Originally Posted by
percysmith
I can't comment on FCT or TPR or toothbrushes in toilets or bars cos I travel on miles and am challenged to muster the *A miles or the annual leave to do all that.
But I'm thinking - even if kat007 and guava are right, so what? CX F doesn't have to actually be the best in the sky, just maybe market itself to be.
The key fact is CX only has to compete for O&D traffic. You can't fly F-to-F through HK for a lot of CX's destinations (and if we call KA "F" for what it really is then KA has no F at all).
So the ME3 can put a Relais & Chateaux property on an A380 and fly it here but still not take a lot of CX's F traffic.
To me the only thing CX has to do for F is offer enough to convince a few J passengers to pay three or four times the J fare to go F. Some of the rest will go to award seats.
And I'm not surprised it's not finding this offering profitable over time.
I agree with your post, full of common sense
.
CX strength in F is the nonstop flight. Someone who pays F (personally or though company) will not switch to ME3 F with a stopover in DXB whatever the added luxury on EK (EY and QR do not fly F to HKG).
Two other remarks.
I have flown some 20 or more CX F flights to/from Europe in the past eight years (paid, upgrade or full awards). I (or my wife) often chat with other pax. This is good for building business relations. I do not remember ever engaging conversation with an AA full award guy. There are indeed quite a few upgrading with miles from J, mostly CX or BA FFPs. I regard those as semi-paid F, enjoying the luxury of F over J once in a while in their busy business travel schedule.
I am old and loaded with hand luggage. Quite painful to land after a long flight and tire my knees with a long walk. My main complaint with CX F is that they don't provide buggy. I know that I can grab one for only HKD60, but they are often none available; and I do not wish to spend the time trying to book one. CX F should provide it, especially for the low cost (CX is probably charged less than 50).
PS: A lot of pax do not have to pay three or four times J fare. I usually get CX F for twice or less than twice the cheapest-available business class fare.