oneworld - How is cathay?

Hi guys.
This is the first time i am gonna fly with Cathay. From Los Angeles to Jakarta. I read the review of Cathay late. They said it has no recline button for the seat, etc. Is it so bad?

I will have layover in Hongkong for more than 12 hours, will they pay my hotel or i need to pay by myself?

Please help.

Assume Economy.
Cathay uses a fixed back style seat.
There is a recline button but instead of reclining the seat slides forward so you remove your legroom rather than the persons behind room.
Unfortunately this designed has been widely panned as uncomfortable and Cathay will be replacing it.

I do not believe Cathay (indeed like most airlines) will pay for a hotel for a 12hr layover, with all the flights LAX-HKG you surely could have got a better connection

Ouch .... disaster then for me.

Hi guys.
This is the first time i am gonna fly with Cathay. From Los Angeles to Jakarta. I read the review of Cathay late. They said it has no recline button for the seat, etc. Is it so bad?

I will have layover in Hongkong for more than 12 hours, will they pay my hotel or i need to pay by myself?

Please help.

Information about CX, including their coach seats and service can be found in this thread in the CX forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/919353-read-first-cathay-pacific-faq-thread-everything-you-want-know-about-cx.html

So CX has one of the best F class seats and one of the worst in Y? Didnt know that but I find it pretty interesting.

Bring and/or request a few more pillows. It makes a world of difference. Enjoy the excellent inflight entertainment system and service though.

I do not believe Cathay (indeed like most airlines) will pay for a hotel for a 12hr layover, with all the flights LAX-HKG you surely could have got a better connection
Only TK pays for hotels during layovers in Y, right?

OT.
Also seen some refs that RJ will provide for layovers in AMM for pax in Y.

Thanks everybody for the responses. I got some ideals about what i have to do then.

How is cathay?


One of the world's 3-4 best in F, one of the 4-5 best in C, personally no knowledge of Y product

I have heard the hard product in Y if awful

OT.
Also seen some refs that RJ will provide for layovers in AMM for pax in Y.

if you stay longer than 6 hours transit you need a visa in Jordan(supposedly)

Just flew them in Y from SFO to BKK. Awful seat, and the absolute worst food I have ever had anywhere on Earth! I could not sleep well in the seat. Make sure you have the space underneath the seat in front of you clear. If you can stretch your legs out, you will have an easier time with the Shell seat. However they do have a great AVOD system, so I stayed up a lot of the time watching movies that I haven't seen. On the return flight, I made sure I brought my own food.

I agree with onobond. Top 3 worldwide in F and C for me. Best airline in Oneworld for sure. The Economy is mediocre at best, sometimes pretty bad. Sorry but you should have asked before :/

The seat in long-haul Y is back-breakingly uncomfortable and it's a good idea to ask for one or two more of the small cushions to pad it out a bit.

The saving grace is definitely the AVOD which will keep you entertained for far longer than the duration of the flight.

In general I find the food and service to be pretty good (for Y). Certainly better than UA, LH, DL, BA for example.

Hi guys.
This is the first time i am gonna fly with Cathay. From Los Angeles to Jakarta. I read the review of Cathay late. They said it has no recline button for the seat, etc. Is it so bad?

I will have layover in Hongkong for more than 12 hours, will they pay my hotel or i need to pay by myself?

Please help.

For a long daytime layover, you can take the airport train into the city (20-mins or so) and have a look around. Take the Star Ferry around the harbour.

The seat in long-haul Y is back-breakingly uncomfortable and it's a good idea to ask for one or two more of the small cushions to pad it out a bit. ...CX are in the process of removing these "Shell" seats - due to such complaints.

Recently flew MEL-HKG-SFO in J/F....

Service wise CX was right up there with, in my experience, EK and a notch above SQ (more down to earth friendly - like EK - than the SQ more formally/robotic service or the fawning of TG in F which I find to be demeaning and uncomfortable - I am not the king of Thailand and don't want to be treated as such). CX for mine had the nice mix of an outstanding soft prodiuct (catering and IFE selections), warm personal yet not over the top service (this is F, J was less personal of course) and a decent hard product - the F suite is amazing and very comfortable. The J "coffin" seat was... well... tight... but once used to it it was OK - but I understand CX are removing them and I can understand why.

And of course the F lounge at HKG - The Wing - was awesome. You just can't beat a big bathtub and hot shower between flights, followed up with some chilled bubbles and a slack.... (though the huge number of staff hovering was a bit offputting to me personally).

I would fly CX in a premium cabin again anyday. In Y - perhaps not given the many comments about the shell seats, but the AVOD is a brilliant system - the equal of SQ and proably just a small notch below the ICE system on EK.

CX is introducing Y+ from mid 2012 so that may be a very good option for some folks....

...
CX is introducing Y+ from mid 2012 so that may be a very good option for some folks....Those PE refitted aircraft will also be having the horrible 'shell' economy seats replaced.

I agree with onobond. Top 3 worldwide in F and C for me. Best airline in Oneworld for sure. The Economy is mediocre at best, sometimes pretty bad. Sorry but you should have asked before :/

I am not overwhelmed with their business product on intra continental flights.
I recently had the opportunity to compare them with Asiana on some intra asian flights and Asiana is just better in every way.
Better seats, better enertainment system, better food and better cabin crew.
The Asiana biz product is fantastic, CX is just ok on Asian flights.
So while being very good on intercontinental flights (although I wouldn't say top 3, maybe top 5) their short and medium haul product is very ordinary.

I am not overwhelmed with their business product on intra continental flights.
I recently had the opportunity to compare them with Asiana on some intra asian flights and Asiana is just better in every way.
Better seats, better enertainment system, better food and better cabin crew.
The Asiana biz product is fantastic, CX is just ok on Asian flights.
So while being very good on intercontinental flights (although I wouldn't say top 3, maybe top 5) their short and medium haul product is very ordinary.

Well I like OZ very much too. Had some flights between FRA-ICN and ICN-NRT and they have very high standards. Would agree about food, service and seats. Not sure about entertainment though. Prefer them over CX and any other * airline except NZ - but I know even if NZ is generally considered good or very good (new C) it is more a personal preference I have for them because of some wonderful experiences with crew and the design of their cabins, lounges and seats...

So for me in C its 1.NZ, 2.OZ, 3.CX, 4.SQ, 5.LX - but I dont have experiences with most Middle East carriers so not really a significant list ;)

if you stay longer than 6 hours transit you need a visa in Jordan(supposedly)
Not quite, but you must leave the airport and leave your passport with the authorities.
[KVS Availability Tool 6.8.1/Diamond - TIMATIC: Country Information: Visa] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
18DEC11 / 1926 UTC
Jordan (JO)

Visa required.

Visa Exemptions:
- Nationals of Jordan.
- Nationals of Lebanon and Turkey, for a stay of max. 3
months.
- Nationals of Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen for a stay of
max. 1 month (extension can be obtained at the nearest
police station).
- Holders of a Palestinian passport for a stay of max. 1 month
(extension can be obtained at the nearest police station).
- Holders of diplomatic passports;
- except for nationals of Iraq and Myanmar.
- Holders of a Residence Permit and/or a Re-entry Permit
issued by Jordan, provided their stay outside Jordan does
not exceed 6 months.
- Holders of a Laissez-Passer issued by the United Nations
provided holding prior approval issued by Jordanian Ministry
of Interior.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):
- Holders of onward tickets for a max. transit [[TIRULES/R32]]
time of 6 hours.
- Holders of onward tickets transiting [[TIRULES/R32]] for
longer than 6 hours, but less than 24 hours must leave the
airport. Passports must be left at the immigration desk. The
airlines can arrange this.
- Nationals of Iraq and Stateless persons and refugees remain
the responsibility of the airline.

Merchant Seamen:
- Merchant Seamen arriving by air in order to board a ship, or
if arriving by ship in order to board an aircraft must
travel on duty and hold a Letter of Guarantee by the
shipping company.
- Visa is not required for Merchant Seamen if their
nationality is mentioned under visa exemptions applicable to
normal passport holders.
- Merchant Seamen who can transit without a visa when the
continuing journey is to a third country by same or first
connecting aircraft within:
- 6 hours without leaving the airport;
- 6 to 24 hours: Merchant Seamen must leave the airport.
Seaman Book or passport must be left at the immigration
desk. Ticket with reserved seat and documents for onward
journey required.

Crew Members:
- Same regulations as for passengers apply.
- Nationals of Iraq being crew members on duty are visa
exempt.

Military:
- Same regulations as for passengers apply.

Visa Issuance:
- Nationals of Algeria, Japan, Libya and South Africa can
obtain a visa on arrival. Fee: free of charge.
- Holders of Hong Kong (SAR China) passports can obtain a visa
on arrival. Fee: free of charge.
- Nationals of Morocco can obtain a visa on arrival. Fee: free
of charge.
- Females between the age of 17 and 35 years of age require
prior approval obtained from the Ministry of Interior,
except if:
- accompanied by their husband, father or brother; or
- being a member of an official delegation; or
- being the daughter of high ranking personnel.
- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of India
traveling as tourist, can obtain a visa on arrival for a
max. stay of 2 weeks, provided holding USD 1,000.- (or
equivalent). Fee: JOD 20.-.
- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of Sri Lanka
traveling on business (or as an official delegate) can
obtain visa on arrival, for a max. stay of 1 month,
provided:
- traveling on Royal Jordanian (RJ); and
- holding hotel reservation in a 3 to 5 star hotel; and
- holding official documents confirming business or official
delegate status.
Fee: JOD 20.-.
- Nationals of Iraq holding normal passports can obtain a visa
on arrival provided holding:
- an ID-card, a certificate of nationality; and
- an official "Businessmen card" issued by the government of
Jordan; or
- an official letter confirming the attendance to
conferences or workshops, issued to official delegates
entering or transiting Jordan; or
- a residence permit or a visa issued by a country other
than Lebanon, Libya, Syria or Yemen.
- Nationals of Iraq can obtain a visa on arrival provided
holding:
- diplomatic or service passports; or
- consular, official or special passports, provided
traveling on duty.
Fee: JOD 20.-.
- Nationals of any country other than Afghanistan, Albania,
Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central
African Rep., Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville),
Congo (Kinshasa), Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican
Rep., Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Lao
People's Dem. Rep., Liberia, Macedonia (FYROM), Madagascar,
Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet
Nam, Zambia can obtain a single entry (or transit) visa on
arrival. Fee: JOD 20.- (payable in JOD only).
- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of India,
can obtain a visa on arrival, provided holding a residence
permit issued by a third country, except: Afghanistan,
Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Colombia, Comoros,
Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba,
Djibouti, Dominican Rep., Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Iran,
Kenya, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia
(FYROM), Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia,
Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria,
Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen or
Zambia .

- Nationals of any country other than Afghanistan, Albania,
Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central
African Rep., Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville),
Congo (Kinshasa), Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican
Rep., Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,
Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Lao
People's Dem. Rep., Liberia, Macedonia (FYROM), Madagascar,
Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka,
Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet
Nam, Zambia can obtain a visa free of charge, provided

- passenger travels as part of a tour arranged by a licensed
Jordanian tourist or travel agency; and
- group is not less than 5 persons; and
- staying a minimum of 2 nights in Jordan; and
- holding a return ticket.
- Holders of official passports issued to nationals of
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Colombia,
Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Rep., Equatorial Guinea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Guinea, India, Iran, Kenya, Kosovo, Lao People's Dem. Rep.,
Liberia, Macedonia (FYROM), Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania,
Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam or Zambia can
obtain a single entry (or transit) visa on arrival. Fee: JOD
20.- (payable in JOD only).
- Holders of consular, diplomatic, official, service and
special passports, issued to nationals of Myanmar can obtain
a visa on arrival.
- All passengers can obtain a visa on arrival, provided
attending a scientific or economical conference. (SEE NOTE
42016)
NOTE 42016: Not applicable to nationals of Myanmar.
- Accompanying staff (housemaids), can obtain a visa on
arrival, provided traveling with their employer. (SEE NOTE
42016)
NOTE 42016: Not applicable to nationals of Myanmar.
- Holders of a Laissez-Passer issued by the Vatican City can
obtain a visa on arrival. Fee: JOD 20.- (payable in JOD
only).
- Note to editors: Be careful with large group of
'restricted' countries listed. Para 42023 for NAIN has three
extra countries included in the list: Lebanon, Syria and
Yemen.

Additional Information:
- Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Colombia,
Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote
d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Iran,
Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Lao People's Dem. Rep., Liberia,
Macedonia (FYROM), Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova,
Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo,
Uganda, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam or Zambia are also required to
hold security approval, obtained prior to their arrival in
Jordan.
- Holders of travel documents issued stateless persons and
refugees issued by Libya are also required to hold security
approval, obtained prior to their arrival in Jordan.
- Holders of a "Laissez-Passer" must hold a prior approval
issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Interior.
- Passengers transiting Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
to King Hussein International Airport (AQJ), must complete
their entry formalities upon arrival at AMM.

Warning:
- Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused
entry.
- Exempt are government workers continuing to Iraq.

CHECK [[TINEWS]] - CHECK LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES ON TRAVEL
INFORMATION