Catering:
Cathay Pacific really promotes the catering of the new premium economy class, which mentions that the meal services will feature certain business class elements. I honestly am not impressed and of course I never believe CX promotions. Even in the advertisement, the meals look the same as economy class except the use of metal cutlery, the so-called business class main course, and the business class chocolate boxes on ex-HKG flights. They also suppose to offer pre-takeoff beverages including champagne. Let break it down in reality.

The pre-takeoff beverage is just hard to carry out in reality, especially PE does not have a dedicated galley and there is just way too much traffic in the economy cabin. CX should just stop promoting that and instead, it should promote that there will be a welcoming drink after the plane has reached cruising attitude. Both flights offer the welcome drinks but after takeoff. Please note that PE shares the same galley as EY in the mid-galley near Door 4. The only pre-takeoff service is the pass out of hot towels (same kind used in J/C) and the printed menus.

There are definitely differentiations between PE and EY in terms of meals and snacks. PE has different kind of snacks – supposedly more premium, but they are all packaged stuffs anyway. For the first beverage service, PE passengers will get bag of almonds, instead of peanuts.




However, if you notice, PE also uses plastic glasses and cups, same as regular economy class. Only the champagne on the welcome drink uses real champagne flutes – same as business class. Even the juices and waters are served in plastic glasses. CX should stick with real glasses on the welcome drinks, just for consistent purposes.

The main meal service indeed looks the same as the promotion. The meal tray is the same half tray used by economy class and the starter is served in the same plastic bowl used in economy class, as well as the bowl for dessert and tea/coffee cup. The difference lies on the premium economy linen, as well as the real meal cutlery and the salt & peppershakers are different color from regular economy class. There is no choice of bread roll and the same choice as economy class. The entrée on the first main meal service (for CX 841, the second meal, which is lunch, will feature the J style entrée) is indeed same as business class, but the previous generation of business class casseroles, not the most updated casseroles, which is good because business class should have different meals from PE. The Chinese style entrée is served not in the new plate and bowl style now regular in CX regional and long haul business class. The entrée is definitely better in both quantity and quality than regular economy meals. Dessert is the same as EY – we got Haagen Dazs Vanilla and Almond ice cream bars from JFK to HKG, and small cups of Cookies & Cream ice cream on the flight back to JFK. The meals are served at the same time as EY, same as first beverage service and the tea/coffee service.

The arrival meals are all served two hours prior to arrival, including CX 831. The meals are basically the same served to economy class, except PE gets a different tray cover and the metal cutlery. Even the entrée casserole dishes are the same kind used in economy class. The choices are the same and the only difference is the tray setup. There is no hot towel service prior to the second meal, and the F/As on CX 831 from JFK to HKG at least have the courtesy to pass out the packaged towelettes. However the casserole dishes used on the ex-USA flights look just too much like a generic cheap supermarket microwave meals. I know airline meals are indeed that, but at least have the courtesy to make it more appealing. Quality wise – CX seems to do a bit better on the Chinese options, which I choose usually.

In terms of midflight snacks, PE does not have self-service area same as business and economy class, so if you want snacks, you need to walk back to the EY galley near door four, or ring the F/A call button. The F/As also did at least one major snack pass in PE with dedicated snack baskets featuring different items. From JFK to HKG, there are Sun Chips, granola bars, and packaged almonds, in addition to the usual CX house brand peanuts, Macadamia Nut cookie, Spring onion crackers, and apples. From HKG to JFK, the unique snacks are mini sandwiches, Ruffles’ Potato chips, and Granola bars.

Bottled waters are offered as well, and Evian is offered on the ex-HKG flights. The F/As passed them out after takeoff. This feature is definitely much appreciated.

Catering is definitely weak and there needs to be more differentiation from economy class. For the main meals, the tray should be full sized and all the dishes should be PE specific. Plastic dishes should not be used. The starters and dessert should be different from economy class. Real hot beverage cups should also be used. Coffee cups are not that expensive. I don’t expect more bread choices, but CX can offer some additional garlic bread or offer a second choice for PE. I don’t expect fancy meals, but they should not remind me of economy class meals. The business class entrée is a nice feature and this feature should extend to the second meal service. I don’t mind the half tray for the second meal services, but the entrées should be different. I also think CX should use real glasses for the wine services in PE. In terms of mid-flight snacks, the F/As need to make more runs because there are no self-service bars. Maybe CX can consider a small space for snacks and beverages in PE in the future aircraft delivery. But there is space for a small trolley to be placed in front of door three. Maybe CX can put a trolley there for dedicated beverage and snacks for the PE cabin. I agree with most people in various blogs and forums that CX should focus on improve catering rather than the amenity kits.

Here is the menu transcript and beverage list.

CX 831 JFK to Hong Kong
Lunch



Seafood Salad



Grilled USDA Prime Beef Tenderloin with shallot sauce, potato terrine, and sautéed asparagus
Or
Wok-fried prawns in garlic chili sauce, egg fried rice, kailan and braised black mushroom

Or
Rigatoni with sage cream and toasted pumpkin seeds

Haagen Dazs Ice Cream
Tea and Coffee

Orange juice and wetnap prior to dinner


Dinner






Fresh fruit salad


Sweet and sour pork with steamed Jasmine rice, baby corn and carrots
Or
Chicken with tomato herb sauce, rosemary potatoes, carrot swede mash and asparagus

Or
Penne pasta with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese

Blueberry crumble with vanilla sauce


Tea and Coffee

Snacks
Cup Noodles and assorted snacks are available throughout the flight.

Spirits and Aperitifs
Chivas Regal 12 Years Old
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Cognac
Vodka
Gin
Rum
Campari

Wines
Germany White Wine
Mosel Riesling Feinherb 2011
Or
South African White Wine
Obikwa western Cape Sauvignon Blanc

French Red Wine
Dourthe Beau – Mayne Bordeaux 2010

Beer

Non-alcoholic beverages
Soft drinks, juices, tea/coffee
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