Katie Canales/Business Insider
There were no lie-flat seats or complimentary champagne in sight from my back-row economy seat, but that doesn't mean Hong Kong Air didn't deliver a comfortable flight experience - at least for what I paid for.
- With just 12 years of operations under its belt, Hong Kong-based carrier Hong Kong Airlines has become one of the best airlines in the world.
- I recently flew from San Francisco to Hong Kong at the very back of the economy cabin on one of the airline's new Airbus A350-900s.
- Though there's no such thing as a perfectly pleasant 14-hour flight in economy, my Hong Kong Air experience put other flights I've taken to shame, largely due to the upgraded in-flight entertainment system and the tasty meals.
For some, riding business or first class is a must when taking long-haul flights. The lie-flat seats, the Champagne, the 3-course meals - ah, the luxury.
For the rest of us mere mortals, jumping at low-priced economy seats is the way to go.
Such is the case for a recent trip I took to Hong Kong from San Francisco aboard Hong Kong Airlines, a young carrier based out of the city of the same name that has quickly become one of the best airlines in the world.
The airline is known for its "affordable luxury," which I can certainly vouch for - I purchased a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong from the Bay Area for a mere $500.