Andrew Yiu

I recently noticed "CP metal" flights changed they way they serve meal. It's now from front to back in either Eastbound or Westbound. It used to be back to front.

What about AC metal? Is it front to back as well?

Fly Boy

I have become more concerned about what they serve than how they serve it.

After Burner

You mean you don't mind that they squirt it at you??

A Flygirl

Yes they, we, did conform with AC standards as well as the input dictated by J/C regular travellers. Start all services from the front. The last row was deemed (and reported by survey) as not attractive to the informed AC*SE or AC*E as they know they could very well have Y/C travellers breathing down their necks that are travelling with young children. Read horrible little monsters in some cases but who, with serious chores to do, who wants to gamble on a configuration that can potentially expose them to someone's offspring who possess zero a/c etiquette?

The serious businessperson might have their own kids at home but they don't appreciate being in such close contact with other family units when they are committed to conducting business on a particular flight. They consider the option of facing a boring wall (or any row in between) more attractive than putting up with the distractions these children can cause to the last row. Hence, closer to the front is preferable in most cases with the frequent traveller, the status holder, and that is why the service with AC is mandated to start there.

Makes sense doesn't it? Any other thoughts on this?

After Burner

Hmmm. That's interesting. I tend to deliberately avoid the front of the J cabin because of kids seated there. But I usually decline the meal anyway. (Is there some reason kids tend to be seated at the front of J, or am I just imagining it?)

As an aside, sometimes I'm impressed with myself for being able to afford to buy $3000+ J class tickets (my backpacker days don't seem that long ago) but I feel humbled when I see people with their 4 small children + nanny seated there. Does a 5 year-old really appreciate the extra legroom?

Fly Boy

Re dispersal of AC rations: As long as they are clear - then everyone knows what to expect.

Extra legroom? My 5 year old cousin flew full fare BA F here to visit. It must have been a challenge for her to climb up onto the seat. There will always be people that can afford to do this for their family.

[This message has been edited by Fly Boy (edited 03-05-2001).]

Shareholder

Gee, and I thought the forward part of the Y cabin was preferred seating in Hospitality and should be filled with less financially well off Elites and Prestiges, not families and children and less desireables. Just confirms the problem with AC's current product � see my survey post � and how it is unable to distinguish the fact it needs to better define aspects of its inflight cabins and services.

daniellam

What a lucky little fellow :-)

I remember crying and annoying my parents when I was 10 years old on a flight from YVR-HKG on CX just because I couldn't sit in first class while a classmate from school got to.

Now I can revenge !!!

I ALWAYS buy F/J tickets wherever I go (Even if it means giving my relatives "expensive gifts" in return for frequent flyer tickets).

But then due to complicated philosophical reasons, I still feel angry inside when I see a 3 year old in the F/J cabin just because they came out of the womb of parents who can afford it at that time.

Fly Boy

"Problem"??? For as long as I can remember, infants have been assigned bulkhead seats. This is not a problem, it makes common sense (on most aircraft). IMO there is nothing wrong with this and I have little sympathy for J passenger complaining about babies noise etc. If they are "experienced traveller" they would use earplugs or noise cancelling headset.

GreyOwl

I would guess the main reason for bringing children into J is not to leave them alone in Y.

I feel that it does spoil for the child, the magic of flight ,which they will from now on, assume means a good meal and good film.

Guava

Empress,

I am not sure how to answer your question. The only times I flew with AC in Int'l J was last December, YVR-PVG on a A340 aircraft. The first noticible difference between CP and AC in meal service is that AC didn't carry any trays if I remember correctly. Everything from appetizer to dessert are served personally out of the gallery. On my way back from PVG, since we were only 4 people in Executive First section (for a while it was scary b/c we thought we were the only two in Executive First b/c we met nobody else in the ANA lounge flying on AC), the services was almost as private as it can get which was very nice. The flight felt very short. One young female FA even joked about it (before the other two passengers come on board): "Isn't that better, we are going to offer you private services!". So the meals on AC were served to you directly from the gallery, no trays; therefore, it's not like back to front or front to back. The FAs just walked around and asked each passenger about their choices.

So if we compare AC and CP, AC's overall meal service is better, but not in terms of the quality of main entree. AC's equipment is more advanced (vs. CP's 747). CP has bigger seats, slightly more personal space (far more when you seat in row 58). If I had to choose, I probably would pick AC's A340 over CP's 747 on the basis that the entertainment system of CP really sucks. So Empress, if you live near Toronto, you can certainly take the YYZ-HKG flight where there is A340 service all the way with only one stop.



[This message has been edited by Guava (edited 03-05-2001).]

Andrew Yiu

Thanks Guava...

I am just wondering about this for domestic flights. I am flying on my first "AC metal" flight this coming Thurs, a YYZ-YVR. I managed to keep on flying CP metal for all the flights I've taken since the merger. I'll be sticking with the 747 YVR/HKG for now as that's the only choice until June comes around. I had wanted to fly the A340 for this coming HKG trip in March but then AC canned it. I 100% agree with you about CP's entertainment system, they really suck!

ffs852

daniellam: I have exactly the opposite feeling you have... when I was a kid I flew AC/CX J all the time YYZ-YVR-HKG (and even once on Wardair, that was nice) but something inside me tells me its wrong for some reason and I don't really belong there.

Nowadays I fly Y-class all the time because I'm on my own now, and can't afford 3 Transpacific J tickets per year. But afterall, I enjoyed "bargaining for an upgrade" at the gate. When the upgrade is granted there is always a "great sense of accomplishment" deep inside. heheh

I received 6 transpacific upgrades on CP last year (2 was w/o black stickers) and that was some accomplishment!

Fisch

Empress: You realize that we'll all want a trip report from your first ever AC flight! This should be good

Andrew Yiu

Of course I'll be reporting here if anything "weird" happens...