Cathay Flight Attendant Allocation
Feb 15, 2025 | 3:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: CX, World of Hyatt
Posts: 172
Cathay Flight Attendant Allocation
How many flight attendants does Cathay assign per flight depending on aircraft and how many to each cabin?
Interested on how Cathay is semi-understaffed on some flights, causing some slow services.
Interested on how Cathay is semi-understaffed on some flights, causing some slow services.
Feb 15, 2025 | 6:57 am
#3
Moderator: Cathay Pacific
Join Date: Jan 2024
Programs: CX DM-
Posts: 1,302
It depends. Use long haul as an example, the 777s have 3 different configurations and the 350s have 2. I'll leave the specific numbers to others who are much more knowledgeable than me.
In regards to the (occasional) slow service, it is a combination of lack of manpower and expertise. CX did add an extra crew member for certain routes in 2024, but it is still challenging for the crew. The crew was, and is still, very green. You only need 6 months of experience in EY to work in J. Some of us here have probably spent more time interacting with the iPads than the new BCs. Most of the time, I don't think it's the newbie's fault, but more of a testament to the structural problems of CX.
In regards to the (occasional) slow service, it is a combination of lack of manpower and expertise. CX did add an extra crew member for certain routes in 2024, but it is still challenging for the crew. The crew was, and is still, very green. You only need 6 months of experience in EY to work in J. Some of us here have probably spent more time interacting with the iPads than the new BCs. Most of the time, I don't think it's the newbie's fault, but more of a testament to the structural problems of CX.
Feb 15, 2025 | 12:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 964
Feb 15, 2025 | 9:04 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: CX, World of Hyatt
Posts: 172
I would say Cathay's BC service is mostly CC members figuring how to use the ipad. I think in all classes they're still missing some manpower, and it's just interesting to see if Cathay is runing on minimum crew
Feb 15, 2025 | 9:29 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,926
Have read of low budget airlines reducing a few seats so can have 1 less crew.
Feb 15, 2025 | 10:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,699
CX doesn't run anything close to minimum crew - for example, a 4 class 77W
CX: F6J53W34Y201 = 294, 13 crew (-1 since pre covid)
AA: F8J52W28Y216 = 304, 11 crew
In J, AA still manages to get the service done in significantly less time, particulairly during breakfast.
CX: F6J53W34Y201 = 294, 13 crew (-1 since pre covid)
AA: F8J52W28Y216 = 304, 11 crew
In J, AA still manages to get the service done in significantly less time, particulairly during breakfast.
Feb 16, 2025 | 12:42 am
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: CX, World of Hyatt
Posts: 172
Feb 16, 2025 | 12:43 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: CX, World of Hyatt
Posts: 172
Not sure why Cathay has 13 crew on 77A but last time I flew, both Y and J, service is still slow
Feb 16, 2025 | 9:34 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 670
Feb 18, 2025 | 5:26 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 964
On my last A359 J flight to LHR there was about the same crew compared to QR A359 nevertheless the whole service was a circus show of frantic disorganisation. Something with lack of training and/or unoptimised (or inconsistently executed) SOPs.
Feb 18, 2025 | 5:36 am
#12
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 584
On an A350 to London this week, crew seemed to be very swift and even sort of joyously proceeding through the cabin with great communication with one another. Didn't seem to be insufficient staff.
One thing I do find a bit odd in Y though is if you order a mixed drink they always have to write it down and come back much later; I haven't experienced that on other airlines but to be fair I haven't ordered a mixed drink on another carrier in awhile. Seems more of a capacity on the cart issue than staffing, but maybe it has to do with staff training too - not sure.
One thing I do find a bit odd in Y though is if you order a mixed drink they always have to write it down and come back much later; I haven't experienced that on other airlines but to be fair I haven't ordered a mixed drink on another carrier in awhile. Seems more of a capacity on the cart issue than staffing, but maybe it has to do with staff training too - not sure.
Feb 18, 2025 | 7:37 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: QRPC, BAEC
Posts: 964
In Y or J? I think the service problems are more frequent in J class, whats more important is also the crew to pax ratio per class i.e how many crews assigned to Business vs Economy etc.
Feb 18, 2025 | 7:38 am
#14
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 584
In Y, but it definitely seemed swifter and better coordinated than in past Y experiences. Agree that many of the complaints I see are about J.