Was on CX904 from Manila this morning (February 10,2012), pretty standard pre-departure service, rushed drinks and hot towel, but having been on CX904 a couple of times, it seems pretty normal already. ISM seems to be in a rush to close cabin doors, had everybody seated and awaiting for push back. Luckily we didn't have to queue on the runway, so we were off to Hong Kong in no time.
Meal service started as normal, tray...then juice and/or coffee/tea, some selections on the bread basket with some preserves. Then they started wheeling out the cart with the entree. For breakfast this morning they had a choice of omelette and sausage or milk fish with rice, by the time the cart reached me (15K) the first batch of fish was finished, but the FA told me that she will get some more from the galley and proceeded to the next passenger. I saw another FA bring her a tray with the fish but she never came back to me. I went back to reading the newspaper and was surprised that the FA was coming back to collect the trays.
She realized that she hasn't served me any entree and told me that she will check (this is about 40 minutes prior to landing) when she came back she said she ran out of the fish and can only give me the omelette and sausage. I am aware that choices are limited but it only ran out because she forgot to serve me when the fresh batch was given to her. Seeing that there was very little time left before landing, I simply declined and returned the tray. Besides since food was catered from Manila, its bound not to be good.
A few things, she was very apologetic, even the SP went back to me to apologize and offered to get some bread from the back for me to eat. At that time the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth and just didn't want to bother since I can pick up something at The Wing while waiting for my flight to Singapore at 11:35. When they were doing the pre landing checks, I asked the SP that I would like to have a word with the ISM now or if not after landing. I am not sure if she was already aware because she sounded just as surprised with what happened. Anyway I understand that they would be tired, having done the 905 last night, getting to Manila close to midnight, off load, rush to the hotel, rest a bit and rush back to the airport for 904 but this is something that shouldn't actually happen, I think if the FA was more conscious/mindful of the passengers considering that the cabin was not even full, it wouldn't have happened.
Well I just want to rant...I don't know if I should write an email to MPC since I already spoke to the ISM about it, for an airline who has been constantly running ads about "People. They make an airline", and how they make the effort to provide the best customer service to its passenger, I feel they failed this time.