Originally Posted by
Happy
Happened on our HKG-SFO flight in January. We did not even get our First choice! FA came to inform us the Chinese favorite appetizer only had one left and asked if we could take one of Western options. That was regardless they took the meal orders shortly after take off. We just chose not to eat until 2 hours into the flight. Then at serving time, they came to inform us only one Chinese appetizer was left! Given there were at least 2 passengers did not eat and went straight to sleep, I could only guess either they did not load the choices for every passenger, or worse thing happened.
Bummer. I've had this happen to me a number of times too. I never mind when I've been op-upped (CX FAs IME do a pretty good job of offering F op-ups their meal choices last, at least this is my experience), but it's kinda annoying when I'm on a revenue ticket they run out. Seems to happen with regularity.
I have absolutely no knowledge as to how F meals get loaded, but this is what I suspect: I think CX loads F class # of each meal based on a ratio for the number of revenue tix. Obviously, given the time lag, I'm betting they make this estimate at least a few hours (if not earlier) before flight departure. This could mean that last minute cash or Instant Upgrade awards put more people in F than CX expected, and sufficient catering for each option may not be loaded in time...I'm sure this is somewhat common especially with routes offering multiple frequencies daily. There's also the possibility that the FAs goofed up and offered op-ups choices before you, or forgot and served them your meals, or you just flew on an unlucky day and everyone wanted the same thing.
I do think CX is careful to track F meal inventory loading.