New Business class service - from July 2018 - Experiences and Discussion
#256
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: AMS>GRU/GIG
Programs: KL/AF Platinum
Posts: 1,417
I confirm no new service from SYD. I took SYD-HKG on 22 March with “old” service and connected with HKG-MAD with new service. I would take the old service anyday compared with new service.
#257
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Singapore, Hong Kong
Programs: CX MPC, EY Guest
Posts: 31
CX 250 (LHR > HKG) in March 2019
Was upgraded from PE to J so I got to try the new J class meal service (I didn't even know they had rolled it out!)
You can find the menu on the forum here (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30800653-post30.html). I was surprised to see March's menu the same as February's!
The appetiser (Sand ginger flavoured chicken with wood ear mushrooms) was really good (real Maxim quality but fwiw an improvement from what they used to offer).
For main, I very stupidly got the Slow cooked lamb, creamy potato and leek, beans and heritage baby carrot; from previous experience I find any non chicken meat dish cooked to death twice over and smothered in sauce, so I didn't know why I expected anything else; though the side greens were surprisingly tasty.
I went straight for dessert and got the strawberry compote and was blown away by how good it was.
For breakfast I got the Western continental which was nothing to write home about; I almost wanted to get the congee, but from reading some of the comments above I guess it was the right choice to pass on it. The "cold-pressed juice" was borderline undrinkable...
Overall, I found the food a marked improvement from any of my previous CX J experiences. I'm a little sad that garlic bread is no longer on offer though. With regards to the menu presentation (newspaper style + enclosed card) I found it quite gimmicky? I don't really see how it adds to the experience, but I suppose taking breakfast orders ahead of time does save some time near the end of the flight and maximises the passengers' sleep time. The FA who came to take dinner orders on the ground made a comment when I had already filled out the card: "Oh excellent! So you must have tried our new service already!" which made me wonder how many people don't know what that card is for?
In terms of time taken to complete the service, I would say it's been quicker than usual. I was sitting in the last row of J, but at least since they got rid of the tray service, I didn't have to wait for everyone else to be served before it got to me, so a huge improvement overall.
You can find the menu on the forum here (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30800653-post30.html). I was surprised to see March's menu the same as February's!
The appetiser (Sand ginger flavoured chicken with wood ear mushrooms) was really good (real Maxim quality but fwiw an improvement from what they used to offer).
For main, I very stupidly got the Slow cooked lamb, creamy potato and leek, beans and heritage baby carrot; from previous experience I find any non chicken meat dish cooked to death twice over and smothered in sauce, so I didn't know why I expected anything else; though the side greens were surprisingly tasty.
I went straight for dessert and got the strawberry compote and was blown away by how good it was.
For breakfast I got the Western continental which was nothing to write home about; I almost wanted to get the congee, but from reading some of the comments above I guess it was the right choice to pass on it. The "cold-pressed juice" was borderline undrinkable...
Overall, I found the food a marked improvement from any of my previous CX J experiences. I'm a little sad that garlic bread is no longer on offer though. With regards to the menu presentation (newspaper style + enclosed card) I found it quite gimmicky? I don't really see how it adds to the experience, but I suppose taking breakfast orders ahead of time does save some time near the end of the flight and maximises the passengers' sleep time. The FA who came to take dinner orders on the ground made a comment when I had already filled out the card: "Oh excellent! So you must have tried our new service already!" which made me wonder how many people don't know what that card is for?
In terms of time taken to complete the service, I would say it's been quicker than usual. I was sitting in the last row of J, but at least since they got rid of the tray service, I didn't have to wait for everyone else to be served before it got to me, so a huge improvement overall.
#259
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,122
#263
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,122
OT: United Airlines went back casseroles
UA recently stopped plating their meals restaurant style in Polaris and went back to the old casserole dishes. I think the union demanded it.
While I don't suggest CX doing the same, perhaps they can consider having maybe one option on the menu that cooks well in a casserole such as a baked lasagne/pasta dish or a baked saucy/rice dish such as Portuguese coconut curry chicken rice or HK style baked pork chop rice/spaghetti. Dishes such as steak, chicken breast, fish fillet etc would continue to be heated and plated restaurant style. Maybe this can save time for the FAs?
#264
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,704
CX872/3 is the SFO crew, while the other two (892/3 and 870/9) aren't.
However, I've noticed once or twice a week CX872/873 are operated by HKG or mixed SFO/HKG crews. I'm not sure why but I suspect the base in SFO either hasn't grown or has shrunk.
#265
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Programs: SQ PPS, AA EXEC PLAT,HH GOLD, BONVOY GOLD
Posts: 2,040
I was unimpressed. No garlic bread, less dessert choice (unless you include the ice cream they had as a mid meal snack) and no more cereal choice for breakfast.
This is nothing but a cost cutting measure.
This might just be the tipping point to switch to SQ for my travels.
#267
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
Has the new service been rolled out to EWR yet? I'm on CX890 in J this Sunday Apr 4. According to that early schedule the new service should be in place but like many things seems CX is behind schedule. I'll report back after the flight if the status is still unknown.
#268
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Was told it was delayed from Jan to Apr, but that was awhile ago.
#269
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Programs: SQ PPS, AA EXEC PLAT,HH GOLD, BONVOY GOLD
Posts: 2,040
I was on CX 893 on 3/23 with the new service and was told it started that week only.
I was unimpressed. No garlic bread, less dessert choice (unless you include the ice cream they had as a mid meal snack) and no more cereal choice for breakfast.
This is nothing but a cost cutting measure.
This might just be the tipping point to switch to SQ for my travels.
I was unimpressed. No garlic bread, less dessert choice (unless you include the ice cream they had as a mid meal snack) and no more cereal choice for breakfast.
This is nothing but a cost cutting measure.
This might just be the tipping point to switch to SQ for my travels.
I was on CX 870 on 4/4 HGK-SFO:
There was only one (Chinese) dessert option on the lunch service (used to be 1 western and 1 Chinese) and they included ice cream as an option (normally kept for mid flight snack)
So what happened ? They ran out of ice cream for the mid meal snack. Which makes sense. Anyone who didnt want the Chinese dessert opted for ice cream during lunch, and of course CX wouldnt load extra ice cream since it now serves as an option for the main meal and snack - because that would defeat the entire purpose of the new meal service, which is to cut costs
most all of the other snacks were gone too during the mid meal snack (potato chips finished and just 2 packets of the caramel popcorn were left). And this is on a very short flight time of 10:45. I wonder what would happen on long flights ?
Breakfast was pathetic as well. No cereal, no muesli. No choice of breakfast breads (the muffins are gone too).
But hey at least we have newspaper style menus and cards to fill out for breakfast !
CX is going (has gone) downhill IMO.
#270
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 481
Update:
I was on CX 870 on 4/4 HGK-SFO:
There was only one (Chinese) dessert option on the lunch service (used to be 1 western and 1 Chinese) and they included ice cream as an option (normally kept for mid flight snack)
So what happened ? They ran out of ice cream for the mid meal snack. Which makes sense. Anyone who didnt want the Chinese dessert opted for ice cream during lunch, and of course CX wouldnt load extra ice cream since it now serves as an option for the main meal and snack - because that would defeat the entire purpose of the new meal service, which is to cut costs
most all of the other snacks were gone too during the mid meal snack (potato chips finished and just 2 packets of the caramel popcorn were left). And this is on a very short flight time of 10:45. I wonder what would happen on long flights ?
Breakfast was pathetic as well. No cereal, no muesli. No choice of breakfast breads (the muffins are gone too).
But hey at least we have newspaper style menus and cards to fill out for breakfast !
CX is going (has gone) downhill IMO.