hong Kong Airlines (HX). It uses new A320s transferred from HX, and I consider this move as a preemptive one, before Jetstar Hong Kong’s original plan to start service in 2014, which is really going nowhere now. Honestly Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express often are cheaper than Cathay Pacific and Dragonair in many leisure routes, so they are sort of considered a cheaper brand, and this transition sorts of makes sense. Hong Kong Airlines HX will remain focus on high yield routes to major Chinese cities like Xiamen, Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, and Bali, while UO will focus on the leisure routes. Hong Kong Express has initially taken over leisure routes to Kota Kinabalu, Phuket, Kunming, Taichung, and Chiang Mai, and also launches service to Seoul, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Tokyo Haneda, and Penang. Busan, Nagoya, and Ningbo will start soon. It has recently finally taken two leased A320s specially designed for Hong Kong Express with a new livery and hopefully new seats. They are named after popular dim sum dishes in HK. I honestly have not much expectation, as the initial booking experience is a bit rudimentary, and compared to other LCCs, there are definitely much work that needs to be done. It has already improved somewhat now, but I can’t imagine a LCC with no web check-in function. The route that I have selected is from Taichung to Hong Kong, which involves a new airport. My initial impression is that it still reminds me too much of Hong Kong Airlines, and the whole LCC project is basically not completely thought out, and is a reactionary move to Jetstar Hong Kong possible launch, rather than a completely innovative re-invention of the airline, which is not always a good sign for a low cost airline.
Route Map:
July 17, 2014
UO 183 RMQ-HKG Lv1410 Arr1545 Airbus A320-200 B-LPB
Booking:
I usually don’t say too much about booking because most people know how to do it, especially those who read these trip reports. However for a LCC, your website needs to be really good, but most Asian airlines just don’t invest enough in a good IT team that sets up a perfect website. Most American and European LCCs have an amazing websites that you can do anything from purchasing various travel products to changing a ticket. Unfortunately Hong Kong Express website was pretty basic, especially when I booked this ticket in April. I was not able to buy an exit seat or pre-order any inflight product. Although I received an itinerary from UO after paying the ticket, I could not retrieve the e-ticket/reservation online, and I never received an electronic ticket receipt with ticket numbers. If I need to change this ticket, I have to call Hong Kong Express and pay a $100HKD contact center fee, but remember I have no option to do it myself online, so that is not too fair. However, UO tickets are fully changeable with a $350 fee + fare differences. If you purchase bag allowance, they can transfer those to your new ticket, but there is no route change permitted. Of course you must change before flights depart. That is why I feel that the launch is too rushed.
Just an addendum, I tried to book another ticket a couple weeks ago and UO offers some nice fares from ICN to HKG. The website has shown some improvement and you can now purchase seat assignment especially those in exit rows or express seats towards the front of the cabin that allow speedy deplaning. However, when I tried to pay the ticket, the website redirected me a Korean payment system that are not compatible to any web browser except Internet Explorer. I am a MacBook user and IE is no longer compatible with the new operation system, so I have to find other options in the end. It is obvious that Hong Kong Express does not use a central payment system, which is a loss for the airline. If people can’t pay for the tickets, how can they even fly the airline? How can you even charge people $100 contact center fee, when it is obvious issues with your website?
The cost of my ticket is $29 base fare + tax + 20kg baggage, which ends up to a total of $74.50. It is at least $50 cheaper than CI and $$$ cheaper than KA.
Checking-in:
Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport is surprisingly nice, as it is brand new. The airport itself is a joint military/commercial facility, but the commercial building is all the way on the other end of the airport, which is certainly designed that way, but taxi time will be a bit longer. However given the little traffic that this airport has, I am not sure if it is a major issue.
Nice International check-in hall
Hong Kong Express Check-in lines – please note that there is a separate line for passengers without check-in baggage, and China Airlines is UO’s handling agent here at Taichung.
The check-in experience was really pleasant and I am sure that China Airlines is part of the reason. These CI agents do not treat these UO flights as a LCC, and they even asked everyone if they needed a window or aisle seat. I immediately asked for these “sweet” seats.
The agent said, “of course, the cost will be $600TWD.” I paid cash and the agent issued me a hand-written receipt. For a LCC, this process should be more automated. Anyway, I got 1F and the agent tagged my bag.
FIDS
The second airline that I have decided to fly this summer is the “new” Hong Kong Express, which is a subsidiary of Hong Kong Airlines, or shares the same parents, Hainan Airline Group. Honestly it is so confusing that I don’t want to waste too much space to discuss about its origin, other than the fact that Hong Kong Express (UO) has been in existence longer, and began with a small operation of EMB-170 jets flying to various regional cities in China and Taiwan, but eventually it merged with CR Airways, which is another Hong Kong regional airline using regional jets. It has later expanded into an operation using primarily Boeing 737-800s. I flew it once from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur on October 2008, when it was still a two-class traditional airline operation. You could still find my old report, but in 2013, Hong Kong Express has decided to transform itself into a full LCC operation with the support of Hong Kong Airlines (HX). It uses new A320s transferred from HX, and I consider this move as a preemptive one, before Jetstar Hong Kong’s original plan to start service in 2014, which is really going nowhere now. Honestly Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express often are cheaper than Cathay Pacific and Dragonair in many leisure routes, so they are sort of considered a cheaper brand, and this transition sorts of makes sense. Hong Kong Airlines HX will remain focus on high yield routes to major Chinese cities like Xiamen, Shanghai and Beijing, as well as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, and Bali, while UO will focus on the leisure routes. Hong Kong Express has initially taken over leisure routes to Kota Kinabalu, Phuket, Kunming, Taichung, and Chiang Mai, and also launches service to Seoul, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Tokyo Haneda, and Penang. Busan, Nagoya, and Ningbo will start soon. It has recently finally taken two leased A320s specially designed for Hong Kong Express with a new livery and hopefully new seats. They are named after popular dim sum dishes in HK. I honestly have not much expectation, as the initial booking experience is a bit rudimentary, and compared to other LCCs, there are definitely much work that needs to be done. It has already improved somewhat now, but I can’t imagine a LCC with no web check-in function. The route that I have selected is from Taichung to Hong Kong, which involves a new airport. My initial impression is that it still reminds me too much of Hong Kong Airlines, and the whole LCC project is basically not completely thought out, and is a reactionary move to Jetstar Hong Kong possible launch, rather than a completely innovative re-invention of the airline, which is not always a good sign for a low cost airline.
Route Map:
July 17, 2014
UO 183 RMQ-HKG Lv1410 Arr1545 Airbus A320-200 B-LPB
Booking:
I usually don’t say too much about booking because most people know how to do it, especially those who read these trip reports. However for a LCC, your website needs to be really good, but most Asian airlines just don’t invest enough in a good IT team that sets up a perfect website. Most American and European LCCs have an amazing websites that you can do anything from purchasing various travel products to changing a ticket. Unfortunately Hong Kong Express website was pretty basic, especially when I booked this ticket in April. I was not able to buy an exit seat or pre-order any inflight product. Although I received an itinerary from UO after paying the ticket, I could not retrieve the e-ticket/reservation online, and I never received an electronic ticket receipt with ticket numbers. If I need to change this ticket, I have to call Hong Kong Express and pay a $100HKD contact center fee, but remember I have no option to do it myself online, so that is not too fair. However, UO tickets are fully changeable with a $350 fee + fare differences. If you purchase bag allowance, they can transfer those to your new ticket, but there is no route change permitted. Of course you must change before flights depart. That is why I feel that the launch is too rushed.
Just an addendum, I tried to book another ticket a couple weeks ago and UO offers some nice fares from ICN to HKG. The website has shown some improvement and you can now purchase seat assignment especially those in exit rows or express seats towards the front of the cabin that allow speedy deplaning. However, when I tried to pay the ticket, the website redirected me a Korean payment system that are not compatible to any web browser except Internet Explorer. I am a MacBook user and IE is no longer compatible with the new operation system, so I have to find other options in the end. It is obvious that Hong Kong Express does not use a central payment system, which is a loss for the airline. If people can’t pay for the tickets, how can they even fly the airline? How can you even charge people $100 contact center fee, when it is obvious issues with your website?
The cost of my ticket is $29 base fare + tax + 20kg baggage, which ends up to a total of $74.50. It is at least $50 cheaper than CI and $$$ cheaper than KA.
Checking-in:
Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport is surprisingly nice, as it is brand new. The airport itself is a joint military/commercial facility, but the commercial building is all the way on the other end of the airport, which is certainly designed that way, but taxi time will be a bit longer. However given the little traffic that this airport has, I am not sure if it is a major issue.
Nice International check-in hall
Hong Kong Express Check-in lines – please note that there is a separate line for passengers without check-in baggage, and China Airlines is UO’s handling agent here at Taichung.
The check-in experience was really pleasant and I am sure that China Airlines is part of the reason. These CI agents do not treat these UO flights as a LCC, and they even asked everyone if they needed a window or aisle seat. I immediately asked for these “sweet” seats.
The agent said, “of course, the cost will be $600TWD.” I paid cash and the agent issued me a hand-written receipt. For a LCC, this process should be more automated. Anyway, I got 1F and the agent tagged my bag.
FIDS
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