Some recent comments have suggested that Cathay service is slipping a bit. One flight doesn't alter that, but CX260 from CDG certainly showed them at their best. The diverse crew (Philippines, India, Japan) was spectacular. The flight was about 90 minutes late into HKG; besides the usual gaggle of ground staff to rush people to connections that still worked, Cathay had set up a table at the gate neatly arrayed with new boarding passes for those who'd been protected - 50 to 100, at a glance - with staffers to hand them out and get the passengers on their way as quickly as possible.

Visitors from the BA board, read this and weep

But how did the in-flight meal compare to year's past?

Hard to say since I'm as likely as not to skip in-flight meals, and the menu may reflect the origination - out of Paris, they offered duck, lamb and a pasta iirc. I opted for the Chinese choice, a cod. It was good, but I wasn't inclined to send my congratulations to the chef. Wines included a botrytis'ed Hungarian that I wanted to try afterwards, but never got to.

It's stories like this one that just warm your heart - if only every airline could handle irregular ops like this. I feel lucky as an AA EXP just to get protected automatically once in a while and if I'm in really good graces notified... CX blows this out of the water.

Haha

IMO CX and HKG really lives up to their names as the best airline and airport in the world. I feel proud to be a local HongKongese (?) every time I am back in HKG

The food service has really deteriorated. I was on the CDG-HK flight in June and was very disappointed with the virtually total lack of Chinese options especially in the snack service. No soups, noodles or congee.

My flight was also a problem in that my first class seat could not recline automatically. We had to lower it manually and then only after an extraordinary amount of effort. There was another, empty seat that also did not function.

That said the crew was simply wonderful in helping to deal with the problem and I now have $250 US in onboard vouchers to use in the next year for my difficulties.

It seems that CX is suffering from decisions occurring on a management level - cutting back on servicing planes as well as food service. However, things at the day-to-day level under the control of staff is still the same top-notch CX that I have long appreciated.

CX Service:
In the 80's it was fantastic except in Y class.
After 2000 its dropped.
'Y' class is the pits.
dbase

Hmmm. Lack of Chinese options out of Paris?

Out of Paris, I'd opt for the French options ! CDG kitches are not known for their Chinese options!

I personally think that "bad" Chinese cooking is better than mid-level French, hence my choice. Unfortunately every French chef seems to think god has given him a natural flair and ingenuity, bring some really awful things to the table.