What was it like travelling with some 200 wealthiest and most powerful people in town?
Well, you could tell the difference once you boarded the chartered Dragonair flight, wisely named - flight KA 8880 - the three 'eights' meaning wealth and affluence for Chinese.
KA 8880, proudly wearing the SAR's new red dragon logo, is taking its precious passengers - who together own about a third of Hong Kong's market value - to Xian, Beijing, Chengdu and Urumqi during a nine-day inspection tour.
The media pack, sitting at the back of the plane, were flattered by the service.
Fresh fruit juice and water, served promptly by smartly dressed flight attendants - all carefully picked for the special mission.
It was a much-needed reviver after two hours in the check-in counter trying desperately to chase up brief interviews with the SAR's captains of industry.