Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Small changes I've noticed as a DM this year

1. Starting from the middle of this year, I've been getting more 'recognition' onboard as a DM (from ISM/Cabin crew) with respect to a personal greeting, first choice of meals etc. Not sure if this is due to lower number of DM's or an effort to try to retain as much loyalty as possible in the face of cost cutting.

2. No more buggy vouchers out of HKG for my travelling companions (including my wife/daughter)

3. Substantially less loading of meals inflight (maybe this is why they ask for my choice of main course first). In fact on one flight, I heard someone request for a second helping of starter in lieu of a main course and they were told the plane only loaded just enough starter trays for the passengers in J class. In fact one ISM even remarked to me that there isn't even much for them to eat onboard now!

4. Continued cost cutting of meals ex-HKG. Seems to be getting worse on a monthly basis. Doesn't seem to have impacted as much at other ports.

1 - for me this is true on KA; on CX it's just the same or even worse; the latest example on CX PEK-HKG: saying 3 words "Hi Mr tedhl" while looking at her sheet for the next one and then already went away. first choice of meals mostly/only happens on KA for me and almost never CX (as far as I remember)

2 - agree, same experience here; I also heard the same from other DM colleagues

3. Substantially less loading of meals inflight (maybe this is why they ask for my choice of main course first). In fact on one flight, I heard someone request for a second helping of starter in lieu of a main course and they were told the plane only loaded just enough starter trays for the passengers in J class. In fact one ISM even remarked to me that there isn't even much for them to eat onboard now!


Was this on a full flight? If so, I wouldn't expect them to load 42 trays if there are only 40 seats in J on the plane.

1. I noticed the opposite. CX still greets me and treats me very well on board, but not KA anymore. On my HKG-PEK-HKG KA flights about 10 days ago, I was totally ignored. KA used to treat me really well back in early 2007.

Was this on a full flight? If so, I wouldn't expect them to load 42 trays if there are only 40 seats in J on the plane.

No, flight wasn't full in J. Probably about 80% full. In the past, they would usually have more meals than necessary, maybe in case of unexpected op-ups or other eventualities.

Air China loads 95% of meals in Y, so I guess the figure should be roughly the same for J on CX.

I guess they expect you to eat in the lounge beforehand. ;)

4. Continued cost cutting of meals ex-HKG. Seems to be getting worse on a monthly basis. Doesn't seem to have impacted as much at other ports.

Agree.

Recent trips on CX (HKG-SIN Y, HKG-ICN J) makes me suspect if CX serves the same level of quality of hot meal in Y and J shorthauls. J still serves better salad and dessert than Y.

From what I experienced, the quality of the main dish is the same (i.e. nearly inedible) on both classes except it is presented in a bone-china tray vs a tinfoil container.

1. Starting from the middle of this year, I've been getting more 'recognition' onboard as a DM (from ISM/Cabin crew) with respect to a personal greeting, first choice of meals etc. Not sure if this is due to lower number of DM's or an effort to try to retain as much loyalty as possible in the face of cost cutting.

2. No more buggy vouchers out of HKG for my travelling companions (including my wife/daughter)

3. Substantially less loading of meals inflight (maybe this is why they ask for my choice of main course first). In fact on one flight, I heard someone request for a second helping of starter in lieu of a main course and they were told the plane only loaded just enough starter trays for the passengers in J class. In fact one ISM even remarked to me that there isn't even much for them to eat onboard now!

4. Continued cost cutting of meals ex-HKG. Seems to be getting worse on a monthly basis. Doesn't seem to have impacted as much at other ports.

Great, just as I've decided to go with CX DM instead of AA EXP I get this...

With regard to Greetings, it depends on the mood of the ISM or Chief Purser. I sometimes got a formal greeting in a Full J cabin. And, today I got nothing when there were only 10 people in J on an A330.

I am always greeted when flying in F.

Foodwise, we are definitely getting less and cheaper catering. It's a pity because I sometimes wished I had purchased BBQ Pork Rice from Cafe De Coral.

I have to say that I am always given special treatment on all my flight both intra asia and long haul

In the case of 1. I think it's because passenger loads dropped off - fewer people travelling overall, including DM's. Loads are picking up again now, so I expect this will start to fall off. On my last 2 trips with KA and CX these 2 weeks, I was greeted once out of the 4 legs. All 4 flights were comfortably over 80% full.

4. is a long running trend with CX, probably accelerated during this recession. I too have noticed that the ex-HKG meals are the worst hit on regional flights in both Y and J.

With regard to Greetings, it depends on the mood of the ISM or Chief Purser. I sometimes got a formal greeting in a Full J cabin. And, today I got nothing when there were only 10 people in J on an A330.

I am always greeted when flying in F.

Foodwise, we are definitely getting less and cheaper catering. It's a pity because I sometimes wished I had purchased BBQ Pork Rice from Cafe De Coral.

Ha! That's what I usually do! I usually skip the mains and get something from Cafe de Coral or Fairwood to eat on board. Usually lukewarm, but beats anything on the aircraft.

Returning to the topic, there seems to be a lack of starters on board. I asked for yogurt on HKG-BKK (I was doing my vegetarian thing and was given something else as a starter) about 2 weeks back, and was told they'd only uplifted just enough for everyone. And J was only about 60 percent full.