Cathay Pacific - LCC Experience

[Mrmaxwell]

I have recently been flying the MNL-HKG-MNL route in whY once a month due to work projects and have been surprised by how average the service/food is on these flights with CX. Having always read on many forums (here included) how good CX is it seems like I am flying the wrong airline. Are all these positive reports related to J cabins only?

The six flights so far have all been late (some due to weather), have had very tired cabin crew and service is a cardboard box with a dried pastry and a 200ML popper of fake mango drink. Cannot even get a diet coke. Add to this flights are always full so it really seems like a bus trip.

Perhaps it is just the route (considered regional?) however the price being paid is top dollar compared to other asian fares so I was expecting better.

Edit. I just visited the new CX lounge at MNL (terminal 3) and it is very impressive. Shame the great experience ends when I step onto the plane.

 

[dajop]

Wow sounds bad. I can't say I've been that impressed with CX Y catering ex HKG the times I've taken them . But the pastry box sounds a bit cheap. FWIW in this part of Asia, SQ do full service on regional routes except the 30min run to KL. CGK-SIN for example (which is about 165 miles shorter than MNL-HKG) gets a full
meal and drinks in Y. Even seen them make up Singapore Slings. I realise that's a bit OT and not going to help you, but as the two airlines are often compared, thought I would mention it. I guess though CX is competing mainly with 5J and PR whereas SQ has about 7-8 competitors to CGK including several full service.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Wow sounds bad. I can't say I've been that impressed with CX Y catering ex HKG the times I've taken them . But the pastry box sounds a bit cheap. FWIW in this part of Asia, SQ do full service on regional routes except the 30min run to KL. CGK-SIN for example (which is about 165 miles shorter than MNL-HKG) gets a full
meal and drinks in Y. Even seen them make up Singapore Slings. I realise that's a bit OT and not going to help you, but as the two airlines are often compared, thought I would mention it. I guess though CX is competing mainly with 5J and PR whereas SQ has about 7-8 competitors to CGK including several full service.

Good point about the competition but even PR offers you a hot meal / spirits and wine - also I found the service very warm and friendly on the single flight I took MNL-HKG back in Jan for a social trip (before my project commenced). As I mentioned yesterday was my 6th flight so I feel I have giving CX enough time to show me their 'average' and all of it has been below average. At AU$200++ each way I think it is very poor showing. Another observation which I hate to entertain is that a large majority of PAX seem to be domestic helpers going/coming for a visit back with family. Several I have spoken to next to me are either maids in HKG or construction in the middle east - do CX know this and drop the standards?

Finally the cabin crew sitting opposite me last night told me he is going back to the hotel after our 22.30 arrival for a few hours sleep before waking up at 4.00 the next morning for the return 5.20 service to HKG - shouldn't be allowed poor crew!!

 

[yohy?!]

This is a regional route, they introduced the boxed catering a couple of years ago and it's pretty dire but must save them bucket loads of cash.

Fill up in the lounge, you don't really have much choice on this route (I wouldn't trust PR) - it's a good route for opups also.

 

[Isochronous]

This is a regional route, they introduced the boxed catering a couple of years ago and it's pretty dire but must save them bucket loads of cash.

Fill up in the lounge, you don't really have much choice on this route (I wouldn't trust PR) - it's a good route for opups also.

Correct on that last point - normally pretty light on status pax on this route.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Finally the cabin crew sitting opposite me last night told me he is going back to the hotel after our 22.30 arrival for a few hours sleep before waking up at 4.00 the next morning for the return 5.20 service to HKG - shouldn't be allowed poor crew!!

That's the only flight pair they do for the day... so they've had the whole day to rest in HKG, then do the MNL turn-around. It's not as stressful for crew as it is for a passenger... there's no queuing for luggage, no queuing for immigration, no worrying about ground transport... or hotel check-in queues. Everything is arranged with minimum wait times.

 

[Melburnian1]

yohi?!, there is quite a bit of choice on this route - more so than on some Australian interstate routes.

I too recently travelled on a lunchtime flight with CX on that route and similarly thought the catering was very poor, as I also received the pastry in a small box and the 200ml mango drink.

Better to save money and travel on 5J, as their ham and cheese croissant at I think P80 (A$2.30) is tastier, although both options are not exactly Michelin starred cuisine.

The CX crew attitude can leave a bit to be desired. The Filipino airlines are mostly better in this regard.

PR is more reliable in its timekeeping in recent years, so it too is worth consideration.

 

[smit0847]

Having recently flown PR on this route in their super high density all Y A330 i would not do it again.

 

[katiebell]

Finally the cabin crew sitting opposite me last night told me he is going back to the hotel after our 22.30 arrival for a few hours sleep before waking up at 4.00 the next morning for the return 5.20 service to HKG - shouldn't be allowed poor crew!!

This is really unreasonable given the time of the break. it would be OK in the middle of the day but as this is overnight, or back of clock, all the evidence on fatigue would say not safe and not reasonable. It is also bound to affect the crew's ability to be nice to pax.

On the matter of CX food: it is definitely worse. I recently flew Aus-EU rtn in J. Pasta dish ex AUS was like eating clag… The pasta dish ex LHR was pasta marinara and was labelled vegetarian!!! I never knew seafood was veggie. After the outbound flight I had ordered a VLML meal for the rtn trip and got vegan: also disgusting to the point of inedible. All in a business class fare. Complaints to CX got a very delayed 'so what' reply.

I've just booked my next trip to the EU and chose not to look at CX. It used to be a great airline but is not so at present. Shame really.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is really unreasonable given the time of the break. it would be OK in the middle of the day but as this is overnight, or back of clock, all the evidence on fatigue would say not safe and not reasonable. It is also bound to affect the crew's ability to be nice to pax.

On the matter of CX food: it is definitely worse. I recently flew Aus-EU rtn in J. Pasta dish ex AUS was like eating clag… The pasta dish ex LHR was pasta marinara and was labelled vegetarian!!! I never knew seafood was veggie. After the outbound flight I had ordered a VLML meal for the rtn trip and got vegan: also disgusting to the point of inedible. All in a business class fare. Complaints to CX got a very delayed 'so what' reply.

I've just booked my next trip to the EU and chose not to look at CX. It used to be a great airline but is not so at present. Shame really.

Marinara sauce is vegetarian! At least that's how it's accepted in most of the world. Here is the recipie:

[h=3]What You Need[/h]Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon salt
Fresh thyme, basil, oregano, or other herbs
Parmesan cheese, to garnish, optional
Cooked pasta, to serve

I think it's an australian thing to have it refer to seafood.

As for the crew hours... the CX departure for Manila is 835pm local... so crew reporting time is around 7pm. They've had the whole day to sleep and rest for the flight. Then it's a short hop to manila, and another few hours sleep in a hotel before their return. It's not ideal... but no different to a long-haul evening departure where they may be flying the whole time with a rest break for three or four hour on board in the crew bunks (or not, in the case of flights to Australia).

 

[katiebell]

Marinara sauce is vegetarian! At least that's how it's accepted in most of the world. Here is the recipie:



I think it's an australian thing to have it refer to seafood.

As for the crew hours... the CX departure for Manila is 835pm local... so crew reporting time is around 7pm. They've had the whole day to sleep and rest for the flight. Then it's a short hop to manila, and another few hours sleep in a hotel before their return. It's not ideal... but no different to a long-haul evening departure where they may be flying the whole time with a rest break for three or four hour on board in the crew bunks (or not, in the case of flights to Australia).

I beg to disagree:

This is a Birtish recipe for spaghetti marina (scallops, fish, mussels clams).

[h=1]Spaghetti marinara[/h]
A classic dish full of flavour and taste.

[h=2]Ingredients[/h]

• 300g/10½oz spaghetti
  
• 1 large banana shallot or onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  
• 1 chilli, chopped
  
• 75ml/2½fl oz olive oil
  
• 12 clams
  
• 12 medium mussels
  
• 75ml/2½fl oz white wine
  
• 4 sea scallops, cut in half
  
• 2x 130-140g/4½oz fillets of sea bass, cut into 4 equal slices
  
• cherry tomatoes on the vine
  
• tapenade
  
• 10g/½oz extra fine capers
  
• ½ lemon, juice only
  
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
  
• 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley

 

[Archphoto]

Usually I see it advertised as "Seafood Marinara" when it's the traditional style with additional seafood.

"Marinara sauce is an Italian sauce that originated in Naples, usually made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. Its many variations can include the addition of capers, olives and spices. It is occasionally sweetened with a dash of red wine."

If I ordered pasta with marinara sauce, I'd expect it to be minus *any* meat/seafood; Seafood Marinara - obviously the same but with the addition of seafood (not that I would, hate seafood!).

Therefore, if it were offered on a vegetarian menu, it should be the sauce only. Of course, it depends on the definition of "marinara" and "vegetarian" when you travel - Asia sometimes likes to go freestyle.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I beg to disagree:

This is a Birtish recipe for spaghetti marina (scallops, fish, mussels clams).

Spaghetti marinara


A classic dish full of flavour and taste.

Ingredients

• 300g/10½oz spaghetti
• 1 large banana shallot or onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 chilli, chopped
• 75ml/2½fl oz olive oil
• 12 clams
• 12 medium mussels
• 75ml/2½fl oz white wine
• 4 sea scallops, cut in half
• 2x 130-140g/4½oz fillets of sea bass, cut into 4 equal slices
• cherry tomatoes on the vine
• tapenade
• 10g/½oz extra fine capers
• ½ lemon, juice only
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
• 1 tsp freshly chopped parsley

I agree with MEL_Traveller
CX will speak American English not British English and Marinara to them is tomato sauce, no seafood at all. If there was seafood in it would have been mentioned on the menu

 

[JessicaTam]

If I order pizza or pasta 'marinara' I will always check the ingredients. Unless I am in Italy*, where I know it will be vego.

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*If I posted this in any other forum I would sound like a prat, but here I know I am safe.

 

[katiebell]

I agree with MEL_Traveller
CX will speak American English not British English and Marinara to them is tomato sauce, no seafood at all. If there was seafood in it would have been mentioned on the menu

The flight was from LHR to HKG i.e. UK to a former British colony so I was expecting UK/world English and do not notice any Americanisms elsewhere on CX menus. As the menu does not list ingredients or describe the dish it is not possible to tell what is in it. I asked the purser and she thought it was seafood too.

Like Jesssica Tam I always try to check ingredients, not least because of (medically verified) adverse reaction to a common ingredient.

 

[katiebell]

PS regardless of what constitutes marinara, the food on all 4 sectors was largely inedible and not the standard I have been used to on CX in J. BTW I am not expecting fine dining but do expect properly cooked, fresh, tasty food (esp for the first meal). QF J are certainly showing how good airline food can be.

 

[Princess Fiona]

PS regardless of what constitutes marinara, the food on all 4 sectors was largely inedible and not the standard I have been used to on CX in J. BTW I am not expecting fine dining but do expect properly cooked, fresh, tasty food (esp for the first meal). QF J are certainly showing how good airline food can be.

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.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The flight was from LHR to HKG i.e. UK to a former British colony so I was expecting UK/world English and do not notice any Americanisms elsewhere on CX menus. As the menu does not list ingredients or describe the dish it is not possible to tell what is in it. I asked the purser and she thought it was seafood too.

Like Jesssica Tam I always try to check ingredients, not least because of (medically verified) adverse reaction to a common ingredient.

I don't eat fish or seafood either. And I'm wary of ordering 'marinara' in Australia because I know they make it with fish/seafood (mussels and stuff). However, if it was on the menu as 'vegetarian' then it would be safe to eat as they would be following either the US or traditional Italian versions. (I didn't know the UK also made it with seafood!)

 

[Princess Fiona]

If I order pizza or pasta 'marinara' I will always check the ingredients. Unless I am in Italy*, where I know it will be vego.

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*If I posted this in any other forum I would sound like a prat, but here I know I am safe.

Add America to that list Jess. It will be vego there

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I particularly hate the trolley service with the meals on to look at.

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.