New Business class service - from July 2018 - Experiences and Discussion
#91
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: DFW, AA EXPLT/ 5MM
Posts: 90
Just off CX807 with the new business class meal service. What a huge disappointment. I can’t believe CX is trying to position this new meal service “more like first class” or “restaurant style dining”. It’s basically big cut backs in meal service and choices disguised with a marketing spin and PR campaign. But at least they can say they put it on plates, even if those plates are too big for the basically coach meal they now serve in business.
I was struck by how sad the CX meal service was, not just compared to the Middle Eastern super star airlines, but even to smaller second tier airlines like Xiamen. We took Xiamen recently from LAX to Xiamen and I can honestly say IMHO their meal service and business class product was so much better. They even had complementary WiFi on their planes.
The CX meals are served on plastic trays with no cloth or paper liners. Most certainly a cut back. It’s a coach quality meal on a plate.
Besides the cut back in food of so so quality, it was nearly impossible to get drinks. It’s clear this new service stretches the crew. They probably should reassign someone as a runner in the business class cabin. Our flight was not even full.
Other than the pre- meal drink and the drink with the appetizer course that comes already on the tray, don’t expect to get a refill or be able to switch wines. Once the tray is down the crew is gone. It takes a long time (20 minutes) to get your tray picked up after the meal as well. Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread? And it’s a choice now of cheese, fruit or desert. Don’t expect more than one of these.
As small and limited as the meal portions are now, I don’t think CX could be spending more than $5-7 USD per passenger for each meal.
It’s truly sad to see how far the CX business soft product has fallen. For that matter, CX in general. Once CX offered such a wonderful product in business and first. It’s sad to see this brand I loved in such decline. Next time I’ll just fly American Airlines to Hong Kong.
As a side note CX was in such a rush to board the plane, which arrived at 2 pm in Chicago for our 3:30 departure that they announced in the lounge boarding was underway at 2:40 pm and all passengers should go directly to the gate. We waited at the gate until 3:05, when they started boarding first and business class, only to have us all stand on the hot jet bridge until 3:20pm when they let us board the plane. Not a good experience for a “premium” airlines. So many signs of the stress CX is under.
I was struck by how sad the CX meal service was, not just compared to the Middle Eastern super star airlines, but even to smaller second tier airlines like Xiamen. We took Xiamen recently from LAX to Xiamen and I can honestly say IMHO their meal service and business class product was so much better. They even had complementary WiFi on their planes.
The CX meals are served on plastic trays with no cloth or paper liners. Most certainly a cut back. It’s a coach quality meal on a plate.
Besides the cut back in food of so so quality, it was nearly impossible to get drinks. It’s clear this new service stretches the crew. They probably should reassign someone as a runner in the business class cabin. Our flight was not even full.
Other than the pre- meal drink and the drink with the appetizer course that comes already on the tray, don’t expect to get a refill or be able to switch wines. Once the tray is down the crew is gone. It takes a long time (20 minutes) to get your tray picked up after the meal as well. Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread? And it’s a choice now of cheese, fruit or desert. Don’t expect more than one of these.
As small and limited as the meal portions are now, I don’t think CX could be spending more than $5-7 USD per passenger for each meal.
It’s truly sad to see how far the CX business soft product has fallen. For that matter, CX in general. Once CX offered such a wonderful product in business and first. It’s sad to see this brand I loved in such decline. Next time I’ll just fly American Airlines to Hong Kong.
As a side note CX was in such a rush to board the plane, which arrived at 2 pm in Chicago for our 3:30 departure that they announced in the lounge boarding was underway at 2:40 pm and all passengers should go directly to the gate. We waited at the gate until 3:05, when they started boarding first and business class, only to have us all stand on the hot jet bridge until 3:20pm when they let us board the plane. Not a good experience for a “premium” airlines. So many signs of the stress CX is under.
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread?
#94
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 178
Just off CX807 with the new business class meal service. What a huge disappointment. I can’t believe CX is trying to position this new meal service “more like first class” or “restaurant style dining”. It’s basically big cut backs in meal service and choices disguised with a marketing spin and PR campaign. But at least they can say they put it on plates, even if those plates are too big for the basically coach meal they now serve in business.
The CX meals are served on plastic trays with no cloth or paper liners. Most certainly a cut back. It’s a coach quality meal on a plate.
Besides the cut back in food of so so quality, it was nearly impossible to get drinks. It’s clear this new service stretches the crew. They probably should reassign someone as a runner in the business class cabin. Our flight was not even full.
Other than the pre- meal drink and the drink with the appetizer course that comes already on the tray, don’t expect to get a refill or be able to switch wines. Once the tray is down the crew is gone. It takes a long time (20 minutes) to get your tray picked up after the meal as well. Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread? And it’s a choice now of cheese, fruit or desert. Don’t expect more than one of these.
It’s truly sad to see how far the CX business soft product has fallen. For that matter, CX in general. Once CX offered such a wonderful product in business and first. It’s sad to see this brand I loved in such decline. Next time I’ll just fly American Airlines to Hong Kong.
The CX meals are served on plastic trays with no cloth or paper liners. Most certainly a cut back. It’s a coach quality meal on a plate.
Besides the cut back in food of so so quality, it was nearly impossible to get drinks. It’s clear this new service stretches the crew. They probably should reassign someone as a runner in the business class cabin. Our flight was not even full.
Other than the pre- meal drink and the drink with the appetizer course that comes already on the tray, don’t expect to get a refill or be able to switch wines. Once the tray is down the crew is gone. It takes a long time (20 minutes) to get your tray picked up after the meal as well. Another cut back is no crackers with the cheese plate. Who serves cheese without crackers or bread? And it’s a choice now of cheese, fruit or desert. Don’t expect more than one of these.
It’s truly sad to see how far the CX business soft product has fallen. For that matter, CX in general. Once CX offered such a wonderful product in business and first. It’s sad to see this brand I loved in such decline. Next time I’ll just fly American Airlines to Hong Kong.
Cabin staffing will not increase with this new service (as told very firmly by management) and with this crew complement, that's all they can feasibly deliver. Management lives in this fantasy world that by paying staff less and less and putting more and more bums on planes, service will be better.
The crackers issue is probably crew forgot about them since they're located separately, not pre-plated with the cheese.
No drinks refill unfortunately is a necessary evil if you don't want your flight diverted due to crew not being able to go off to their mandatory rest, or a 5 hours long meal service when half the JCL crew goes off to rest mid service.
This new JCL service is a glorified cost cutting exercise. Lower your expectations, take your business else where. Literally AA is better with the same seats, same disinterested staff but with better bedding, entertainment and catering. You get the same lounges anyways, why cling onto CX?
#99
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
#100
#101
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,643
Majuki's CX807 ORD-HKG photos
Majuki's flight got the newspaper-style menu, so I presume new Business Class Service is in effect for him.
Bean curd noodles; CX 807 ORD-HKG
Bean curd noodles; CX 807 ORD-HKG
Beef cheek; CX 807 ORD-HKG
Fruit, omelette, and chocolate mousse; CX 807 ORD-HKG
Last edited by percysmith; Aug 12, 2018 at 7:22 pm
#102
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
I think I can speak for everyone that if they serve Panda Express, people would be a lot happier. The crap they are serving has been horrific for at least 4 years, with each year progressively getting worse. CX has the right schedule and time for me, so I take it when I have no other options. I haven't eaten a meal on CX J in at least 2 years. I just bring my own food from the terminal.
#103
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
When I shared this to a crew friend, they told me bread is not served on Brunch service on ORD...was it a new change? or they never served bread even on the old meal service?
I find it a bit ridiculous as Lunch and Supper service would have bread, even afternoon meal service between HKG and TPE/MNL have them....
I find it a bit ridiculous as Lunch and Supper service would have bread, even afternoon meal service between HKG and TPE/MNL have them....
#104
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,643
When I shared this to a crew friend, they told me bread is not served on Brunch service on ORD...was it a new change? or they never served bread even on the old meal service?
I find it a bit ridiculous as Lunch and Supper service would have bread, even afternoon meal service between HKG and TPE/MNL have them....
I find it a bit ridiculous as Lunch and Supper service would have bread, even afternoon meal service between HKG and TPE/MNL have them....
#105
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,643
#9134
https://www.ausbt.com.au/cathay-paci...s-meal-service
"You bunch of retards at office, offering a more intensive experience for passengers while the same set of crew remains the same. With more china plates to collect I can’t wait the passengers complain about the noise we are making while doing the service throughout the whole flight. Dear pax: Start minimise your rest instead of maximising it from now on. And please please don’t complain that about the so called noise. FFS!”
https://www.ausbt.com.au/cathay-paci...s-meal-service
"You bunch of retards at office, offering a more intensive experience for passengers while the same set of crew remains the same. With more china plates to collect I can’t wait the passengers complain about the noise we are making while doing the service throughout the whole flight. Dear pax: Start minimise your rest instead of maximising it from now on. And please please don’t complain that about the so called noise. FFS!”