Has CX been improving for Y?
 

Hello folks,

I am going to fly CX from Australia to HKG. Can you please tell me what you think about CX's inflight service in Economy Class? Have they handed out the Y menu? Hot towels (I dont like instant hand sanitizer)? new amentity kits? Are there any new inflight entertainments? Do they have sandwiches, ice cream and instant noodles as a snack?

Thanks

In CX Y, I haven't taken the SYD-HKG route, but I know their Y product is good as always, better than most airlines. There were hot towels, amenity kits, I don't know what you mean by new, but the usual toothbrush, socks and so on. There is always new IFE every month I think, and the snacks still are available, not sure about ice cream, though.

no hot towels, ice cream anymore.

I'll walk over to Y tomorrow on CX829 during meal service and check if there are hot-towels...........

Basically most of the things had cut out, similiar to other US airlines in Y class except the amenity kit, menus are long gone.

Y menus: Yes
Hot towels: No
Sandwiches: Yes
Instant Noodles: Yes
Ice Cream: No
Amenity Kits: Toothbrush, Socks, Eyeshades (Upon Request)

Hope this helps

I guess SQ still outshines them all with their "Hot Towel Welcome" service! Great for cooler countries... but sometimes I wish that it would be cool towels for a change especially when you come aboard from Singapore.

I see very little difference between CX and SQ Economy Class. Both airlines are excellent in my opinion. I hear that CX will be introducing audio-video-on-demand very shortly in Y class.

As for amenity kits in Economy on CX, the green coloured pouch contains socks, toothbrush and a lanyard containing the words Cathay Pacific. However, eyeshades are available on request.

This is a not a comparison thread but I think SQ is way better than CX in Y.

I just took NRT-SIN in Y and I was surprised that they had a very large menu. I had a hot towel. A Wiseman on-demand 60-movie channel (you never get this on CX) and a Fauchon icecream. I am simply impressed. The only advantage I could think of on CX is perhaps a slightly larger in-seat TV screen and in-flight power outlets.

SQ also has chili sauce on every flight. :)

Which CX aircraft are you referring to? Or is this true to all aircraft?

I think he could be referring to the A340-600. Otherwise, SQ's screens are larger than CX's.

Yes SQ's seats are tight, but their 777s are actually quite comfortable to be in. CX's Y seats are just uncomfortable.

If anyone is going to take Y class, and legroom is priority for you, may I suggest either MH or TG. Where both airlines offer at least 34" of pitch. Okay, IFE isn't the best, but I know that TG's catering has always been good and MH rivals its services to that of an 'old-SQ'.

CX really has got to improve their Y class. Though I must say that the FAs note who are its elite members in the Y cabin and address you by name and try their best to do all for you. You won't get this on SQ as there are simply too many PPS members on any given flight even in the Y cabin.

SQ FAs offer more pampering service for every pax on board. To be honest, SQ inflight service are very consistent but CX depend on the supervision of different pursers.

Having flown CX 104 from MEL - HKG recently (28th November), I noted that CX's service has been between good and very good. Though they provide those 'antiseptic towelette' before meals and give out printed menus, I still find their nothing to write home about (much worse than the last time I flew with them).

As for the inflight entertainment, be sure to try to get on a A333 operated flight (instead of a B744) if you are from MEL or SYD (if you fly from BNE, CNS or PER, there is no real choice of flights). The A333's control panel can be 'moved' out of the armrest (much a like a remote really) and it is a lot easier for games :cool:. Though the entertainment system on the two are identical, but (according to my parents who flew CX 134, operated by a B744) it is very difficult to 'move' using the fixed 'keys' on the B744. Otherwise, you can enjoy over 20 channels of movies and tv shows.

Hope this helps!

I flew on CX B777-300s last week and found that the seats more comfy than SQ newer 777s. IMHO, SQ older 777 seats (those without AVOD) are the most comfy 32" pitch Y seats around.
Screen size looks the same between CX 773s and SQ 777s to me.

SQ has been much better (than before) in recognizing PPSes in the Y cabin.
It started in late 2001/early 2002 I think. They started addressing PPSes by names in Y. Although I notice that they omit this for most flights of less flying time (CGK-SIN vv). Still, I once received the best ever service in Y (SIN-CGK) where all the FAs called me and my wife by names (memorized) and all of them were very attentive & sincerely friendly. Beats even some experience in SQ F & C cabins. ^

Also depends on the route too. In all my personal experiences flying Y with CX over the years, the ones ex-YVR & SFO have consitently been excellent while the ones ex-LAX has been consitently awful.

As for Y products between SQ & CX, the only advantage I would give SQ over CX is the IFE. SQ has portable remote controls to play games such as Super Mario, Tetris, etc. CX on the other hand does not and you must rely on the buttons located on the edge of the armrest which can be quite annoying to use especially when you have to press the buttons with a great deal of force just to get anything going at times. Also there are more program & game selections on board SQ than CX.

Other than IFE, everything else between SQ & CX in Y is more or less a tie :)