Is this a joke really? I just checked on CX website, they are asking for $18k + HKD for a roundtrip HKG/SIN in J and then they roster A31N for CX635/636 on most days. What on earth are they thinking?

HKG-LHR
 

Pretty decent seat increase on HKG-LHR
- moving from 3-4x 359 and 1-2x 777
- to 2x 351 and 3x 777

Albeit only one Aria flight per day, other flights typically with 77A.

I just don't think they care about protecting products on routes, unfortunately, as much as this forum gives "them" at CX credit for. It just underlines to me decisions for fleet management are far more operational than they are product-specific (outside of long/mid-haul & shorthaul). I'm not quite at 20 years on CX, and still remember random times I think A330 regionals got subbed to the Middle East and maybe even Australia. (I read a poster above thinking CGK is a step too far for them to send the regional config overnight...I don't think they'll think twice about swapping it unfortunately!)

I was on a flight last month to Singapore, saw a few familiar faces from one of our banking relationships. They are a useful example of why nothing will change. These guys (an MD and at least two guys I recognize on his team) are definitely not the masters of their ticket purchases, even though they're doing just fine for themselves income-wise. Ultimately they might grumble about a crappy product but their bank isn't going to change its corporate contract with CX, there are just too many layers and big numbers involved, and they're going to continue to fly CX J down to Singapore whether it's a 777, A350 or the dreaded A321. I do think CX probably has less corporate banking contracts flying J these days given the changes in hKG than before, but I think the overall dynamic is still intact.

The people or businessowners actually paying these fares regularly out of their own pockets and making decisions on things like product, which is my case and I think HKGglobaltrotter , are definitely in the minority. This used to bother me but it just has its own logic and that's the way it is. CX really doesn't care that much about which product they put on what route, is my ultimate conclusion. (I agree, as G-CIVC puts it colorfully, that it's obviously ridiculous in an absolute sense to stick such a crappy product on such a premium route some of us pay through the nose for). The talk about "flagship" routes and things, I think is more in frequent flyers' heads than reality.

Pre-Covid I just learned it paid to be more of a free agent, I pretty easily hit 1,800 SP a year anyway, and although I've taken quite a liking to T4 "normal" security at Changi vs the rest of the airport, I'll be just fine going back to SQ on that route. I like their long-haul J for short-haul working and the F and suites are excellent if schedule works. (What I really have liked about CX the last 2 years to Singapore, is the 100% predictability of long-haul J product. Now that goes out the window and back to Pre-Covid mode.

But I do have one big thanks: to FlyerTalk, and the posters here, for giving us all the heads up!!!

As a regular business flyer, the aircraft type was never a consideration. The corporate contract already stipulates which airline to fly, and there's never just 1. As belts tightened in recent years, Chinese carriers creeped up for mainland routes, while I fly SQ to Singapore a lot more often than CX based on the 'cheapest available fare' in the travel policy. Ultimately, the flight timing is the deciding factor. Most of the time, it's Economy class even for corporate travel within this region anyway. Long-haul travel is getting very elusive now that Zoom works perfectly fine across time zones and building personal relationships takes a back seater.

Looks like the 777s are finally now starting to be swapped for 350s on the Aus routes and back to longer haul.

Makes sense to swap them from Southern Hemisphere winter to European summer.

all 35K's are gone from oceania. pretty much all of them are in NA, LHR and AMS, and all 359s are busy too, probably 70-80% were taken away from regional. 77K, 77P and A330 usage is also very big, leaving pretty much no widebbodies as the 77A's are probably refitting.

i think CX would defeintily buy more quite a few more 350s (maybe use the option for more A339 too) soon in that upcoming order, otherwise delays would become more serious for more resumptions. maybe they would also buy more 777X.

Seems like CX735 was removed as well.
The CX735/635/711 lineup (2pm/3pm/4pm) is perfect, and they always seem busy except perhaps W? Perhaps the yield is not what they expect.

735 will be gone, 635 becomes a 321, which means only 711 left as the sole option. Is this schedule really firmed up or it’s still in the making? Not looking forward to NS25

A359s + 777xs. A339 options can be exercised anytime though, so it is not a must for this order.

I wonder prevalent "hard" corporate contracts are. My corporate experience has been that CX is our "preferred" carrier and we have some sort of agreement with them but I have never had trouble booking myself on SQ, LH/LX to name a few. My friends have had similar experiences where unless you book something outrageous, no one says anything. Maybe its our corporate travel agent who is meant to be enforcing by they are apparently pretty hopeless generally...

Maybe SIN is not so critical to them from here or the passenger load is not there and SQ could gladly take over the business. Removal of CX735/650(or 692 SIN-HKG at 6ish in the morning) and downgrading to 32Q is really disappointing. Not only that, they are charging flex fares for business class and really cost a lot for the sub par product, even 711 is now on a RJ product. Hope the demand falls for 635/636 over other slots and see how CX respond, revert back to wide body or worse remove the slots. :/

Doubt they will forfeit the takeoff/landing slots as they are quite hard to get back once lost which is the case with all busy airports. I can see them subbing in a 32Q for low demand flights for the purpose of maintaining the slots.

I wonder what happened to the 735/692 slots was it given up or just empty.

Selfishly wanting SEA back but I know it won’t happen.

The fact I have to transfer to YVR or SFO/LAX or take a flight to TPE/ICN/HND/NRT to get to HK just takes up a big chunk of time. And for whatever reason, I always seem to have trouble booking a SEA-YVR-HKG route as the corporate tool always prefers the ex-SFO route.

Amazes me how SEA has PVG, PEK, CKG but not HKG. Meanwhile there’s 3x TPE, 2x ICN, 2x HND/NRT (soon to be 3x for the latter 2) daily’s.

CX cant compete so likely won't launch SEA
it's funny seeing the airline now fall short on its key routes like SIN and PVG.

And seeing posters here get annoyed at seeing the truths I pointed about post covid CX coming to light.


A321 to SIN....
Wow just wow!!