Cathay Pacific - LCC Experience

[katiebell]

I totally agree with you on CX J food. It's not the highlight of the service. I particularly hate the trolley service with the meals on to look at. Even the famous Garlic Bread is a bit sad and like Woolies HomeBrand on a good day.
The big differences between CX and QF are in the hard product - let's face it unless you are a cosy couple the SkyBeds are pretty grim (new QF J suite much better). CX wins this no contest.
QF J catering is hit and miss but on my last long haul SYD-LAX definitely more hit than miss. CX is like a fairly average 3* buffet. Edible and safe but not likely to set your taste buds on fire.

I agree with the trolley service being poor: all the meals getting cold and not covered… Made all the worse by the eteriorating standard of the product: it is no longer 3*, 2 at best and no longer edible. Really not good enough on a 12+ hr flight in J.

Whilst I like the direct aisle access, the seats are not as comfortable as QF.

 

[Isochronous]

CX service is definitely slipping. Soon it will be as bad as a Chinese airline!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I agree with the trolley service being poor: all the meals getting cold and not covered… Made all the worse by the eteriorating standard of the product: it is no longer 3*, 2 at best and no longer edible. Really not good enough on a 12+ hr flight in J.

Whilst I like the direct aisle access, the seats are not as comfortable as QF.

I'm at 38 CX flights this year (including 8x returns to hkg-au) and I'm yet to have any meals not worth consuming.

Every airline has their weaknesses but I've never seen below average food on CX. The tally of airlines with terrible food is longer than Santas naught list but CX sure isn't on it. Then again I never fly economy and meals don't drive my purchase decisions. Actually I lie - CX F Pier food hands down beats SYD/MEL First class lounge. If you've not been to the refurbished lounge you're in for a treat.

Now - unless a passenger has flown a high number of sectors over a long period which would qualify one to make such a remark - commentary like 'blah airlines food is average' is almost entirely unfounded and holds no substance in the larger scheme. 1 passenger has a couple J flights with average feedback on their personal thoughts on one meal and suddenly the entire catering section is lousy? If you were to mention the new cheap business menus - then you would have a point and I would agree.

My experiences are very consistent (obviously depending on departure time, destination etc..) Let me explain what the normal CX service standard is:- Last week I did BNE-HKG in Biz, the senior purser greeted me immediately after takeoff, followed by the ISM prior to the meal service. ISM asks what meal choice I would prefer so that I am served first (as all Emeralds generally are). I devour the main swiftly and the SP comes back with a 2nd course of the same meal without any prompting. Another junior crew returns and adds yet more Garlic bread to my plate - again without any prompting.
ISM notices my bubbly glass is at 30% and from that point forward I had to RSA her. Overall the food was tastier and more satisfying than anything I've had on a plane since.... the previous HKG-BNE sector 3 days prior (sorry boomy and Bevan - CX beat the steak!)

This isn't just flawless service - it's exceptional and consistent flight after flight.

Furthermore - I could draw you up a long laundry list of airlines that can't get consistency right...

 

[anat0l]

First, the traditional Italian marinara sauce is vegetarian - it is a basic tomato-based sauce. A dish containing seafood has never been labelled with the vegetarian icon on a CX menu - at least in my experience - they would shoot themselves in the foot considerably (and legally) if they elected to put the "seafood 'marinara'" on their menu and serve that as a vegetarian dish. One having to expend their epipen would ensure that someone at CX or in the supply chain would be literally and deservedly dragged over hot coals.


In any case, I've noticed that CX J food is getting progressively worse. The regional services are the ones where this is likely falling down the most. At best, most of the meals are good comfort meals, like from an average Chinese restaurant buffet. For example, I've had sweet and sour fried fish where it was 90% batter and 10% fish (plus the batter hadn't cooked properly, you could clearly see and taste flour). Although the bulgogi style beef I had on a CX flight some time ago was like eating little bits of slivered crusty beef, at least the flavour was there, especially in the accompaniments.

On a flight like HKG/MNL, the last meal I had was marketed as a refreshment. That was either an Asian meat dish with rice, or a vegetarian pasta dish (usually something fairly "easy" or "standard", like ricotta and spinach ravioli with tomato sauce). Served up with a sweet pastry, a fruit dish and choice of bakery items.

People used to marvel at CX's (in fact, almost any Asian carrier's) inclusion of garlic bread on the bakery selection. Personally I'm not enamoured with it.

CX F catering is certainly nicer than CX J, though I've had a miss or two on it too. The selection doesn't necessarily make you go 'wow'; yes they have caviar but so what.

On seating alone, CX does very well in this. If selection were only based on a seat, CX makes for a consistent choice.


I've only flown CX Y once on a regional flight. The food was pretty standard for Economy so I didn't give many hoots about it. This flight was longer than HKG/MNL so even though it was a B777, we were probably expecting some sort of meal rather than just a refreshment. I didn't really notice how the crew were, but since I was in Economy I can't imagine that we were really worth their time.

HKG/MNL is one of the busiest Filipino routes within Asia. Even on the full cost carriers, the traffic on the route does make it pretty much like a bus route or monorail, viz. SYD/MEL. The most you are gaining flying CX (or KA) is lounge access at either end. Whether that is worth your money (you can use PriorityPass at either end, too) is a whole different thing.

 

[knasty]

There's a bit of a mixed reaction to this. I like it. My sister hates it. My mom likes it.

I think it's great to see what takes your fancy and order on the spot. When ordering from the menu some dishes sound great but then you wish you'd picked something else.

+1. Whilst i agree CX J food is not top of the heap several times I've changed my mind when Ive seen the trolley. The further forward the hotter the food...

 

[rocketboy]

Though I like CX, I normally don't choose it as there no direct flights into Munich. However a J class sale fare for my trip home last month was too good not to ignore. Overall I was very happy. Yes the food was underwhelming but certainly not inedible. Service was consistently good across all flights and the seat is excellent. On my return I deliberately skipped the meals and ate on the ground. Very impressed with The Pier in HKG. I slept better and longer and felt much less bloated when I arrived.

 

[amaroo]

I'm at 38 CX flights this year (including 8x returns to hkg-au) and I'm yet to have any meals not worth consuming.

Every airline has their weaknesses but I've never seen below average food on CX. The tally of airlines with terrible food is longer than Santas naught list but CX sure isn't on it. Then again I never fly economy and meals don't drive my purchase decisions. Actually I lie - CX F Pier food hands down beats SYD/MEL First class lounge. If you've not been to the refurbished lounge you're in for a treat.

Now - unless a passenger has flown a high number of sectors over a long period which would qualify one to make such a remark - commentary like 'blah airlines food is average' is almost entirely unfounded and holds no substance in the larger scheme. 1 passenger has a couple J flights with average feedback on their personal thoughts on one meal and suddenly the entire catering section is lousy? If you were to mention the new cheap business menus - then you would have a point and I would agree.

My experiences are very consistent (obviously depending on departure time, destination etc..) Let me explain what the normal CX service standard is:- Last week I did BNE-HKG in Biz, the senior purser greeted me immediately after takeoff, followed by the ISM prior to the meal service. ISM asks what meal choice I would prefer so that I am served first (as all Emeralds generally are). I devour the main swiftly and the SP comes back with a 2nd course of the same meal without any prompting. Another junior crew returns and adds yet more Garlic bread to my plate - again without any prompting.
ISM notices my bubbly glass is at 30% and from that point forward I had to RSA her. Overall the food was tastier and more satisfying than anything I've had on a plane since.... the previous HKG-BNE sector 3 days prior (sorry boomy and Bevan - CX beat the steak!)

This isn't just flawless service - it's exceptional and consistent flight after flight.

Furthermore - I could draw you up a long laundry list of airlines that can't get consistency right...

Absolutely agree with this review/statement.

 

[Anna]

My CX Y experiences in July were fine.

ADL - HKG - bulkhead seat at front of Y but escorted by CSM after take-off to a seat with a shadow (returned to bulkhead for landing), given first choice of meal, asked several times if I needed anything. Food unmemorable which at least means it wasn't disgusting.

HKG - ADL overnight flight, CSM introduction, asked if I needed anything, bulkhead seat again (full flight). Sitting upright in Y overnight means far less snoring disturbance from other pax - who knew? I may think twice before booking J/F on overnight flights again Dinner service after take-off, lights off 2.5 hours, lights on 2.5 hours before landing to serve breakfast at 2.30am HKG time :shock: which I didn't eat. My main issues were that the FAs seemed very flurried and tried to do everything in haste which resulted in mistakes and things actually taking longer than if they just slowed down a bit. Also those stupid sloping traytables in the slight V shape - a book on my lap slipped on to the floor, which caused the table to curve, which caused my elegant plastic tumbler filled with white wine to follow the book ...

SQ did it better in Y when I last flew with them but in terms of value for money I don't have any complaints about either of them. It's not like QF gives us an option out of ADL :evil:

 

[medhead]

I'm struggling with the concept of Britain as the definitive source for determining Italian food construction.

But I will note that marinara does translate from Italian as "seagoing", according to the interwebs. It is probably reasonable that countries like Britain or Australia might pick up that basic translation when coughising Italian food rather than the subtitles of regional cuisine.

My CX Y experiences in July were fine.

ADL - HKG - bulkhead seat at front of Y but escorted by CSM after take-off to a seat with a shadow (returned to bulkhead for landing), given first choice of meal, asked several times if I needed anything. Food unmemorable which at least means it wasn't disgusting.

HKG - ADL overnight flight, CSM introduction, asked if I needed anything, bulkhead seat again (full flight). Sitting upright in Y overnight means far less snoring disturbance from other pax - who knew? I may think twice before booking J/F on overnight flights again Dinner service after take-off, lights off 2.5 hours, lights on 2.5 hours before landing to serve breakfast at 2.30am HKG time :shock: which I didn't eat. My main issues were that the FAs seemed very flurried and tried to do everything in haste which resulted in mistakes and things actually taking longer than if they just slowed down a bit. Also those stupid sloping traytables in the slight V shape - a book on my lap slipped on to the floor, which caused the table to curve, which caused my elegant plastic tumbler filled with white wine to follow the book ...

SQ did it better in Y when I last flew with them but in terms of value for money I don't have any complaints about either of them. It's not like QF gives us an option out of ADL :evil:

Thanks, looking to try CX and/or SQ ex ADL later this year

 

[katiebell]

I'm at 38 CX flights this year (including 8x returns to hkg-au) and I'm yet to have any meals not worth consuming.

Every airline has their weaknesses but I've never seen below average food on CX. The tally of airlines with terrible food is longer than Santas naught list but CX sure isn't on it. Then again I never fly economy and meals don't drive my purchase decisions. Actually I lie - CX F Pier food hands down beats SYD/MEL First class lounge. If you've not been to the refurbished lounge you're in for a treat.

Now - unless a passenger has flown a high number of sectors over a long period which would qualify one to make such a remark - commentary like 'blah airlines food is average' is almost entirely unfounded and holds no substance in the larger scheme. 1 passenger has a couple J flights with average feedback on their personal thoughts on one meal and suddenly the entire catering section is lousy? If you were to mention the new cheap business menus - then you would have a point and I would agree.

My experiences are very consistent (obviously depending on departure time, destination etc..) Let me explain what the normal CX service standard is:- Last week I did BNE-HKG in Biz, the senior purser greeted me immediately after takeoff, followed by the ISM prior to the meal service. ISM asks what meal choice I would prefer so that I am served first (as all Emeralds generally are). I devour the main swiftly and the SP comes back with a 2nd course of the same meal without any prompting. Another junior crew returns and adds yet more Garlic bread to my plate - again without any prompting.
ISM notices my bubbly glass is at 30% and from that point forward I had to RSA her. Overall the food was tastier and more satisfying than anything I've had on a plane since.... the previous HKG-BNE sector 3 days prior (sorry boomy and Bevan - CX beat the steak!)

This isn't just flawless service - it's exceptional and consistent flight after flight.

Furthermore - I could draw you up a long laundry list of airlines that can't get consistency right...

I'm ONE too, fly J longhaul several times per year and CX regularly for the last 10+ years. The 4 main meals on all 4 sectors on my recent trip were well below par and not at all palatable, even by airline food standards.

I have never been offered a 2nd main course, not been served first…

We all have different experiences and my 4 sectors were not of the standard usually associated with CX or what I expect in J (& I'm not expecting fine dining).

 

[PineappleSkip]

I have never been offered a 2nd main course, not been served first.

Same here, although the rest of trippin_the_rift's review is consistent with my experience. I almost always choose the Chinese dish - when in Rome (eat marinara?), when in CX do the chopsticks. The western dishes don't look inspiring to me. F&B quality consistent by sector but sectors vary a bit, Deutz to AUS not quite Billecart-Salmon to DXB.

Minor losses over the years, the comb/brush thingy in the toiletries bag, then the Agnes B toiletries bag itself, then the new menus look like ****e run off on a photocopier.

But then after I eat my pralines I settle back in my hard product and am happy .

Cheers skip

 

[katiebell]

But then after I eat my pralines I settle back in my hard product and am happy .

Cheers skip

Like many airline, the chocolates go missing more often than not...

 

[PineappleSkip]

Like many airline, the chocolates go missing more often than not...

Possibly because a pineapple chocolate eater was in the row in front.