Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - New Fleet on Middle East-HKG Routes - Any time soon?

Any spark of hope??? I have been downgrading my travel experience by choosing CX on the Middle Eastern routes (RHU/BAH/DXB) to HKG. The CX fleet operating on these routes is very old and needs immediate attention.

Middle Eastern airlines operate new and modern fleet with high standard of service. I guess CX needs to keep an eye on competition and also care for CX loyal customers.

Any news???

Any news on what?

Unpleasant experiences should be addressed to Customer Services at cathaypacific.com, really.

Any news on what?

Unpleasant experiences should be addressed to Customer Services at cathaypacific.com, really.

Umm Guy Betsy...have you flown to the Middle East lately on CX? This is definitely a legitimate gripe AND a legitimate question to see if anyone on this board knows. I've heard occasionally they have the new (old) long-haul product, but personally I've only sat in regional config 3x in 2007. I've written Cathay about it and got a canned response in Dec last year. I've already re-upped DM and I'm going back in July, so I told my secretary to choose anyone BUT CX because there's no way I'm sacrificing sleep on a two day roadshow just to get the ISM to tell me thx for flying CX.

Any spark of hope??? I have been downgrading my travel experience by choosing CX on the Middle Eastern routes (RHU/BAH/DXB) to HKG. The CX fleet operating on these routes is very old and needs immediate attention.

Middle Eastern airlines operate new and modern fleet with high standard of service. I guess CX needs to keep an eye on competition and also care for CX loyal customers.

Any news???

The only 'news' is CX 731/738 and CX 745/746 (which continues on to BAH) are currently operated by an A333 (3 class old-J config). I think CX751/750 (the milkrun - HKG/BKK/BOM/DUB) will be 'upgraded' to a B74A sometime within the next few months or so.

My guess is that the Australian routes will get the new aircrafts first.

Just a thought though.

Umm Guy Betsy...have you flown to the Middle East lately on CX? This is definitely a legitimate gripe AND a legitimate question to see if anyone on this board knows. I've heard occasionally they have the new (old) long-haul product, but personally I've only sat in regional config 3x in 2007. I've written Cathay about it and got a canned response in Dec last year. I've already re-upped DM and I'm going back in July, so I told my secretary to choose anyone BUT CX because there's no way I'm sacrificing sleep on a two day roadshow just to get the ISM to tell me thx for flying CX.

Yes. I know what horrible aircrafts CX uses on certain routes. Eg like the Western Australia and BNE routes, CX uses regional aircraft. No idea why...

But really, the only recourse is to write, call, fax and email to Customer Service. Then something will eventually get done sometime... in the next few years or so.

I am booked on CX 732 from BAH to HKG in business class (D) and the confirmation e-mail states 777-200 as the aircraft type for this flight. The CX seat map shows "Business Class" in 2-3-2 configuration. Is this aircraft only fitted with the regional business class seat? I have never flown with CX before but it would seem somewhat ridiculous to only offer a regional business class seat for a +11 hour (overnight) flight. Can anyone confirm the situation please? The only glimmer of hope is RickyT's comment above reference A333 plying this route and the fact that I am not flying until late August 2008 (is there likely to be any improvement by then?). I would be very grateful for any advice or information.

I am booked on CX 732 from BAH to HKG in business class (D) and the confirmation e-mail states 777-200 as the aircraft type for this flight. The CX seat map shows "Business Class" in 2-3-2 configuration. Is this aircraft only fitted with the regional business class seat? I have never flown with CX before but it would seem somewhat ridiculous to only offer a regional business class seat for a +11 hour (overnight) flight. Can anyone confirm the situation please? The only glimmer of hope is RickyT's comment above reference A333 plying this route and the fact that I am not flying until late August 2008 (is there likely to be any improvement by then?). I would be very grateful for any advice or information.

Other guys here know what the exact config of each date are, but I can tell you - I flew that route last year and yes, it was a regional config. Middle East routes get the bottom of the pile from CX's fleet.

I am booked on CX 732 from BAH to HKG in business class (D) and the confirmation e-mail states 777-200 as the aircraft type for this flight. The CX seat map shows "Business Class" in 2-3-2 configuration. Is this aircraft only fitted with the regional business class seat? I have never flown with CX before but it would seem somewhat ridiculous to only offer a regional business class seat for a +11 hour (overnight) flight. Can anyone confirm the situation please? The only glimmer of hope is RickyT's comment above reference A333 plying this route and the fact that I am not flying until late August 2008 (is there likely to be any improvement by then?). I would be very grateful for any advice or information.

yes 772 only hv regional J config, which is 2-3-2.

Thank you for the replies to my earlier post (#7). I have the opportunity to change my flight from CX732 (currently showing as B777-200 with regional business class) to CX746 the next day (currently showing as A340-300). Other than the slight delay and less convenient timings, is there a higher chance of getting a proper, albeit old style, business class seat on the Airbus operated routes from Bahrain? Having checked the other cabin related threads on this forum and Wikipedia, I am still unsure as to whether both the A330-300 and A340-300 will be fitted with the new business class and whether (m)any still have regional business class. Also, the Wikipedia site mentions a cabin upgrade/replacement for the B777-200. Is this true, what is the scope/time scale of this upgrade?

Bottom Line: I want to fly between Bahrain and Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific but want to sit/sleep in a proper business class seat (definitely not the regional business class seat). What are my best options?

Thank you for the replies to my earlier post (#7). I have the opportunity to change my flight from CX732 (currently showing as B777-200 with regional business class) to CX746 the next day (currently showing as A340-300). Other than the slight delay and less convenient timings, is there a higher chance of getting a proper, albeit old style, business class seat on the Airbus operated routes from Bahrain? Having checked the other cabin related threads on this forum and Wikipedia, I am still unsure as to whether both the A330-300 and A340-300 will be fitted with the new business class and whether (m)any still have regional business class. Also, the Wikipedia site mentions a cabin upgrade/replacement for the B777-200. Is this true, what is the scope/time scale of this upgrade?

Bottom Line: I want to fly between Bahrain and Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific but want to sit/sleep in a proper business class seat (definitely not the regional business class seat). What are my best options?

the information in wikipedia is not correct- 772 will not get any cabin upgrade. Cabin upgrade will only happen in longhaul fleet.

for BAH-HKG, it is better on 745/746 since most of the time it will be operated by longhaul fleet. And yes ALL A340-300s are fitted with longhaul Business Class.

Writing letters of complaint is one thing. Sending them ticket receipts and boarding passes from their competition, pointing out your MP/OW status, is another thing. A more effective thing.

The problem is that everyone else from the region does it. TG, EK, SQ, EY, QR, etc all have "substandard" or at least inconsistent products to the Mid East from SE Asia. I guarantee you if EK started flying A345s and 77W's on more of the routes with new F and C products (or someone else), the competition would respond with a more competitive offering. But they don't, so no need by anyone

And yes ALL A340-300s are fitted with longhaul Business Class.

Is this true? I thought I've travelled on some 2-class A340s which did not have longhaul business class.

the information in wikipedia is not correct- 772 will not get any cabin upgrade. Cabin upgrade will only happen in longhaul fleet.


777-300 and 777-200 have Regional Business Class, and New Regional Business Class(NRBC), don't they have ?
This 'cabin upgrade' has been done partially.
Does CX stop this upgrade plan from RBC to NRBC ?

Is this true? I thought I've travelled on some 2-class A340s which did not have longhaul business class.

True.
34C - three class
34D - two class
346 - three class
All fleets have long-haul business class seats (flat with angle).

33B has new long-haul business class seats (horizontal flat).

777-300 and 777-200 have Regional Business Class, and New Regional Business Class(NRBC), don't they have ?
This 'cabin upgrade' has been done partially.
Does CX stop this upgrade plan from RBC to NRBC ?

yes CX stopped this upgrade plan few years ago becoz of massive amount of complaint from pax about the NRBC~ most of them prefer ORBC. NRBC will only install on new shorthaul aircraft.

none of the 772 AFAIK hv NRBC installed.

Is this true? I thought I've travelled on some 2-class A340s which did not have longhaul business class.

True. ALL 340-300s hv Longhaul Business Class since Day 1, as 343 are used for longhaul routes primarily.

I hv edited this site to share those info i know on CX fleet:
http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Fleet_Info_%28CX%29

there's no way I'm sacrificing sleep on a two day roadshow just to get the ISM to tell me thx for flying CX.

HAHA...I concure.....that's so true and extreamely well put !!