KA fly HND red eye to HKG?
Jun 29, 2015, 11:06 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,527
Jun 29, 2015, 11:32 pm
#34
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Jun 30, 2015, 10:24 am
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Jul 2, 2015, 3:19 am
#36
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
I flew HND to HKG at the beginning of the month...never again.
Check in desks (I had luggage) didnt open until 2.5 hrs (23.15) before the flight, it was originally 3 but they changed it (website is up to date) So 23.15 is when you can check, so you cant checkin with luggage earlier to use the lounge if you've finished your day in Tokyo. Apparently there are self-service desks which are fine if you have no luggage
CX lounge isnt open that early and also has limited food (not that I wanted anything to eat) I actually used the JAL lounge before moving to the CX one
Boarding times were constantly delayed, about 30 mins in total, so went down from the lounge for nothing (Thats the problem when just about everybody has priority boarding, you try to board early so you can stow your hand luggage - I was in Y)
Old 320, terrible seats. Served a full meal which took them 2 hrs - who eats at that time? Didnt fully turn down the lights after the meal service because "it helps them serve customers" - lights were completely off in J - I queried this, after which they turned off the lights out. I got 1 hour sleep.
Disinterested crew but that's no big deal / luck of the draw
I guess opening the checkin desks costs money so CX wont change that but coupled with the usual boarding issues, pointless meal service and lighting / disinterested crew, I wont bother again
Check in desks (I had luggage) didnt open until 2.5 hrs (23.15) before the flight, it was originally 3 but they changed it (website is up to date) So 23.15 is when you can check, so you cant checkin with luggage earlier to use the lounge if you've finished your day in Tokyo. Apparently there are self-service desks which are fine if you have no luggage
CX lounge isnt open that early and also has limited food (not that I wanted anything to eat) I actually used the JAL lounge before moving to the CX one
Boarding times were constantly delayed, about 30 mins in total, so went down from the lounge for nothing (Thats the problem when just about everybody has priority boarding, you try to board early so you can stow your hand luggage - I was in Y)
Old 320, terrible seats. Served a full meal which took them 2 hrs - who eats at that time? Didnt fully turn down the lights after the meal service because "it helps them serve customers" - lights were completely off in J - I queried this, after which they turned off the lights out. I got 1 hour sleep.
Disinterested crew but that's no big deal / luck of the draw
I guess opening the checkin desks costs money so CX wont change that but coupled with the usual boarding issues, pointless meal service and lighting / disinterested crew, I wont bother again
- He got the old A320 which hardly reclined and no IFE.
- Absolutely no food was served. (Or did he sleep through it ?)
On the red eye flight from HKG to NRT on CX, the meal service is a cold sandwich and a small fruit cup.
Jul 2, 2015, 4:42 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
This flight just sounds awful. But I can't say I'm too surprised....the CX/KA group seem to treat those East and South intra-Asia redeyes (including Japan, SIN, ICN, CGK, and maybe another one or two I'm missing) less of business traveler flights, and more just a way to keep the aircraft utilization up. They give two $hits about what hard product shows up on those redeye flights. Unlike India, Middle East and Maldives, where CX clearly protects the integrity of the J class Cirrus (bed) hard product by reliably dispatching 33G or the new variant, both with flat beds in J.
I often see cheapo fares offered on the intra-Asia redeye routes which tell me they're not particularly popular with the business set who is going to be more particular about the hard product.
Personally, I avoid redeyes at all costs unless I've got a bed. The flights are so short intra Asia (3 hours flying time or less except for CGK), and time zones so compact (only +1 hour or 0 time change) that rarely am I in a situation where I MUST take the CX/KA redeye, unlike the US where you can get the feeling like a whole day is wasted if you fly west coast to east coast daytime.
So methinks they are primarily flown by tourists and peice-sensitive travelers, given the deals offered on those flights (I've seen them also frequently pop up as "FanFares"). And CX gets their aircraft utilization up. I don't think they're too worried about the product. And my recommendation to folks thinking about taking those redeyes, whether it's this KA flight or another one, is buyer beware.
I often see cheapo fares offered on the intra-Asia redeye routes which tell me they're not particularly popular with the business set who is going to be more particular about the hard product.
Personally, I avoid redeyes at all costs unless I've got a bed. The flights are so short intra Asia (3 hours flying time or less except for CGK), and time zones so compact (only +1 hour or 0 time change) that rarely am I in a situation where I MUST take the CX/KA redeye, unlike the US where you can get the feeling like a whole day is wasted if you fly west coast to east coast daytime.
So methinks they are primarily flown by tourists and peice-sensitive travelers, given the deals offered on those flights (I've seen them also frequently pop up as "FanFares"). And CX gets their aircraft utilization up. I don't think they're too worried about the product. And my recommendation to folks thinking about taking those redeyes, whether it's this KA flight or another one, is buyer beware.
Jul 2, 2015, 9:20 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
This flight just sounds awful. But I can't say I'm too surprised....the CX/KA group seem to treat those East and South intra-Asia redeyes (including Japan, SIN, ICN, CGK, and maybe another one or two I'm missing) less of business traveler flights, and more just a way to keep the aircraft utilization up. They give two $hits about what hard product shows up on those redeye flights. Unlike India, Middle East and Maldives, where CX clearly protects the integrity of the J class Cirrus (bed) hard product by reliably dispatching 33G or the new variant, both with flat beds in J.
I often see cheapo fares offered on the intra-Asia redeye routes which tell me they're not particularly popular with the business set who is going to be more particular about the hard product.
Personally, I avoid redeyes at all costs unless I've got a bed. The flights are so short intra Asia (3 hours flying time or less except for CGK), and time zones so compact (only +1 hour or 0 time change) that rarely am I in a situation where I MUST take the CX/KA redeye, unlike the US where you can get the feeling like a whole day is wasted if you fly west coast to east coast daytime.
So methinks they are primarily flown by tourists and peice-sensitive travelers, given the deals offered on those flights (I've seen them also frequently pop up as "FanFares"). And CX gets their aircraft utilization up. I don't think they're too worried about the product. And my recommendation to folks thinking about taking those redeyes, whether it's this KA flight or another one, is buyer beware.
I often see cheapo fares offered on the intra-Asia redeye routes which tell me they're not particularly popular with the business set who is going to be more particular about the hard product.
Personally, I avoid redeyes at all costs unless I've got a bed. The flights are so short intra Asia (3 hours flying time or less except for CGK), and time zones so compact (only +1 hour or 0 time change) that rarely am I in a situation where I MUST take the CX/KA redeye, unlike the US where you can get the feeling like a whole day is wasted if you fly west coast to east coast daytime.
So methinks they are primarily flown by tourists and peice-sensitive travelers, given the deals offered on those flights (I've seen them also frequently pop up as "FanFares"). And CX gets their aircraft utilization up. I don't think they're too worried about the product. And my recommendation to folks thinking about taking those redeyes, whether it's this KA flight or another one, is buyer beware.
You just need to know what you are getting yourself into when you get onto these flights.Took the red eye from Jakarta to Hong Kong on Garuda about 2 years back. They served a cold sandwich at take off and a full breakfast before landing. Can't imagine CX catering to have the same standard.
Jul 2, 2015, 11:00 pm
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
A friend flew HND to HKG on the red eye flight recently and commented that
- He got the old A320 which hardly reclined and no IFE.
- Absolutely no food was served. (Or did he sleep through it ?)
On the red eye flight from HKG to NRT on CX, the meal service is a cold sandwich and a small fruit cup.
- He got the old A320 which hardly reclined and no IFE.
- Absolutely no food was served. (Or did he sleep through it ?)
On the red eye flight from HKG to NRT on CX, the meal service is a cold sandwich and a small fruit cup.
- A seems-to-be last minute equipment change resulted in a new A320 for the flight... (p.s. Who knows how many A320 have been refurb already?)
- KA did serve full dinner i.e. hot meal + fruit + HD for 996... and 997 as well... Every time I flew them... Of course the consumption rate is low as most people are sleeping...
Didn't try CX's regional red-eye so no comment
Jul 3, 2015, 12:24 am
#40
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,118
Just flew KA996 HKG-PEK last night...
- A seems-to-be last minute equipment change resulted in a new A320 for the flight... (p.s. Who knows how many A320 have been refurb already?)
- KA did serve full dinner i.e. hot meal + fruit + HD for 996... and 997 as well... Every time I flew them... Of course the consumption rate is low as most people are sleeping...
Didn't try CX's regional red-eye so no comment
- A seems-to-be last minute equipment change resulted in a new A320 for the flight... (p.s. Who knows how many A320 have been refurb already?)
- KA did serve full dinner i.e. hot meal + fruit + HD for 996... and 997 as well... Every time I flew them... Of course the consumption rate is low as most people are sleeping...
Didn't try CX's regional red-eye so no comment
Jul 3, 2015, 2:35 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Jul 6, 2015, 6:08 am
#42
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
So methinks they are primarily flown by tourists and peice-sensitive travelers, given the deals offered on those flights (I've seen them also frequently pop up as "FanFares"). And CX gets their aircraft utilization up. I don't think they're too worried about the product. And my recommendation to folks thinking about taking those redeyes, whether it's this KA flight or another one, is buyer beware.
Jul 6, 2015, 8:17 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Absolutely nothing. I just wouldn't recommend them to anyone other than someone looking for a good deal. It's be a shame if someone paying full Y, B or J class expecting some type of elevated product took those flights. They don't sound like my cup of tea, but that doesn't mean they're bad for everyone.