CX J MEL-PVG – WOW What an Experience!

[Cruiser Elite]

I had an annual trade show to attend in PVG June 6 to 9 – as these dates are set I had SQ F MEL-SIN the R SIN-PVG (78K KF pts) booked from way back. But as many of you know Banks just keep throwing CC sign on bonii pts at you hence with a bucket load of QF pts and little chance to use them I was a little surprised when on Dec 22 2014 I saw availability CX J MEL-HKG then KA J PVG (70K QF pts) through QF web site – thinking this will be a good way to burn some of the unburnable I booked it.

I left the SQ booking sit there as my experience with non SQ carriers to / fro China less than fantastic – think TG itinerary changes on USDM here – and intended to cancel if nothing went pear shaped.

T-14 whilst I was in China I get call from QF advising I am booted from J on HKG-PVG sector due to equip change – and after a multitude of phone calls with QF 3 days prior to dep am advised am now back in J so itinerary stands. OK so all is looking sound now so cancel the SQ booking and cop the USD30 fee.

Am currently MP Diamond so access to QF F Lounge is ok – checked with lounge day prior and confirmed opening time 06:15 – am bad sleeper so was awake early and headed to airport early – checked in in like no time and am waiting at entrance to QF F Lounge at 06:00 – I am 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] in line – a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] pax joined us 1 min later and we all wait 15 mins – noticing EK lounge open and peeps coming and going – several staff pass by us into QF Lounge and not even an acknowledgment – kinda surprised at this – not even a ‘Gee you guys are early’ or something similar – whatever.

At 06:15 on the dot doors are opened and first words out of Lounge staff mouths are ‘Cathay passengers’? Yes Sir – clearly these Cathay parasites somewhat miff lounge staff – or I might have read this wrong. We are advised on entering that we will be advised when boarding commences.

Park my cough in chair in rest section and am immediately approached by a staff member who turns out to be an absolute ***STAR*** - her name is Hattie but more on this later.

Can I get you some breakfast Sir – sure can – but what champers you have on offer please? We have Veuve and ……whatever / whatever …..I think 5 choices in total WOW this is seriously good …..Veuve please and she wanders off to get my Veuve – 06:18 by now – I have 07:30 dep – gotta get a wriggle on.

Hattie returns with drink and takes brekky order – fruit salad and scrambled eggs and bacon and tomato and english breakfast tea pls…………….. Hattie is serving other customers in exactly the same gentle professional exquisite manner she served me – did I mention she is a ***STAR***?

5 mins later Hattie notices champs glass is empty and asks do I desire refill – yes please – brekky comes and is devoured – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3[SUP]rd [/SUP]glasses Veuve also consumed and at approx. 06:50 I left rest and headed to another area with softer chair. I was sitting there no longer than 30secs and Hattie tracks me down and asks would like another champs – yes please so 4[SUP]th [/SUP]glass appears.

Read paper / drank champers / toilet visit – then go check at front desk because no boarding announcement by 07:15 – advised that indeed it is time to board.

2 points I cannot emphasize enough at this point in time:

1. QF F Lounge is just a sensation! Clearly I do not require multiple glasses of champs or bacon and eggs for brekky to enjoy life – but it is there and available – it is on offer – every flight I take I view as an adventure – the QF F Lounge just adds a further layer to that adventure which I just adore.

2. Hattie is nothing short of a ***STAR*** - her service level is exquisite – such a lovely person. I thanked and thanked her – I then sought out Nick the Lounge Manager on duty and passed on my thoughts to him – I also asked him to record my thoughts and pass them on to his superiors.

*FTR – It is totally possible to enter QF F Lounge – drink as many champers as you can within an hour – enjoy all food and facilities on offer – and leave on your own accord without being booted by management – go figure!

Red Roo - If by chance you do read this please pass on to those up the chain my thoughts re Hattie that I have expressed here.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Approaching gate I hear my name called over PA – please go to gate – arrive at gate and am advised myself and 1 other J pax are last to board – informed staff I was in QF F and no barding announcement made – their response was ‘Qantas do that all the time’ – NFI - shoulder shrug.

By the time I arrive at seat we are close to push back – so quickly grab my BYO PJs from bag and seek hanger from crew member – this is the first less than friendly response I get from CX crew but I get hanger and think to myself well I am not early so I should expect this – change – hand clothes back to crew member and return to seat. Am offered a drink – yes pls – what champers are you serving? Deutz – OMG – Deutz – ok I will have one thanks – let me tell you it has not improved since I was sampled it on CX MEL-HKG 12mths ago – just so ordinary.

You guys know the CZ herringbone seats – ok to sit on and bed does lays flat _ I just hate the thought of sitting in any herringbone seat and not facing straight forward – I also find the CX types – both the new and the bold to kinda coffin like – I am just not a herringbone layout fan at all. I also found tray adjustment less than perfect but that’s common on many carriers – good range in IFE but not a movie I have not already seen so as usual on most carriers I revert BYO IFE.

After take off another Deutz or 7 – amazing how it did improve over ensuing hours. Skipped on board brekky as already had same in QF F – watched BYO IFE / snoozed / BYO IFE / snoozed – didn’t lay bed flat just snoozed. After a few hours got up went to WC and freshened up a little – time to sit up and take in the environment.

Did I mention I don’t like herringbone seats? Every seat in J taken – totally full cabin – crew were very busy which might explain their less than friendly demeanour – now at the risk of being a mouthpiece for SQ – IMHO – CX cabin crew are just not as friendly as SQ crew are. IMHO that is – clearly YMMV.

As I was sitting there IFS or CSM or whatever CX call them wandered down and I just kinda glanced at her as she was passing – Can I get you a drink Sir – yes please champers please. She returned herself with the glass and lovely friendly smile and said ‘Anything else I can get you just ask please’ – I said ‘I will probably require another of these shortly’ – ‘No problem Sir – I will come back and check on you’

From that point in time it was like I had my own personal butler – IFS / CSM kept returning with Deutz bottle on tray and seeing if I required anything – she did mention at that time I was the only pax in J drinking champers – go figure.

Lunch came and went – quite OK nothing spectacular – again I think SQ’s meal service is slightly superior but that’s probably splitting hairs – maybe I am just so accustomed to their procedures its become the norm and all others different. After lunch just filled in time until arrival and I was again looking forward to spending time in Wing F.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Arrived at Wing F and having eaten lunch on flight did not require lunch just a drink or 2 and checked emails etc. Champagne bar had Veuve, Moet Rose and Peninsular labelled champs. Peninsular? Who are they trying to kid – obviously its been on offer there for years now – but Peninsular? Should shrug.

Scheduled 1:30 layover – lounge staff said pls keep checking because many delays into PVG – MEL_Traveller alluded to in other posts – jeez I just did not want or need this – bummer. Waited 60 mins then we get go ahead to board – as lounge staff ‘Where is Gate 524 please’? – Go downstairs over there she points and you will find it – follow signage and follow the crowd like a sheep – downstairs through the maze – OMG – tarmac level and wait for a bus – OMG so long since I have experienced this – OMG get in line with hundreds of others – OMG no priority line – OMG at least in China the Chinese carriers give J pax their own little special minibus – OMG stand in line for 15mins – OMG get shoe horned into a bus with another 100 people when clearly 50 would fill it – OMG takes forever to weave our way across tarmac – OMG

Up the stair and into 11H – OMG – is this really my business class seat for this sector? Again as MEL_Traveller had indicated on other threads virtually no
reline – ZERO IFE – OMG what a disgraceful product to use on such an important route. IMHO – CX coupling this product with their own hard product on such an important route as HKG-PVG is nothing short of DISGRACEFUL – an absolute DISGRACE.

Soft product was fine – only 8 seats on this ark so only 8 pax – young crew guy who looked after us was a SENSATION – such a lovely attentive young guy – he can serve me anytime pls. Piper Heidsecke Champs before take off – then the announcement – sorry pax but due to delays in PVG we cannot take-off just yet – so we sit for an hour before moving OMG!

Finally get into air and flight such a bore from there – meal was quite ok – Prawn and Salmon and Mixed Salad Starters – Beef Tenderloin – Haagen Dazs Ice Cream - a Spanish and a French Red on offer – coffee – OMG that coffee undrinkable – forgot to mention that re CX flt – nothing short of dishwater. So we finally arrive into PVG hours and hours late – YES I know delays totally out of control of CX / KA – but aircraft available / utilised on this sector is controllable by CX just totally unacceptable IMHO – NEVER AGAIN.

So please – penegal, Tommy, Cove, infinity – if you ever see me contemplating taking CX MEL-China again will you please cough SLAP me into tomorrow?

 

[N860CR]

I'm a massive fan of the CX J product and virtually fly nobody else now. By herringbone, do you mean the old school seats or the new business product? Haven't flown out of MEL but id have thought it would have the reconfigured fleet by now.

CX service is different to the other Asian airlines. I find they're not overly proactive however will happily oblige any request without attitude (unlike some other airlines... Pushing the call bell on QF can be an experience).

 

[TomVexille]

Deal

So can I have the rest of your QF points now?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So after all that - yesterday I cancelled 2 x CCs that had yielded me total 80K QF FF pts at total cost $50 - those 80K pts more than enough CX/KA MEL-China plus $200 taxes I paid last time - see the dilemma? On the one hand so cheap - on the other hand the KA product so disappointing. Guys you never know - I might just do this again - won't be soon but in time I'll get over it or forget the degree of disappointment - so if you guys do cough SLAP me hold it back a tad - midnight will do and not tomorrow!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

By herringbone, do you mean the old school seats or the new business product? Haven't flown out of MEL but id have thought it would have the reconfigured fleet by now.

Yes the new seats - still herringbone - anything that doesn't sit you facing straight forward I just do not like - QF F on 380 included - I like to face straight forward.

 

[yohy?!]

What was the KA metal used? I think they are in the middle of upgrading to the new CX regional J seat on the 330s, (if you had PTV it was the new one probably) - I'm not a fan of the recline either but it's fine for short hops.

Delays are just par for the course on China routes from HK just have to make sure you're in J with a good book or work to do as it's unavoidable.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

320 with 8 seats in J - certainly nothing new about it. ZERO IFE at all. Yes I did indicate I understand delays to / fro Chine - it was the metal I had the issue with.

 

[yohy?!]

Ah yes the 320s are tenge ones to avoid - the number of types used on these routes is huge, if you have some flexibility there is usually a long haul CX bird or 2 in the mix at certain times of the day

 

[Comoman]

Ah yes the 320s are tenge ones to avoid - the number of types used on these routes is huge, if you have some flexibility there is usually a long haul CX bird or 2 in the mix at certain times of the day

Yes I took CX368 a 4-class 777-300 from HK to Shanghai. Booked in business but had seat 1K (first class seat, business class service). Very pleasant way to pass the time.....

 

[ermen]

Park my cough in chair in rest section and am immediately approached by a staff member who turns out to be an absolute ***STAR*** - her name is Hattie but more on this later.

Can I get you some breakfast Sir – sure can – but what champers you have on offer please? We have Veuve and ……whatever / whatever …..I think 5 choices in total WOW this is seriously good …..Veuve please and she wanders off to get my Veuve – 06:18 by now – I have 07:30 dep – gotta get a wriggle on.

Hattie returns with drink and takes brekky order – fruit salad and scrambled eggs and bacon and tomato and english breakfast tea pls…………….. Hattie is serving other customers in exactly the same gentle professional exquisite manner she served me – did I mention she is a ***STAR***?

5 mins later Hattie notices champs glass is empty and asks do I desire refill – yes please – brekky comes and is devoured – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] and 3[SUP]rd [/SUP]glasses Veuve also consumed and at approx. 06:50 I left rest and headed to another area with softer chair. I was sitting there no longer than 30secs and Hattie tracks me down and asks would like another champs – yes please so 4[SUP]th [/SUP]glass appears.

Read paper / drank champers / toilet visit – then go check at front desk because no boarding announcement by 07:15 – advised that indeed it is time to board.

2 points I cannot emphasize enough at this point in time:

1. QF F Lounge is just a sensation! Clearly I do not require multiple glasses of champs or bacon and eggs for brekky to enjoy life – but it is there and available – it is on offer – every flight I take I view as an adventure – the QF F Lounge just adds a further layer to that adventure which I just adore.

2. Hattie is nothing short of a ***STAR*** - her service level is exquisite – such a lovely person. I thanked and thanked her – I then sought out Nick the Lounge Manager on duty and passed on my thoughts to him – I also asked him to record my thoughts and pass them on to his superiors.

*FTR – It is totally possible to enter QF F Lounge – drink as many champers as you can within an hour – enjoy all food and facilities on offer – and leave on your own accord without being booted by management – go figure!

Red Roo - If by chance you do read this please pass on to those up the chain my thoughts re Hattie that I have expressed here.

Yes I remember Hattie from the MEL F lounge too (I've only been there once). When I was there, service was overall very excellent (and I was a little worried going in due to the other negative reviews on the MEL F lounge prior...)

 

[LadyC]

If only there was a way to use the MEL F Lounge and fly SQ F.....well a girl can dream!

 

[ReLoad]

CX and PVG don't mix, I've been left abandoned at HKG thanks to missed connections, coupled with CXs very poor service recovery make it one flight I won't book with CX ever again.

In saying that, CX are great to fly with, I have no issue with the herringbone, just get the K side of the plane, much more private.

And CX is the only airline where I've had a FA tuck me in to sleep

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And CX is the only airline where I've had a FA tuck me in to sleep

Male or female FA? Peck on the cheek too? Not that there is anything wrong with that Jerry!

 

[ReLoad]

Male or female FA? Peck on the cheek too? Not that there is anything wrong with that Jerry!

Female and a she had me at tucking me in, a peck on the cheek and I would have had a coronary, far too old for that sort of thing!

A few years back CX was on quite a roll with me, upgrades, great service, you name it. Then it went pear shaped in a hurry, gave all my asian business back to QF.

Now with the new J seats QF have caught up. I've never really thought about it before but realistically It was lucky timing switching back, the whole EK thing is awesome and I think service in premium cabins has improved a lot.

Only thing I'd say about CX and it applies to SQ, gosh they can be robots.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting report Cruiser.

The A320 was your choice however. It's easily avoided on the HKG-PVG flights and their A321 or 330 are much better - modern product, IFE etc etc.

Narrow body aircraft are much more likely to leave from the 500 gates or by bus. Again, somewhat easily avoided if you avoid the A320. Of which there are only one or two a day out of the 15 or so flights to PVG.

The issue of Qantas not calling the flight - that's a Qantas issue, not CX. As a Cathay Diamond you'd know it is the passenger's responsibility to be at the gate in time for boarding, announcement or not.

If you did arrive as close to push back as you say, i wonder if the crew had other pressures rather than assisting you to change? rather than perhaps after takeoff just a few minutes later? (Or are you referring to an 'at seat' change of just a t-shirt?)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Interesting report Cruiser.....................The A320 was your choice however. It's easily avoided on the HKG-PVG flights and their A321 or 330 are much better - modern product, IFE etc etc.?

Interesting response MEL - 320 was indeed my choice - well the only choice on offer as it was a rdpt booking as I have stated like 100 times - no other choice of flts offered - until they decided to kick me out of J and into Y or take a much later flt with a midnight arrival which I would never have chosen.

The issue of Qantas not calling the flight - that's a Qantas issue, not CX. As a Cathay Diamond you'd know it is the passenger's responsibility to be at the gate in time for boarding, announcement or not.

Yes I should know better than to listen to the staff on the desk at entry to QF F when they advised all 3 of us early arrivees who were all on the same CX flt - maybe I should learn to comprehend better but I still think 'We will make boarding announcement' that they might just do that - but you are right as a seasoned traveller it is my duty and my duty alone to arrive at gate on time - my bad.

If you did arrive as close to push back as you say, i wonder if the crew had other pressures rather than assisting you to change? rather than perhaps after takeoff just a few minutes later? (Or are you referring to an 'at seat' change of just a t-shirt?)

Clearly staff had other tasks to attend to and I am capable of a 2min clothes change in WC all on my own and certainly did not hold crew up - but I appreciate your advice.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting response MEL - 320 was indeed my choice - well the only choice on offer as it was a rdpt booking as I have stated like 100 times - no other choice of flts offered - until they decided to kick me out of J and into Y or take a much later flt with a midnight arrival which I would never have chosen.
Yes I should know better than to listen to the staff on the desk at entry to QF F when they advised all 3 of us early arrivees who were all on the same CX flt - maybe I should learn to comprehend better but I still think 'We will make boarding announcement' that they might just do that - but you are right as a seasoned traveller it is my duty and my duty alone to arrive at gate on time - my bad.
Clearly staff had other tasks to attend to and I am capable of a 2min clothes change in WC all on my own and certainly did not hold crew up - but I appreciate your advice.

I probably didn't read your post in the right way...

I took it (a) that your lateness was somehow frowned upon by CX and distracted from your CX experience... yet you were probably complaining about QF and not CX; and (b) I misread that the request for a coat hangar 'is the first less than friendly response I get from CX crew' to mean that there were also subsequent 'less than friendly responses' (rather than, as it seems, this was the first time ever you had one?)

As for the A320 - I see the issue now. I would have actually used the initial class downgrade to get accommodated on another service Class downgrades happen fairly frequently on KA between HKG-PVG (from F to J). Calling KA rather than the ticket issuer (QF/AA/US or whomever has issued the award) gets you placed on any other flight of your choosing (they create an award seat out of inventory), and then the ticket goes back for reissue. Cuts out the ticket issuer who might be looking for award space rather than revenue space.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes MEL it was QF not making announcement that I was having a dig at - the one blemish on an otherwise faultless experience in a faultless loune. I was only late-ish in boarding - not really late. CX cew in past I have always found pretty good - this was 100% full cabin and me asking for coat hanger like 5 mins pre take off is cutting it a bit fine I know - but that is life.

Crew on this flt were a tad on the cold side I felt until the IFS / CSM wowed me with her attentiveness - she was a star.

I did talk to CX directly to ascertain whether or not QF were telling me 'porky pies' re me being booted from J to Y - no alternative flts were offered except for very late arrival intp PVG. I still stand by my intial post - it is DISGRACEFUL that CX use these old planes on such an important route as PVG - I have had to suffer 320 before on NKG route - never again there either - this HKG-PVG flt was about MU dom standard - well except for soft product on board.

MEL glad you and I are back on same page - I thought you might be falling out of love with me. And you and I certainly won't be squabbling over CX rdpts MEL-HGK-PVG in future - you are more than welcome to them.