Interesting CX flight - SFO-HKG-MAA with both flights being sold out and upgraded to Business from paid Y. I am platinum on AA and have flown CX just once before. First flight upgraded at check-in and second one right as I was exiting the aircraft they had my new C boarding pass.
I should be ecstatic; but overall I was quite disappointed with the whole experience. Wondering if this is considered normal.
1. Crew (two different attires, guessing it is based on seniority), but the more senior, the more surly and poker faced they were. I was trying my best to be friendly, but they refused to engage in any sort of dialogue. Same with all passengers, so don't believe it is because of op-up. Is the purple dress the purser?? hopefully not! She was the worst of the lot..!
2. For an entire 14 hour flight (except for meal time), crew was chatting in galley area.. quite loud! Enough to hear it in C (I was on the second last seat). Couple of attempts to get some water and light food was met with stares when I went into the galley... I felt quite unwelcome, like I was intruding into their personal space!
3. Not a single (i mean it!!) walk around with tray of water or drinks through the flight except meal time. Now that is pushing it..I have had AA and United FAs walking up and down with a bottle of water in a 3 hour flight. I was forced to walk into the galley and ask for water, and the chief FA asked for my bottle as they were short and filled it. The level of disdain when I made the request was quite shocking! I figured its better than trying to get a glass of water every time and deal with the attitude just once with a bottle instead.
4. Since I was op-up'd with a few others (purely guessing here), we got the last choice of meal. I am actually quite okay with the concept, as paying passengers get the first preference. But the way it was done with quite tacky and left a bad taste. The FAs had the cart from the front, serving passengers their meal and after the previous passenger, while I was looking at her, just walked to the other side of the aisle. And I literally had to wait 30 minutes between appetizer and main course (as my appetizer was served with others). Now they could have a) explained the reason or b) at least had the decency to tell me they will be back soon or c) taken the order first so they prioritize based on paying passengers, and not at the time of serving.
5. Interestingly, the crew from HKG-MAA was quite okay, but the first flight left a bad taste and I was also a little too sleepy to enjoy the service on the second one.
6. 2/3 year old kid sitting behind me was scared of sitting in the new coffin seats (understandable.. so was I
), and chief FA actually threatened the passenger literally! It was landing time and the kid was crying about sitting alone in the new seat, and the FA said something to the effect of "ma'am, the flight is supposed to land soon, so you better get the kid in the seat. Otherwise we cannot land the flight and I will have to inform the pilot and take drastic action" (something to that effect). Wow! the way she said it.. I haven't seen that in domestic US flights!
7. Unrelated to the crew, and I am guessing has been discussed in plenty.. for a claustrophobic like me, the coffin C seat felt worse than my original 44C (exit aisle). I was waiting for the coffin door to close anytime during the flight
Now, I should not be complaining because it was an op-up, but if I had paid for it (which I often do when traveling for work), I would be quite disappointed with the service. Especially for a 14 hour flight.. and when compared to SQ service which has been top notch in C at least.
I have a return flight in Y :MAA-HKG-SFO, wondering if service is likely to be any different or is this considered normal CX service?