Aaron Claxton explains the lack of blankets in regional Y
Sep 27, 2016, 10:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: HKG
Programs: CX Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 418
Aaron Claxton explains the lack of blankets in regional Y
The letter in the latest issue CX World is worth a read. Our favourite Aaron Claxton, Head of Catering, explains why the food offering in Y on TPE flights is so far behind its competitors and why there are not enough blankets...
Note that in the Chinese version, 'various constraints' are translated to budget and space limitations.
The need of a hot meal and blankets in a short Y sector as a passenger is up for discussion, but after reading this I just feel that CX is so hopeless. When the lack of blankets has received so much bad press in local media, they still do not bother and brand this as a 'challenge for the right balance' and something which needs to be dealt with 'based on historical data'.
No wonder it takes rounds after rounds of reviews before they realize that there are not enough snacks in longhaul J.
The Economy Class snack bag service was introduced for Manila and Taipei back in 2014. We serve this along with a cold drink and cookies which, after much research, was deemed appropriate for these shorthaul sectors. Hot beverages are also available to passengers upon request.
With a very short flying time, we believe the snack bag service enables our cabin crew to deliver a more professional service so that our passengers can enjoy the inflight entertainment and get more personal time during their short time on board.
As for blankets, finding the right balance for the blanket uplift is always a challenge.
Due to various constraints, we are limited to the quantity we load on some routings and so can only provide blankets upon request in Economy on regional flights, with the uplift ratio based on historical data.
With a very short flying time, we believe the snack bag service enables our cabin crew to deliver a more professional service so that our passengers can enjoy the inflight entertainment and get more personal time during their short time on board.
As for blankets, finding the right balance for the blanket uplift is always a challenge.
Due to various constraints, we are limited to the quantity we load on some routings and so can only provide blankets upon request in Economy on regional flights, with the uplift ratio based on historical data.
The need of a hot meal and blankets in a short Y sector as a passenger is up for discussion, but after reading this I just feel that CX is so hopeless. When the lack of blankets has received so much bad press in local media, they still do not bother and brand this as a 'challenge for the right balance' and something which needs to be dealt with 'based on historical data'.
No wonder it takes rounds after rounds of reviews before they realize that there are not enough snacks in longhaul J.
Sep 27, 2016, 9:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Gold SPG Platinum IHG Platinum Accor Platinum
Posts: 29
Cathay had been cutting costs at all fronts even to premium passengers paying very expensive fares out of HKG. My last CX flight was HKG Manchester in J and they didnt even have sandwiches nor fresh fruits!
Have been Cathay Pathetic free for over a year now and I am very happy with my KL, QR, MH, SQ flights. Thank you Ivan Chu! Beyond Cathay Pathetic! Boycotting KA is more challenging though.....
Have been Cathay Pathetic free for over a year now and I am very happy with my KL, QR, MH, SQ flights. Thank you Ivan Chu! Beyond Cathay Pathetic! Boycotting KA is more challenging though.....
Sep 27, 2016, 9:43 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: CX - DM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Titanium
Posts: 542
That is such a pathetic explanation. Has he ever come across the SQ adverts which was mocking CX the most brilliant way possible!? On the ads it says something like 'it's nice to have an extra blanket, or two' - I couldn't stop laughing when I came across it when reading Business Traveller magazines the other month whilst sitting on a SQ plane flying down to Singapore!
Sep 28, 2016, 3:02 am
#4
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
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Love to see it, don't have a trip for a couple of weeks.
Sep 28, 2016, 7:33 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: CX - DM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Titanium
Posts: 542
lol
Sep 28, 2016, 11:16 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
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The letter in the latest issue CX World is worth a read. Our favourite Aaron Claxton, Head of Catering, explains why the food offering in Y on TPE flights is so far behind its competitors and why there are not enough blankets...
Note that in the Chinese version, 'various constraints' are translated to budget and space limitations.
The need of a hot meal and blankets in a short Y sector as a passenger is up for discussion, but after reading this I just feel that CX is so hopeless. When the lack of blankets has received so much bad press in local media, they still do not bother and brand this as a 'challenge for the right balance' and something which needs to be dealt with 'based on historical data'.
No wonder it takes rounds after rounds of reviews before they realize that there are not enough snacks in longhaul J.
Note that in the Chinese version, 'various constraints' are translated to budget and space limitations.
The need of a hot meal and blankets in a short Y sector as a passenger is up for discussion, but after reading this I just feel that CX is so hopeless. When the lack of blankets has received so much bad press in local media, they still do not bother and brand this as a 'challenge for the right balance' and something which needs to be dealt with 'based on historical data'.
No wonder it takes rounds after rounds of reviews before they realize that there are not enough snacks in longhaul J.
Rubbish. Why not just say "To allow passengers to have more time to sleep on board so they can start enjoying Taiwan with 100% energy level we decided to cut everything from catering to IFE system so passengers can sleep from the time they board till the deplane"...
Blanket:
Same. What's not constrainted up in the sky? I rather them be honest as in the Chinese version... But I don't understand how much extra space is needed... So much that can't even load 500 blankets?
Sep 29, 2016, 12:56 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
Cathay had been cutting costs at all fronts even to premium passengers paying very expensive fares out of HKG. My last CX flight was HKG Manchester in J and they didnt even have sandwiches nor fresh fruits!
Have been Cathay Pathetic free for over a year now and I am very happy with my KL, QR, MH, SQ flights. Thank you Ivan Chu! Beyond Cathay Pathetic! Boycotting KA is more challenging though.....
Have been Cathay Pathetic free for over a year now and I am very happy with my KL, QR, MH, SQ flights. Thank you Ivan Chu! Beyond Cathay Pathetic! Boycotting KA is more challenging though.....
The only routes where I've still got CX booked is TYO for the frequency and LON, because BA is the alternative.
Oct 1, 2016, 6:14 pm
#11
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Eerie relationship between this thread and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...take-next.html (BA)
I did discuss privately the possibility of distributing Xanax on flights and a cup of water along with landing cards.
Then stacking pax in morgue-like front-to-back storage five or six high (flat beds!) and eliminate the second aisle.
Food:
Rubbish. Why not just say "To allow passengers to have more time to sleep on board so they can start enjoying Taiwan with 100% energy level we decided to cut everything from catering to IFE system so passengers can sleep from the time they board till the deplane"...
Rubbish. Why not just say "To allow passengers to have more time to sleep on board so they can start enjoying Taiwan with 100% energy level we decided to cut everything from catering to IFE system so passengers can sleep from the time they board till the deplane"...
Then stacking pax in morgue-like front-to-back storage five or six high (flat beds!) and eliminate the second aisle.
Oct 1, 2016, 6:58 pm
#12
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
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Ivan Chu explains change to 10-abreast is caused by lack of HKG slots
"“Slots are very scarce,” Chu said. “We want to generate more seats per slot, that’s the key thing. That’s why we are doing it. It’s very important we do it.”"
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post27290273
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post27290273
Oct 5, 2016, 1:38 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: CX Marco Polo
Posts: 4
Definitely the blankets shortage is about their cost-cutting in reducing weight per flight.
Believe it or not, the blankets suggestion was brought up by a cabin crew years ago when the company was asking staff to look at ways to cut costs!
KA has no more blankets on their short-hauls (up to 2 hours)
Believe it or not, the blankets suggestion was brought up by a cabin crew years ago when the company was asking staff to look at ways to cut costs!
KA has no more blankets on their short-hauls (up to 2 hours)
Oct 10, 2016, 11:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Programs: CX (elite) and a few others (non-elite)
Posts: 687
I find that a bit hard to believe since on a long-haul flight more than 80% of the weight is fuel, fluids, airframe etc and less than 20% is passengers, luggage, blankets...