Natasha Judson flies aboard Cathay Pacific's CX256 from London Heathrow to Hong Kong.
The plane: Boeing 777-300ER.
Class: Economy — booked in November, seven months earlier when the $1850 return price tag from Auckland to London was irresistible.
Flight time: 11hr, 17m.
The seat situation: Prior to boarding, we jumped online to reserve seats, only to see there were no two next to each other available. We took the last two in the back row that was reserved for "Unattended Underage", hoping no kids would come between us. We boarded with no issues and it was surprisingly pleasant at the back of the plane. However, how full? Full. The third seat in our aisle was taken up by a businesswoman whose secretary had left the booking too late, missing out on First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy. She was stuck with us as well as Bath Royal High School's 2018 history class school trip to Cambodia.