Editorial Review

A Low Cost Carrier You Want to Fly in Asia

7 / 10

14 October, 2025

Sharon Petersen

Sharon Petersen

Cabin

Economy Class

Route Flown

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Seat Number

1A AND 6C

Date Flown

August 20, 2025

It’s easy to group all low-cost carriers into the same category — and in many cases, that’s fair. However, reviewing HK Express revealed several key differences that set it apart. This is an airline I would genuinely choose to fly again, one where I could relax and enjoy the journey. The flights were punctual, the cabins bright and impeccably clean, and the food an enjoyable experience in itself. Most importantly, the cabin crew were genuinely happy to be there, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Seating

4 / 5


The cabin features a standard 3-3 all-economy configuration with a 28–29 inch seat pitch. The seats on today’s flight were the Recaro SL3710 model, the newer design used on HK Express’ A320neo and A321neo aircraft. Known for being lightweight and ergonomic, these seats feature a custom design for HK Express, including artificial leather upholstery and an advertising frame built into the seatback. Despite the slimline build and fixed-back design (there is no recline), the Recaro SL3710 remains one of the most comfortable seats among low-cost carriers. Extra-legroom seats are available in row 1 and at the emergency exit rows. The cabin was clean and uncluttered.

Many HK Express aircraft are fitted out with the Recaro SL3710 seats that, despite being used by low cost carriers in high density seating configurations offer significant comfort


Customer Service

5 / 5

Now, I’ll be honest — I was flying as a guest of the airline in row one, and the crew were aware of that. But you can’t fake genuine warmth: those smiles, that efficiency, and the way they interacted so naturally with children. I’ve been reviewing flights for a long time, and one of the best habits you can develop as a reviewer is to ‘look back’ — to see what’s happening beyond your own seat. And when I did, I saw exactly the same level of care and professionalism throughout the cabin as I did at the front. On one of the flights, the crew also offered their inflight Polaroid service — a thoughtful touch designed to create lasting onboard memories for passengers to take home.

The HK Express crew also offered their inflight Polaroid service — a thoughtful touch designed to create lasting onboard memories for passengers to take home.

Catering

5 / 5


Now this was the surprising part — again, travelling as a guest of the airline, I was lucky enough to sample several of the meal options, and I have to say it: the food is good! Dishes like Hainan chicken and rice, Hong Kong-style chocolate waffles, and fish siu mai with Nissin x Tamjai SamGor Mala Soup Flavour Instant Noodles brought a real taste of Hong Kong street food to the sky. My personal favourite? The soup-filled pan-fried pork bun — absolutely delicious. A nearby passenger ordered the truffle pasta; I didn’t try it myself, but it certainly smelled fantastic. You can view more of this really quite exceptional menu here

The classic Hong Kong street food favourite — egg waffles with chocolate — was served alongside the ever-popular Hainan chicken and rice.

The reviewer’s favourite dishes stayed true to the Hong Kong street food theme, with fish siu mai and the soup-filled pan-fried pork bun standing out.

Inflight Entertainment and amenities

0 / 5

There is no inflight entertainment, Wi-Fi, or onboard amenities. Power banks are also prohibited for use during the flight, so passengers should ensure all devices are fully charged before boarding.

Extra Information

Overall, my experience with this low-cost carrier couldn’t have been better. Even setting aside the fact that I was flying as a guest of the airline, the seat comfort, food quality, affordable fares, and the crew’s genuine dedication to every passenger were all worth celebrating. Add to that the fact that HK Express is AirlineRatings’ World’s Safest Low-Cost Airline for 2025, and you’ve got yourself a clear winner.

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A Low Cost Carrier You Want to Fly in Asia