Was on CX904 from Manila this morning (February 10,2012), pretty standard pre-departure service, rushed drinks and hot towel, but having been on CX904 a couple of times, it seems pretty normal already. ISM seems to be in a rush to close cabin doors, had everybody seated and awaiting for push back. Luckily we didn't have to queue on the runway, so we were off to Hong Kong in no time.

Meal service started as normal, tray...then juice and/or coffee/tea, some selections on the bread basket with some preserves. Then they started wheeling out the cart with the entree. For breakfast this morning they had a choice of omelette and sausage or milk fish with rice, by the time the cart reached me (15K) the first batch of fish was finished, but the FA told me that she will get some more from the galley and proceeded to the next passenger. I saw another FA bring her a tray with the fish but she never came back to me. I went back to reading the newspaper and was surprised that the FA was coming back to collect the trays.

She realized that she hasn't served me any entree and told me that she will check (this is about 40 minutes prior to landing) when she came back she said she ran out of the fish and can only give me the omelette and sausage. I am aware that choices are limited but it only ran out because she forgot to serve me when the fresh batch was given to her. Seeing that there was very little time left before landing, I simply declined and returned the tray. Besides since food was catered from Manila, its bound not to be good.

A few things, she was very apologetic, even the SP went back to me to apologize and offered to get some bread from the back for me to eat. At that time the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth and just didn't want to bother since I can pick up something at The Wing while waiting for my flight to Singapore at 11:35. When they were doing the pre landing checks, I asked the SP that I would like to have a word with the ISM now or if not after landing. I am not sure if she was already aware because she sounded just as surprised with what happened. Anyway I understand that they would be tired, having done the 905 last night, getting to Manila close to midnight, off load, rush to the hotel, rest a bit and rush back to the airport for 904 but this is something that shouldn't actually happen, I think if the FA was more conscious/mindful of the passengers considering that the cabin was not even full, it wouldn't have happened.

Well I just want to rant...I don't know if I should write an email to MPC since I already spoke to the ISM about it, for an airline who has been constantly running ads about "People. They make an airline", and how they make the effort to provide the best customer service to its passenger, I feel they failed this time.

I'm going to go with no-harm, no-foul on this one.
People make mistakes. No one died.
Wasting your time to write a letter to MPC, just so you can get a "We're-Sorry-for-your-inconvenience letter" - pointless.

+1^

Thanks. The FA was genuinely sorry so I guess it's really okay. although was surprised that these things could actually happen.

MNL sure seems to be in the news much lately. No wonder CX is running a "sale" going to MNL...

Well I think you could write to Marcopolo, because its important that they are aware of this issue, to ensure it doesn't happen again. I don't think there is any excuse for not returning to you with your meal. Sure they were busy, but they should remember, or get it straight away. She could easily have pressed the call button for another FA to come to the cart and then go get the meal. but if the FA and crew were really sorry, perhaps no need to. They realised their mistake and were very sorry.


One thing I must say, however, is that you should have been more proactive in chasing your meal. e.g if it didnt come in 5mins, ask again. Or when you saw the other FA come with the fish, you should have called out to her, saying you wanted one. I appreciate that you may have been pre-occupied though.

Has OP ever made a mistake in his life? That's what this was. Forget about it, move on.

At least it wasn't a fishy taste.

We make mistakes... We are human. As much as our employers would love to replace us with robots to save money, they can't.

I have accidentally missed someone out of a drinks service or a meal service, usually because someone distracts me with a problem or questions, and for that I have apologised and corrected my mistake.

^ +1 - seen that & it's happened. One time, I used the "Call Button" to signal the FA to get their attention when I noticed that they went passed us after more than a few minutes (and I was "preoccupied" myself in those pre-iPad/2 days.) Discrete without "disturbing" others around us who're on a different meal schedule. As soon as she came over, she realized and apologized for our tray without the main entree ...

If that is the case then you shouldn't be complaining/ranting.

In that case if you really wanted the fish then as others have previously stated, you should have notified the FA early instead of waiting.

^+2

^+2

Competition for business?
It looks like just about all the airlines that fly that route are having a "sale" not just CX.

Its totally understandable, she apologized profusely so its not really a big problem. Hence I didn't bother writing MPC about it. I guess I found it odd that this thing would happen.

I guess its more common during LH when you have different meal schedules. I don't think she passed my way again after passing out the entrees except to collect the finished trays.

I agree, I should have used the "Call Button" but I don't exactly know what happened. I just never thought I'd have to chase down my food, but then again since it's catered from Manila...I don't think its would be worth it.

Sorry, but what exactly is Milk Fish?

The load for MNL seems to be good, I've gotten upgraded a few times because its oversold. I've rarely been on a flight that had a nearly empty premium cabin so its a good sign that business is also good.