Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Great U.S. customer service

I called CX in the U.S. yesterday to check on seat assignments and told them that it was my gf's birthday during one of our flights. They said that they can get her a cake and there is a standard fee of HK$200. I was impressed that they had this service.

But then I started thinking and I said maybe I shouldn't get the cake because we are always full on the flight (flying F) and the agent agreed. She then proceeded to look at our trip and suggested that I get her a spa treatment during our transit in HKG. She went over the spa treatments available and suggested a few that might be nice and fit into our timeframe. She also tried thinking of other things to do.

I thought that it was really nice of the agent to go to all that trouble to think of all the different options.

SQ has a similar service too - and it's usually complimentary.

Even Air Canada (that was about 10 years ago) gave cake and champagne (from First Class) to a friend who was travelling with me in coach. That was also free. Guess they won't do it now.

I have always known that CX charges for this service. The least they could do is give you the cake as you are travelling in First Class already!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bagold:
I called CX in the U.S.</font>

Dosen't CX answer all their North American telephone calls at their Vancouver Canada office?

I recall calling CX from NYC 1-800-233-2742, but the call got answered by the same agents in Vancouver.

So bagold called the US number. He doesn't know which Call Centre he got.

I think most calls go to YVR. But there might be a few odd ones open in the US - especially when you do Internet fares on the CX website.

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 09-07-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by daniellam:
Dosen't CX answer all their North American telephone calls at their Vancouver Canada office?

I recall calling CX from NYC 1-800-233-2742, but the call got answered by the same agents in Vancouver.

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As GB said, I don't know where it was answered. I did call the 800 number you said. Didn't know that U.S. and Canada had the same number or call center or if I was even talking to them in Vancouver.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by daniellam:
Dosen't CX answer all their North American telephone calls at their Vancouver Canada office?

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These days, there are call centres worldwide used by a variety of airlines. AT least only CX centred their North American call centres on the same continent.

Over at Lufthansa for example, it's a hunting line - which is valid 24 hours. Their respective call centres are Philadelphia, Dublin, and Brisbane. Depending on the time of day you call, you might get call centres from one of these places.

It's called "Cost savings" to the airlines!

Don't expect tooo much from the MPO line, I called up and asked about a Japanese Restaurant on the hong kong side which is is one of their partners so I could earn some miles and have some japanese food.

The person who answered couldn't give me the location of the restaurant and put me on hold for 5 minutes, then he asked me to call the restaurant and ask for the address myself. I asked for his manager and he said she doesn't know either. That is service...rubbish service.

Not usually one to complain like this but this was just so unhelpful.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chek Lap Kok:
Don't expect tooo much from the MPO line, I called up and asked about a Japanese Restaurant on the hong kong side which is is one of their partners so I could earn some miles and have some japanese food.

The person who answered couldn't give me the location of the restaurant and put me on hold for 5 minutes, then he asked me to call the restaurant and ask for the address myself. I asked for his manager and he said she doesn't know either. That is service...rubbish service.

Not usually one to complain like this but this was just so unhelpful.

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The Island Shangri-La recently opened up a Japanese restaurant. Check out the amazing mural upstairs where the rooms are. It is truly breathtaking.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chek Lap Kok:
Don't expect tooo much from the MPO line, I called up and asked about a Japanese Restaurant on the hong kong side which is is one of their partners so I could earn some miles and have some japanese food.

The person who answered couldn't give me the location of the restaurant and put me on hold for 5 minutes, then he asked me to call the restaurant and ask for the address myself. I asked for his manager and he said she doesn't know either. That is service...rubbish service.

Not usually one to complain like this but this was just so unhelpful.
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You could have saved yourself some frustration if you did some research on the web. Check out the following links:

Asia Miles Dining Parters in Hong Kong (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,83032__eng_HK_1,00.html)

Asia Miles Dining Partners Information Page (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,83005__eng__1,00.html)

Asia Miles Dining Parters in Mainland China (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,83032__eng_CN_1,00.html)

Asia Miles Dining Partners in Thailand (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,83032__eng_TH_1,00.html)

Asia Miles Dining Partners in Malaysia (http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,83032__eng_MY_1,00.html)

BTW, I discovered these pages via a monthly e-mail from MPO. So, MPO service isn't as atrocious as some people make it out to be.