Might have spoken to soon. So my first flight on CX after trying QR...has been one of the worst in recent years.
I realized my exTPE ticket is about to expire (3-months validity) so I had to fly to TPE, I initially planned on doing just the same day return to Manila, but since my friends will be in HKG over the weekend I decided to catch up with them.
In the past I've done CX904-CX474-CX475 with no incident even with a luggage checked to TPE and retagged back to HKG at TPE. [I had to check in a bag because all the gifts I was gonna give were on that bag.]
Things looked up the night before the flight when I saw that the A350 doing 474/475 got switched to a 77H, and my 12K seat moved to 2K for 474. When I got to the lounge the following morning, I called MPO to check if there was a way to get 2K also for 475. The agent on the line said, its been released to airport control despite it being more than 3hrs before the flight, however he said he will put in a note on my record.
So I flew CX904, which was okay. The ISM and crew were very attentive, food sucks as always...we arrived in HKG a little early, docked at gate 64, so I made my way to The Wing to catch my CX474 flight, no announcements made regarding delays so I was surprised when I got to the gate with the screens all black, it only means one thing....
Went back the lounge straight to the small office where some people have started shouting because of the delay. Someone flying to TPE, was supposed to fly the night before I think but got delayed and pushed to the following morning was really upset about the new arrangements. The staff was able to put me on CX450 leaving at 10am (CX474 was delayed to 1115 i think) then on the 511 back to HKG. They couldn't tag my bags back, and the staff insists that I can go out and check in again for my flight. I told her to send a message to ground staff in TPE to ask for assistance to retag my bag, which is normally done at the transit desk. She said she will...but said I have enough time to clear immigration and get my bag and check in again because MCT is only 1hr.
On CX450 to TPE got stuck with 17E (apparently its the only seat available on that flight, yes from 12K to 2K to 17E....not very happy about it). When I boarded the flight, I gave the ISM my return BP and luggage tag, asked her to help send a message to TPE Ground regarding the request (which I have done a few times in the past) unfortunately...no one was there to help me during the deplaning. Fortunately someone was at the transit desk so we were able to sort it out with no effort.
15K on CX511 on the 33P...the ISM came over introduced herself and gave me and my seatmate a bottle of Evian. (I think she thought I was traveling with my seatmate, because during deplaning she told the crew, we're not traveling together) What surprised me about the whole thing is they ran out of champagne. the SP informed me that they did place a request in TPE, but TPE doesn't have stocks either...so even for welcome drinks were just water and juice. I mean how is that possible? Isn't the catering company in TPE owned by CX/CPCS? It's not like Billecart is such a rare champagne anyway. Arrived HKG on time, and thankfully at gate 23, quick walk and I was out of the terminal and onto the AEL.
Early Sunday morning I got an email and SMS from Cathay Pacific that my flight CX919 will be delayed to 1550 from 1415, must be making for the lost time I had in HKG the day before. ;-) So I decided to do a few errands and went shopping a bit at Landmark. I was out of the hotel around noon and headed to IFC to check in...when I got to the counter, the agent told me my ticket is invalid...he did confirm I flew the day before on CX511 but said something is wrong on my ticket and it's invalid and he needs to sort it out. Took over 20+ mins to get that sorted out...they found an error from the flight change done by the staff at The Wing, once it was cleared, they were able to check in my bags and print a new BP.
Since I was a little early, and I didn't have a gate assigned to me when I arrived, I decided to head to the Pier for lunch...it was full, service was much slower, in fact took almost 10 minutes to get my order taken....food seem to taste better though. at around 1450, I decided to walk to gate 4 for my flight. Apparently you can now get a buggy from The Pier, specially if there was a boarding gate change...or if you arrived before they gave you a gate assignment. (I only found out after I walked back to Gate 4)
Flight was normal, I was offered to try the coconut water, which is now available on CX flights...tastes good actually.
Over all, I don't have much of a choice but to continue flying CX at this point....There are bright spots anyway...by the way food seems to have improved a bit. this month's curry prawns with rice is quite nice.