Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Economy class service reductions

While I understand that CX needs to manage costs, I believe too much has been reduced from Y class service that it is beginning to feel like a ho-hum airline.

Why give out comfort kits if there are no paper cups in the lavatories? How do you expect us to gargle? It costs more to get a plastic cup from the galley.

Why have long haul menus when the second meal is essentially a continental breakfast served on a tray that should contain more? Y catering has been cut too much already.

Some cost savings ideas:
1) No menus in Y instead use the paper for the paper cups
2) Lounge invitation printed on boarding pass
3) Reusable plastic sleeve for magazines/duty-free catalog like LH and NH

How do you expect us to gargle?Er, pour mouthwash from bottle into mouth. Swill/gargle/whatever. Spit it out into the washbasin.

Why do you need a cup?

:o Christep, smart...uh, Cx dont even provide mouthwash in Y. Do you brush your teeth without water??? I am making a point about the reductions and giving suggestions on how to cut costs.

I brush my teeth with the water that comes out of the tap. Never done me any harm.

I guess you put your mouth on the the tap or use your hands... I need a cup like most people.

Really? (Going way OT, but...) I am genuinely surprised by this. Do you use a cup as part of brushing your teeth at home? Maybe I am in a small minority, but neither I nor any of the people I have ever shared a bathroom with (which includes American, Filipino, HK Chinese, Singaporean, Spanish, Taiwanese, British and Russian) has needed more than a tap, a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush their teeth.

(Clearly it's different if you don't have running water.)

As a matter of fact, I do have two glasses by my wash basin. All hotels and all major airlines I fly with provide cups specifically for that purpose. I guess in Magalang,PI people are used to putting their mouths on the tap or their bare hands to slurp the water...

Really? (Going way OT, but...) Maybe I am in a small minority, but neither I nor any of the people I have ever shared a bathroom with (which includes American, Filipino, HK Chinese, Singaporean, Spanish, Taiwanese, British and Russian) Telling us about your brushing habit is one thing, but do we really need to know about the unsuccessful relationships? :D:D:D

OK - if that's what you think they're for. In 46 years living in many countries it has honestly never occurred to me that I needed a cup to brush my teeth; I always thought they were for drinking from.

Anyone else care to comment on how they brush their teeth?

Telling us about your brushing habit is one thing, but do we really need to know about the unsuccessful relationships? :D:D:DThat's only the successful ones (if we define that at more than a month or so)... :D

Anyone else care to comment on how they brush their teeth?

I don't use a cup. My 2 year old child on the other hand...

I use a cup in hotels and at home... unless im in the shower where using a cup would make me a retard.

I normally use a cup when brushing my teeth. It is just a habit, nothing more and nothing less.

OK - if that's what you think they're for. In 46 years living in many countries it has honestly never occurred to me that I needed a cup to brush my teeth; I always thought they were for drinking from.

Anyone else care to comment on how they brush their teeth?

I never use a cup for cleaning my teeth. In a hotel I would only use the glass to hold the toothbrush upright when I am not using it. At home the tooth brush hangs on a rack.

Specifically regarding airline lavatory teeth brushing/gargling - I personally try to spend as little time in airline toilets as I can, especially in coach, and especially after a long flight. Never used a cup in there and no interest to.

I used to have a cup, especially in the old days when the hot and cold water comes from different taps. I can use the cup to mix the water to the right temperature. During winter, using just one tap will mean 2nd degree burn or frostbite. So it's a habit since I was little - now when I see a cup in hotels, I generally use it.

Now, with the wonders of technology, there isn't really a need for a cup.

OTOH, in aircraft lavs, in such confined space, I can't put my face/mouth under the tap, so I use a cup. Not to mention, the tap is spring loaded, so it's a bit tricky as I don't want to put my toothbrush on any surface in the lav...

Perhaps the F lavs are so much bigger one can put one's mouth under the tap - I don't really know... :)

P.S. This is one interesting thread - how do I nominate this to appear on Flyertalk's newsletter?

There is no need to place your mouth under the tap. You can flush your toothbrush under the tap and then brush the tooth paste off. The tooth paste in your mouth should be gone if you repeat that two or three times. It is actually cleaner than rinsing with a cup of water.

IMHO, lack of paper cups in the lav is not a reduction in service. Even if that was the case, the new AVOD would be more than making up for that reduction. A fair assessment would be to consider both the +'s and -'s.

I used to have a cup, especially in the old days when the hot and cold water comes from different taps. I can use the cup to mix the water to the right temperature. During winter, using just one tap will mean 2nd degree burn or frostbite. So it's a habit since I was little - now when I see a cup in hotels, I generally use it.

Now, with the wonders of technology, there isn't really a need for a cup.

OTOH, in aircraft lavs, in such confined space, I can't put my face/mouth under the tap, so I use a cup. Not to mention, the tap is spring loaded, so it's a bit tricky as I don't want to put my toothbrush on any surface in the lav...

Perhaps the F lavs are so much bigger one can put one's mouth under the tap - I don't really know... :)

P.S. This is one interesting thread - how do I nominate this to appear on Flyertalk's newsletter?


I have stopped using a cup since i've moved out of my parents'. i had a glass for a while but i dont see the point of it after a while. Even in a plane i use my hands- dont want to make more garbage than i am already making

IMHO, lack of paper cups in the lav is not a reduction in service. Even if that was the case, the new AVOD would be more than making up for that reduction. A fair assessment would be to consider both the +'s and -'s.

Actually, can't you use the cups they serve you drinks esp if you get water? (For others, you can clean the cup with water)

Sorry for ruining the "off-topic" atmosphere, but getting back to the topic... =P



Some cost savings ideas:
1) No menus in Y instead use the paper for the paper cups
NH

They can just post the menu on the IFE screen. Just like Qantas A380 and Virgin America.

OK - if that's what you think they're for. In 46 years living in many countries it has honestly never occurred to me that I needed a cup to brush my teeth; I always thought they were for drinking from.

Anyone else care to comment on how they brush their teeth?

+1, though I'm not even sure this fits in TravelBuzz :D

I have noticed that some females seem surprised by the ability to brush/rinse from the tap, and I do think it's a bit more difficult in a standard airplane lavatory than it is at home...FWIW.

Lots of things to answer here.... :)

I don't use a cup at home

I don't use a cup on the plane because I always thought either (a) the water was non potable, or (b) even if it the airline claims it is (potable), the water is often loaded in places where quality can't be guaranteed

I too only use the glasses / cups in hotel rooms to hold my upright toothbrush

If needing to brush my teeth on a plane I take a swig from a bottle of water, as I do in hotels in countries where the water is not safe to drink

In fact I always wondered why the did have cups on the planes these days with all the warnings about not drinking the water.

Regards

lme ff

....
P.S. This is one interesting thread - how do I nominate this to appear on Flyertalk's newsletter?
Indeed, quite an interesting thread :D
To nominate, click on Thread Tools->Suggest Thread for TalkMail, enter the relevant details and send!

Flew CX271 HKG-AMS earlier this week.
All business and first class passengers were asked to answer 5 pages of questions on onboard service. How do we feel about having certain elements and how would we feel if these items were no longer part of standard service.

Pepper and Salt shakers or sachets, menu printed or via IFE, blanket, less choice of wine vs more choice, designer amenities, hot towel etc etc...

Flew CX271 HKG-AMS earlier this week.
All business and first class passengers were asked to answer 5 pages of questions on onboard service. How do we feel about having certain elements and how would we feel if these items were no longer part of standard service.

Pepper and Salt shakers or sachets, menu printed or via IFE, blanket, less choice of wine vs more choice, designer amenities, hot towel etc etc...



Did they give you anything back in return for answering 5 pages of questions and using up at least 10-15 mins of your time? aside from the CX pen they gave you to fill out the form with.

Flew CX271 HKG-AMS earlier this week.
All business and first class passengers were asked to answer 5 pages of questions on onboard service. How do we feel about having certain elements and how would we feel if these items were no longer part of standard service.

Pepper and Salt shakers or sachets, menu printed or via IFE, blanket, less choice of wine vs more choice, designer amenities, hot towel etc etc...

I hope you didn't write anything about "no blanket".

Flew CX271 HKG-AMS earlier this week.
All business and first class passengers were asked to answer 5 pages of questions on onboard service. How do we feel about having certain elements and how would we feel if these items were no longer part of standard service.

Pepper and Salt shakers or sachets, menu printed or via IFE, blanket, less choice of wine vs more choice, designer amenities, hot towel etc etc...


Did that survey on Thursday HKG-LAX in F. Slightly worrying as almost all questions were about how much I valued existing services / amenities and how much would I miss them if they were cut. No 'new' services were asked about, as best I can recall.

I hope you didn't write anything about "no blanket".

Have they changed to duvets (therefore, no blankets) on first and business long-haul flights?

Flew CX271
Pepper and Salt shakers or sachets, menu printed or via IFE, blanket, less choice of wine vs more choice, designer amenities, hot towel etc etc...

Pepper and Salt sachets: that's well cheap.. where am i? Maxim's (in HK)? Cafe de Coral? McD?
menu: dont care, but i often dont use the IFE for a flight. or if i'm watching sth i have to stop and read the menu? WHAT??????? JL has a whole stack in the galley! I wouldnt mind having something like a piece of paper with all options in though. I'd always think just a card will do.
blanket: i dont use, but many do. does CX even use their brain for this? (then again- i wouldnt trust how clean the blankets are, i dont knwow hwy ppl use them)
wine: not less than now- i dont like fruity reds too much, some others is in the contrary position.
designer amnities: always good PR. the BA version is a bit dull (or very) and even JL has good contents i have no clue where to put the stuff if my neighbour seat was occupied.

Have they changed to duvets (therefore, no blankets) on first and business long-haul flights?

sometimes i just put blanket and duvet in the same category :D

I have a feeling that if some of these things are taken away, most probably they will never come back again.

I have a feeling that if some of these things are taken away, most probably they will never come back again.

I never use paper cups in the lavs. I did not realise they were gone in Y, or how long have they been gone. I agree that they are probably gone forever.

In regards to blankets in long-haul J, they are probably gone forever as well. I wouldn't mind. Duvets are better than blankets.

Colgate has a relatively new product that I've started using called "Wisp". A miniature brush with a drop of gel, single use and no water required for use. It has worked really well for me.

I've done two round trip TPE-HKG in Sep. Besides b'fast, they are now serving sandwiches for main meal in Y, I found the sandwiches are better taste than the rice/noodles they used to serve. No complaint at all.^

FWIW, I think having menus on flights (especially long-haul) is valued more than a paper cup in the lav by the majority of pax.

I personally dislike (in Y) seeing the meal cart come up and being asked by the FA "chicken or beef?" And in J, no menus is unthinkable!... right?!

I use a cup...to hold my brush and toothpaste.

Thank you all for your responses... but I think this thread has run its course and its time to say , goodbye! :P

Thank you.

Guy Betsy
Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum moderator