Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - grass isn't always greener

The CX board over the past 6-9 months has been subject to alot of CX-bashing especially over the new J class (I'm one of the guilty ones).

Flew in CX F from HKG-LHR yesterday and after my recent experience with BA F (which I've posted on the BA forum), it reminded me that although CX standards have dropped slightly, overall it's still significantly better than some of the competitors.

Service was efficient (7 passengers in F) although lacking some of the small touches I've experienced on other CX F flights and the food seems to have gone downhill alot, it was still pretty good.

I agree as well. It is becoming apparent CX is lowering their standards on meal services in all classes (F, J and Y). :td:

On my recent June trip from Toronto to HKG in Business (J) Class, the food quality compared to a few months ago went downhill a lot. This applies to the appetizer, snack and all the main courses. Even the portion size decreased (~30%).

Service depends on which cabin crew you get. They are not all what CX claims "service straight from the heart."

My friend (CX Gold) who took CX from HKG-Singapore roundtrip a few days ago also agrees. He said the food tasted really bad now (both in Econ & Business). He didn't even bother eating it after taking a bite.

I just flew CX F from YYZ-HKG and had wonderful service and a great crew the Lamb was excellent. We only had 3 out of the 6 seats occupied.
I will now fly home with them in F because of the great service.^

I agree as well. It is becoming apparent CX is lowering their standards on meal services in all classes (F, J and Y). :td:

On my recent June trip from Toronto to HKG in Business (J) Class, the food quality compared to a few months ago went downhill a lot. This applies to the appetizer, snack and all the main courses. Even the portion size decreased (~30%).

Service depends on which cabin crew you get. They are not all what CX claims "service straight from the heart."

My friend (CX Gold) who took CX from HKG-Singapore roundtrip a few days ago also agrees. He said the food tasted really bad now (both in Econ & Business). He didn't even bother eating it after taking a bite.

I agree too !!!
The portion is reduced by 30%.
I opened up the food cover and got a shock to see it's small compared to 1 month ago.


When you are flying long-haul , you need sufficient food.
Thats for me , maybe not for any one else

when you are flying long-haul you need to eatWhy? Many people don't eat for 8-12 hour stretches every day. I often see people on long haul flights who take water only for the entire flight, Do you have some sort of eating disorder?

I know that times are tough, but when you now have to pay almost 3X's more for a MNL YYZ F ticket, compared to 10 years ago, I have noticed
that the cost of food has not kept pace. It is true that there is alot less offered us now then before. Oh well, atleast we "fatties in first" can enjoy all the left overs in the Wing before we board and sleep with 826.

The CX board over the past 6-9 months has been subject to alot of CX-bashing especially over the new J class (I'm one of the guilty ones).

Flew in CX F from HKG-LHR yesterday and after my recent experience with BA F (which I've posted on the BA forum), it reminded me that although CX standards have dropped slightly, overall it's still significantly better than some of the competitors.

Service was efficient (7 passengers in F) although lacking some of the small touches I've experienced on other CX F flights and the food seems to have gone downhill alot, it was still pretty good.



I thought the thread title says that the grass isn't always greener over at the other airlines... as OP stated that he flew with BA and still is better, though there has been some noted food depreciation... and then suddenly people chirped that yeah its bad etc.


I agree too !!!
The portion is reduced by 30%.
I opened up the food cover and got a shock to see it's small compared to 1 month ago.

Their meals are always the same , for example.
Rice with chicken
Fish with rice
Chicken with potato

It seems like im getting these food only for my flights !!!!

I dont understand , when you are flying long-haul you need to eat , if you do not have sufficent food then where can you get it ?

The thread is not about CX's food quality. Let those who complain try some of the other airlines as OP stated, and then see who's cutting back.. try flying AA for example...

Hungry? Bag snackies yourself.... I do!

I haven't flown CX J for a while, but from my most recent CX F and Y experiences:

- F was still OK, although the food (CDG-HKG) was certainly no better than BA's (HKG-LHR), which it used to be a few years back; the 747 hard product is clearly miles better

- Long haul Y (my first time ever) was actually better than the reviews here. The meals and service (HKG-JNB-HKG) were pretty much what I'd expected - reasonably-sized and not inedible; the snacks were a bit disappointing - I'd have preferred sandwiches or something. The new Y seat was not very comfortable, but that's what I expect for Y. The AVOD (777-330ER) was great. The service was OK, albeit that one flight was disrupted by a medical emergency involving the person sitting next to me.

But comparing to others, I was very impressed by the Y service on SA recently on a very short (scheduled 65 mins) flight between JNB and DUR - a full meal service with wine. Food quality was a little better than CX I thought and a good quantity too. The seats seemed to have a bit more legroom too.

I agree as well. It is becoming apparent CX is lowering their standards on meal services in all classes (F, J and Y). :td:

On my recent June trip from Toronto to HKG in Business (J) Class, the food quality compared to a few months ago went downhill a lot. This applies to the appetizer, snack and all the main courses. Even the portion size decreased (~30%).

Service depends on which cabin crew you get. They are not all what CX claims "service straight from the heart."

My friend (CX Gold) who took CX from HKG-Singapore roundtrip a few days ago also agrees. He said the food tasted really bad now (both in Econ & Business). He didn't even bother eating it after taking a bite.

Did we read the same post by the OP? The gist of what he is saying is that despite all the complaining around here, CX is still quite decent.

If the topic of food is not O/T i'll add a couple of points.

CX in economy used to have from memory, 3 quite reasonable meal choices Im not sure if this has been pared to two. On any airline I would have to say that the route and the city being flown out of have a large bearing in the quality of the food. Eg cheese course in J out of Paris. Food out of Sydney is generally quite good.

Why? Many people don't eat for 8-12 hour stretches every day. I often see people on long haul flights who take water only for the entire flight, Do you have some sort of eating disorder?

To be fair to the poster, having to eat (at least something) on a long-haul flight would be a reasonable assumption. Isn't it a bit harsh to call this an eating disorder? :confused:

Their meals are always the same , for example.
Rice with chicken
Fish with rice
Chicken with potato

It seems like im getting these food only for my flights !!!!




It's a plane, not a restaurant.

To be fair to the poster, having to eat (at least something) on a long-haul flight would be a reasonable assumption. Isn't it a bit harsh to call this an eating disorder? :confused:

You have to excuse Christep, he gets over-zealous defending Cathay in here.

As for expecting good food. In Y I don't expect anything, and I bring my own snacks and rely heavily on the Cup of Noodles (but these are out too it seems.)

In J it's better, but nothing to go crazy about, but for me it satisfies. And there's always the made to order in flight snacks that you can have throughout the flight.

Never tried F so no comment there.

You have to excuse Christep, he gets over-zealous defending Cathay in here.

christep is not. He is blunt, regardless of being for or against CX (or other topics).

Back to the topic, it is easy to get everyone unhappy, but it is impossible to get everyone happy. Grass is not just always greener on the other side.

I have been a cx diamond for about 5 years and flown 1.3m in the last 10 with them.
I didnt like the new J class as it looked dated to start with and after 1 year quite shabby. Never mind that as I have been credit crunched to Y.
The idea of the sliding seat probably looked good on paper if you are 5'5 but all it does is crush your shins so you cant relcline.
The final straw was HKG-BKK when I asked for a bread roll and was told they don't do them due to 'cut backs' and was given a tray of boiled rice with something brown next to it.

I gave Virgin a try in April and was stunned by how good it was. Frankly I wanted to dislike it as I can't stand that guy constantly grinning at me from every publication I open. I can over look that based on the unexpectedly good service, seat and food. It was prem econ but not much more than CX econ. The seat was virtually CX short haul biz, choice of 3 decent meals served very nicely plus all the little touches that you used to get on CX but have gradually dissapeared (in the hope you wont notice).

Sorry Cathay - I will miss you. But I dont think you will miss me. Anyone guess how long before they notice I have stopped flying with them ? I'll let you know but dont hold your breath.

christep is not. He is blunt, regardless of being for or against CX (or other topics).

Back to the topic, it is easy to get everyone unhappy, but it is impossible to get everyone happy. Grass is not just always greener on the other side.

btw he's(Christep) right - when my mum flies long haul, she pays for the bed. if we talk to her on the plane, she'd be bound to be sick for the rest of the trip. we learnt it the hard way.

Why? Many people don't eat for 8-12 hour stretches every day. I often see people on long haul flights who take water only for the entire flight, Do you have some sort of eating disorder?

Because , i did not ate before my flight.
Got it ?

I think people who dont eat on flight have some kind of eating disorder
nothing wrong with eating
something wrong if you dont eat

It's a plane, not a restaurant.

But im sure they have different catering service yeah ?

Ok, I think the posts are becoming a tad too personal and going very OT. References to any particular FTer is not permitted, so please refrain from doing so next time ok.

But I think its time we just move on till the next dim sum trolley rolls around the next CX flight!

Thanks for your posts.


Guy Betsy
Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum moderator