Just off CX807 with the new business class meal service. What a huge disappointment. I can’t believe CX is trying to position this new meal service “more like first class” or “restaurant style dining”. It’s basically big cut backs in meal service and choices disguised with a marketing spin and PR campaign. But at least they can say they put it on plates, even if those plates are too big for the basically coach meal they now serve in business.
I was struck by how sad the CX meal service was, not just compared to the Middle Eastern super star airlines, but even to smaller second tier airlines like Xiamen. We took Xiamen recently from LAX to Xiamen and I can honestly say IMHO their meal service and business class product was so much better. They even had complementary WiFi on their planes.
The CX meals are served on plastic trays with no cloth or paper liners. Most certainly a cut back. It’s a coach quality meal on a plate.
Besides the cut back in food of so so quality, it was nearly impossible to get drinks. It’s clear this new service stretches the crew. They probably should reassign someone as a runner in the business class cabin. Our flight was not even full.
Other than the pre- meal drink and the drink with the appetizer course that comes already on the tray, don’t expect to get a refill or be able to switch wines. Once the tray is down the crew is gone. It takes a long time (20 minutes) to get your tray picked up after the meal as well. Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread? And it’s a choice now of cheese, fruit or desert. Don’t expect more than one of these.
As small and limited as the meal portions are now, I don’t think CX could be spending more than $5-7 USD per passenger for each meal.
It’s truly sad to see how far the CX business soft product has fallen. For that matter, CX in general. Once CX offered such a wonderful product in business and first. It’s sad to see this brand I loved in such decline. Next time I’ll just fly American Airlines to Hong Kong.
As a side note CX was in such a rush to board the plane, which arrived at 2 pm in Chicago for our 3:30 departure that they announced in the lounge boarding was underway at 2:40 pm and all passengers should go directly to the gate. We waited at the gate until 3:05, when they started boarding first and business class, only to have us all stand on the hot jet bridge until 3:20pm when they let us board the plane. Not a good experience for a “premium” airlines. So many signs of the stress CX is under.
