Feb 27, 2018, 2:35 am
Last edit by: sxc
Discussion of The Deck continues here:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-marco-polo-club/1895979-deck-opens-22-march-2018-a.html
Confirmed: CX lounge operator change to Sodexo
Jun 16, 2018, 3:11 am
#286
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), TK Elite (*G), BT VIP, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 484
Quick question here, apologies if this is the wrong thread. Do they serve the signature burger in Wing F? Haven't had it for quite a long time, as I always found something more appealing on the menu (or spying on other guests' selections). But with these recent changes, and having tried a number of the mains, I would be happy to go with the burger...
Jun 16, 2018, 10:33 pm
#288
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Quick question here, apologies if this is the wrong thread. Do they serve the signature burger in Wing F? Haven't had it for quite a long time, as I always found something more appealing on the menu (or spying on other guests' selections). But with these recent changes, and having tried a number of the mains, I would be happy to go with the burger...
Jun 17, 2018, 10:35 pm
#289
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
Was at the Pier F yesterday.
Took a quick shower (under 5 mins) the shower got flooded, when I opened the door, the water spilled onto the floor. There are some staff at the Dining Room who can't understand or take meal orders in English. She raised her hand, said "Sorry" and went to get someone else to get my lunch order....and lastly they ran out of Dan Dan Mien at noon!
By the way, the Aqua Panna is now at 500ml, I recall it to be bigger.
Took a quick shower (under 5 mins) the shower got flooded, when I opened the door, the water spilled onto the floor. There are some staff at the Dining Room who can't understand or take meal orders in English. She raised her hand, said "Sorry" and went to get someone else to get my lunch order....and lastly they ran out of Dan Dan Mien at noon!
By the way, the Aqua Panna is now at 500ml, I recall it to be bigger.
Jun 17, 2018, 10:56 pm
#290
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), TK Elite (*G), BT VIP, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 484
Also did the Salad Nicoise (with Tuna) for the second time. First time was just excellent, well spiced and everything. This time the tuna didn't seem to be very fresh and overall the dish was a bit lacking.
Jun 17, 2018, 11:03 pm
#291
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I agree with the sentiment (mentioned upthread a few times) that any commercial caterer which might be considered for these lounges can deliver a good quality product. It's less an issue of which company has the contract, and more an issue of the budget allotted by CX management.
If CX management gave them a larger budget Sodexo’s goal will to be to drive up profit margins as much as possible rather than allocating 100% of the budget increase into the product.
Jun 18, 2018, 12:13 am
#292
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
Jun 18, 2018, 12:25 am
#293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
Maybe, but I don’t have high hopes based on my experience with Sodexo. Sodexo is a massive for profit company that doesn’t have the same consideration for their brand as the previous caterers (particularly Peninsula). They get their stuff in bulk through their own corporate contracts from vendors that mass produce stuff. They served chipotle chicken breasts one day at the work cafeteria a while back and I saw their pseudo “executive chef” grab a massive plastic bag of 50+ pre-cooked chipotle chicken breasts (same grade as Tyson’s chicken) from the fridge and proceeded to the kitchen to re-heat in the oven before serving. I bet we pay more for the entree (typically $8-10) than what CX pays them and that is still the level of quality of the food they served us so I do not have much confidence in Sodexo producing the quality one can expect from a local or specialized caterer regardless of budget.
Jun 18, 2018, 2:35 am
#294
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Looks better but tastes terrible. The noodle was hard. So either they didn’t soak them long enough, or they’d been sitting out in the fridge and dried out.
Praise where it’s due though - I’ve had the cha siew twice now and it’s tasted pretty good. Much better than the QF lounge.
Praise where it’s due though - I’ve had the cha siew twice now and it’s tasted pretty good. Much better than the QF lounge.
Jun 18, 2018, 10:27 am
#295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
In the Pier J this week - no sign of mac and cheese, and the Asian room has returned to Asian selections. The Siu Mai we’re good - probably better than plaza premium version, there was some fried noodles, dragon boat rice dumplings, sweet and sour pork. Nothing amazing but they all tasted pretty good and probably similar to the plaza premium days. The western hall was still underwhelming.
Hopefully this is a sign they are getting better.
Hopefully this is a sign they are getting better.
Jun 18, 2018, 1:06 pm
#296
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
In the Pier J this week - no sign of mac and cheese, and the Asian room has returned to Asian selections. The Siu Mai we’re good - probably better than plaza premium version, there was some fried noodles, dragon boat rice dumplings, sweet and sour pork. Nothing amazing but they all tasted pretty good and probably similar to the plaza premium days. The western hall was still underwhelming.
Hopefully this is a sign they are getting better.
Hopefully this is a sign they are getting better.
Last week CX asked me to fill out a review on my flights, including the quality of the lounges. With the latter, I supported the general opinion over here, regarding "an improvement might be useful for the J lounges".
Jun 19, 2018, 11:06 am
#297
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,727
I was in the pier was week and the food was bad. Only ok dish was the wanton noodles which is ok, and also the sorbet as explained. No longer has the wow factor.
When it was under the peninsula management, i made it a point to fly CX for asia despite a transit to make use of the lounge. Now in terms of food, KUL airport first class has better food, less busy and less walking! Facilities wise, the pier is still good.
When it was under the peninsula management, i made it a point to fly CX for asia despite a transit to make use of the lounge. Now in terms of food, KUL airport first class has better food, less busy and less walking! Facilities wise, the pier is still good.
Jun 20, 2018, 1:03 am
#299
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
Just learned that scrambled eggs for breakfast were enhanced away and replaced by hard boiled eggs at Bridge J as part of “the new menu”. Staff lady who already worked for PP before said she’s been getting lots of complaints from all sorts of pax. Even overheard another guy complaining as I walked over. Food selection was overall very, very bad.
They did offer to make me some scrambled eggs which I would have never thought of asking for, but they insisted. They were delicious.
They did offer to make me some scrambled eggs which I would have never thought of asking for, but they insisted. They were delicious.
Jun 20, 2018, 7:12 am
#300
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SQ Gold
Posts: 81
In Pier F last night and went by The Pantry to grab some drinks and could overhear a couple complaining to a senior lounge staff about how the quality of food "has degraded so much" since their last visit etc. Did not stay long to eavesdrop but as mentioned here, they probably get this a lot so I'm hoping someone is making a decision to make this reach Paul Loo or whoever it is overseeing the lounges now.
What I don't understand is the messaging for changing the operator was due to complaints with regard to quality of the food and services in the lounge in the PP days. The lounges used to give a a sense that the airline was looking after you and investing on your loyalty. Now I feel they only see the lounges as leaking pipes from their bottom line and couldn't care less with delivering "just ok." Otherwise still hopeful things improve.
What I don't understand is the messaging for changing the operator was due to complaints with regard to quality of the food and services in the lounge in the PP days. The lounges used to give a a sense that the airline was looking after you and investing on your loyalty. Now I feel they only see the lounges as leaking pipes from their bottom line and couldn't care less with delivering "just ok." Otherwise still hopeful things improve.