How reliable are aircraft assignments to HKGDPS?
Jun 28, 2011, 5:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
How reliable are aircraft assignments to HKGDPS?
All - I was disappointed to get "downgraded" from a 744 to a 773 (regional) HKGDPS in August...particularly since the family is booked in multiple PNRs so naturally we were scattered about the cabin. I'm curious, how reliable are the aircraft assignments on this route, now that it is a mix of 744s, 330s and 773s? Is it anything like BKKDPS on TG where you never know what you'll get until you show at the airport? I'd love to believe there is at least a chance for a better product than regional J.
Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all - Jamie
Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all - Jamie
Jun 28, 2011, 9:35 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
All - I was disappointed to get "downgraded" from a 744 to a 773 (regional) HKGDPS in August...particularly since the family is booked in multiple PNRs so naturally we were scattered about the cabin. I'm curious, how reliable are the aircraft assignments on this route, now that it is a mix of 744s, 330s and 773s? Is it anything like BKKDPS on TG where you never know what you'll get until you show at the airport? I'd love to believe there is at least a chance for a better product than regional J.
Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all - Jamie
Thanks in advance, and safe travels to all - Jamie
Jun 28, 2011, 9:40 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,527
Jun 28, 2011, 9:51 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,498
CX785/4 is reasonably sticky for a 74A (but as you've discovered not sticky enough). All other DPS flights go out regional.
CX548/9 used to be sticky 74A, but I think as more 77As come on stream and the loads to Tokyo continue to dip CX are capacity downgrading on HND.
CX548/9 used to be sticky 74A, but I think as more 77As come on stream and the loads to Tokyo continue to dip CX are capacity downgrading on HND.
Jun 28, 2011, 10:00 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: Earned status with AA, DL, SPG, HH, Hyatt, Marriott, Seabourn, NCL, National, Hertz...I miss my bed!
Posts: 10,927
In my experience (and this is in no way scientific), I've had equipment swaps on 50% or more of my HKG/DPS flights.
Jun 28, 2011, 11:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
Jun 29, 2011, 4:38 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, Dia HH
Posts: 152
Why does it matter? They only put Diamond status or people traveling on First class tickets (ex HKG) in those seats and it still is BC food and drinks. Unless the BC section is overbooked, they are very strict about moving people up. Only gate agents or the ISM will move people (not even lounge agents in HKG can move)
Just flew down to DPS and back this month-- On the way down from HKG I was on a BC ticket and they didn't move me. I got a nice seat up top but other than that, no big deal. On the way home to DCA via HKG, I had a F class ticket all the way home, so at checkin they provided me a F seat ticket from DPS to HKG.
Nice gesture, had seat 1A and there was only 1 other person in the cabin with me. The real kicker was that the staff ended up using most of the other seats to rest after meal service. The food is the same, service the same, just a bigger seat for a 4 hour flight.
Just flew down to DPS and back this month-- On the way down from HKG I was on a BC ticket and they didn't move me. I got a nice seat up top but other than that, no big deal. On the way home to DCA via HKG, I had a F class ticket all the way home, so at checkin they provided me a F seat ticket from DPS to HKG.
Nice gesture, had seat 1A and there was only 1 other person in the cabin with me. The real kicker was that the staff ended up using most of the other seats to rest after meal service. The food is the same, service the same, just a bigger seat for a 4 hour flight.
Jun 29, 2011, 5:34 am
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
Why does it matter? They only put Diamond status or people traveling on First class tickets (ex HKG) in those seats and it still is BC food and drinks. Unless the BC section is overbooked, they are very strict about moving people up. Only gate agents or the ISM will move people (not even lounge agents in HKG can move)
See this TR
Jun 29, 2011, 6:24 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
Why does it matter? They only put Diamond status or people traveling on First class tickets (ex HKG) in those seats and it still is BC food and drinks. Unless the BC section is overbooked, they are very strict about moving people up. Only gate agents or the ISM will move people (not even lounge agents in HKG can move)
Just flew down to DPS and back this month-- On the way down from HKG I was on a BC ticket and they didn't move me. I got a nice seat up top but other than that, no big deal. On the way home to DCA via HKG, I had a F class ticket all the way home, so at checkin they provided me a F seat ticket from DPS to HKG.
Nice gesture, had seat 1A and there was only 1 other person in the cabin with me. The real kicker was that the staff ended up using most of the other seats to rest after meal service. The food is the same, service the same, just a bigger seat for a 4 hour flight.
Just flew down to DPS and back this month-- On the way down from HKG I was on a BC ticket and they didn't move me. I got a nice seat up top but other than that, no big deal. On the way home to DCA via HKG, I had a F class ticket all the way home, so at checkin they provided me a F seat ticket from DPS to HKG.
Nice gesture, had seat 1A and there was only 1 other person in the cabin with me. The real kicker was that the staff ended up using most of the other seats to rest after meal service. The food is the same, service the same, just a bigger seat for a 4 hour flight.
Aug 14, 2011, 7:45 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,924
We flew on CX784 on 6 Aug. Had seats assigned in rows 81-82-83, which still showed as our seat assignments the week before.
Went into OLCI 2 days before it, and it had changed to a 777. I was moved to 16E (Diamond MPC dumped in middle seat near the back), and the rest of the family "seat unassigned". Not happy.
Got the airport, and the guy at the airport said "no, it's a 747 Sir". Huh.
Sure enough it had changed back to a 747. Of course we had lost the original seat assignments. The machine spat out 4A for me and the rest on the LD in BC. I did manage to get 2 more of us moved to row 4, so it worked out ok.
Went into OLCI 2 days before it, and it had changed to a 777. I was moved to 16E (Diamond MPC dumped in middle seat near the back), and the rest of the family "seat unassigned". Not happy.
Got the airport, and the guy at the airport said "no, it's a 747 Sir". Huh.
Sure enough it had changed back to a 747. Of course we had lost the original seat assignments. The machine spat out 4A for me and the rest on the LD in BC. I did manage to get 2 more of us moved to row 4, so it worked out ok.
Aug 14, 2011, 9:40 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,433
I would expect that a fist rate airline like CX would have fewer aircraft substitutions.
part of the problem is they are inconsistent.
if you look at BKK-HKG flights, some days have F (sold as F) on the 747 and some days are all 330.
some days are a mix of 777 747 and 330 .
with 5 or 6 flights a day with a diff aircraft type each day of the week, things will go wrong and last minute substitutions (downgrades)will happen.
Until CX starts using the same aircraft for specific flights, you can expect this to continue
part of the problem is they are inconsistent.
if you look at BKK-HKG flights, some days have F (sold as F) on the 747 and some days are all 330.
some days are a mix of 777 747 and 330 .
with 5 or 6 flights a day with a diff aircraft type each day of the week, things will go wrong and last minute substitutions (downgrades)will happen.
Until CX starts using the same aircraft for specific flights, you can expect this to continue