Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Buggy services getting slower at HKG?

As always, CX gave a voucher for my departure from Gate 71 the other day and I was told to wait for about five minutes. The vehicle actually came more than 15 minutes later.

In the meantime, I saw a little note at the counter. It said they have to keep the maximum speed to 8kph or something and turnaround time is now longer. (Did they have an accident?)

I've never waited that long and the car, I thought, moved much slower than before.

I would give it a try a few more times but if this is the pattern established, I would just take a train and take shelter at the Pier, rather than waiting long for the buggy.

I used to be a frequent user of the cart service in HKG. However I have found in recent months that the service has become slower. On Departure there is often a wait of 15-20 minutes. The carts are restricted to 8km/h by the Hong Kong Airport Authority. If the drivers exceed the limit the company is subjected to a fine by the HKAA. I heard from one of the drivers that if they are caught speeding three times they would be automatically terminated. Once I saw some customers with CX vouchers get so mad at the lady at the counter she started to cry. I felt bad for her as she really couldn't do anything. There simply were not enough carts.

I used to call ahead to arrange a cart for pickup. The fare was $ 40- but a couple of months ago they increased it to $ 50-. It was extremely useful if we were parked at gate 71 etc. I instructed the company that it was not necessary to send a cart if the plane was closer than gate 27. However recently even when I call 3-4 days ahead I would be told that no carts are available.

I believe one solution is to buy carts that sit 6 people total. When Jardine operated the service they used to have this. The last row meant that pax would have to sit backwards. I also believe they need to have more carts running to offer an efficent service.

As always, CX gave a voucher for my departure from Gate 71 the other day and I was told to wait for about five minutes. The vehicle actually came more than 15 minutes later.


Last Thursday I was told that I would need to wait about five minutes, but thankfully the buggy actually came sooner than that. I would have been rather irate if the buggy had taken 15 minutes to come.

8km/h is frustratingly slow!

This has been a problem for about 6 months now - they are REALLY serious about the 8km/h! I have only had to wait up to 7 or 8 minutes, but even that seems silly. It is severally reducing the value of the service.

How do they police it? Physically limit the speed inside the buggy? I guess they aren't doing that or no one will be caught...

Speed guns? Speed cameras? :D Do they have little police buggys too?

Seriously not worth the effort anymore. and heck, I love the rush up/down the escalator to get on the train. Of course, i'd love to say that one only travels on flights departing from gates 1 - 4 !

How do they police it? Physically limit the speed inside the buggy? I guess they aren't doing that or no one will be caught...

Speed guns? Speed cameras? :D Do they have little police buggys too?

After the 8 KM/H there is a little red light that starts flashing on the front of the buggy. Plus it makes another beep beep noise. HKAA also have their own buggys patroling the premises.. :)

Is the Buggy service only for Diamond MPOs?? Because even when I travelled in F before, no one offered me a complimentary pass?

I used the Buggy once when I was flying UA from NRT-HKG on F and when I arrived there was a sign with my name and they just told me to hop on.

Actually it is good that they limit the speed, as last time when I was on it (I was facing rearwards, I nearly fell out of the cart!

Is the Buggy service only for Diamond MPOs?? Because even when I travelled in F before, no one offered me a complimentary pass?

Yeah, only for Diamonds, and even then only for departures.

Yeah, only for Diamonds, and even then only for departures.

Oh, I didn't know that. I thought that is a service for passenger who check in at first class counter.

In my experience, when my friend and I checked in,
I was offered two tickets for me and him who doesn't have any OW status.

I think it's one of the unpublished perks for Diamonds. I never ask for one but I've been getting those vouchers at check-in or at the Wing (and realised the gate is far).

Oh, I didn't know that. I thought that is a service for passenger who check in at first class counter.

In my experience, when my friend and I checked in,
I was offered two tickets for me and him who doesn't have any OW status.

Thats also been my experience. Before I reached Diamond, on the few occasions I was fortunate enough to fly FC, the vouchers were offered on departure.

VS give the buggy rides to their J class and Top Tier members as well. So there may simply not be enough buggy capacity. I was once on 1/4 way there when we doubled back to pick up another passenger. I asked her for $50 for my trouble...

Yeah, only for Diamonds, and even then only for departures.

I was told at the Pier that the service was available for HKD $40.

I was told at the Pier that the service was available for HKD $40.

Well, EVIDENTLY he is talking about the complimentary tickets CX gives out. :p

After all that long time sitting in the airplane, can't you walk a little bit? I suppose that service is considered for the disabled and not for the lazy ones.

Maniax

I think this service is provided to depaturing pax, not arrivals. At least, I've never been offered one when I arrived at HKG. :)

I've never been pampered by CX with a voucher for a trip to Gate 3. I guess I can manage that far but I would appreciate a voucher if I have to go to Gate 71. :)

Even if for departure, then you will sit for the next hours and will be pampered with food and drinks. Whats the problem with even walking, if you dont like to use the train, for 10 or 15 minutes?
BTW, I also never got a voucher, and in case if, I would have rejected it. I am not so old yet.

I was told at the Pier that the service was available for HKD $40.

$40 on departure and $50 on arrival - they are also really good about understanding that on arrival if you land at gate 1 or similar that you will not want the cart

After all that long time sitting in the airplane, can't you walk a little bit? I suppose that service is considered for the disabled and not for the lazy ones.

Maniax

I am not sure what in the world you are attempting to mean by this comment, but the service is NOT for the disabled but for those you PAY for it, either with cash, their F ticket on several airlines or Dia status - as a Diamond I would think you would be well aware of how it works ;)

Hey guys, give me a break.
I really never ever got a voucher. Not that I want to have one or miss something, but no one after all that years gave me ever one. Are there certain sub-conditions like age....
Also in the Club guide this service is nowhere mentioned.
My first posting was a little bit misleading, of course is the service for the paying ones. May be I am reflecting my personal flavour more likely to walk than to sit again and getting driven around after sitting instead of walking a few minutes. What are you thinking why people go to the gym?

NO there is no age sub-condition. So what if it is no where in the Club guide? Who really reads that anyway? There are many UNWRITTEN benefits of being a CX DIAMOND CLUB MEMBER.

If one uses HKIA as a transit point or one uses the kiosk check-in all the time at HKIA, then I think it is possible that one is not be given a buggy voucher.

Whether one wants to take the buggy service or wants to walk after hours of sitting onboard is really a personal opinion that I can keep to myself. (Edited to say I should have kept this opinion to myself, perhaps. :p )

I really do not have the time to edit this kind of garbage out of thread - there is no excuse for this kind of personal name calling and I WILL starting putting 7 days holds on accounts if personally attacks continue -

I can live with attacking the substance of a post or even the veracity of the poster if you can cite specific points, but pure ad hominem childishness is over on this board. the CX board is a normally tight community and I will not see this turn into a Yahoo style forum

I don't recall ever being offered the buggy coupon when flying in paid F, out of any gate. I do recall one time they did make me buy a buggy coupon when I checked in far too close for their taste, and they had somebody walk Mrs. Pickles and me to the buggy stand and use it. I don't recall if I was flying J or F (maybe even Y!).

I don't recall ever being offered the buggy coupon when flying in paid F, out of any gate. I do recall one time they did make me buy a buggy coupon when I checked in far too close for their taste, and they had somebody walk Mrs. Pickles and me to the buggy stand and use it. I don't recall if I was flying J or F (maybe even Y!).

That's because paid Fs don't get tickets if they aren't Diamond as well. :)

I don't recall ever being offered the buggy coupon when flying in paid F, out of any gate. I do recall one time they did make me buy a buggy coupon when I checked in far too close for their taste, and they had somebody walk Mrs. Pickles and me to the buggy stand and use it. I don't recall if I was flying J or F (maybe even Y!).

The free buggy service is only offered to CX Marco Polo DIAMOND members in J or F class (maybe even Y class, but I haven't flown Y when the plane is parked way over yonder) when the gate is somewhere near The Pier ie gates 60-70. Doesn't matter if you're on paid F... or if you're members of other FF Emerald status. This service is exclusive and is not advertised as an official MPC Diamond perk either.

I for one hate the buggies. I can understand that they must exist for the elderly and disabled, but I find them a loud, annoying nuisance. I like to walk (or rather stroll) through the airport, look at people, planes, time tables (sounds geeky dunnit) ... and I have been beep at and almost run over by rude drivers more than once. :mad: