vcg1111 - 10/11/2008 03:57
I had posted about my flight from Bombay to HKG. Now I am off to the US on this rather long journey and was on Cathay. Checked in at the airport express station check in. This is a fantastic facility. You can check in your bag at the station and go to airport in peace. I was booked on the 505 PM flight to Frisco. checked in a bit early. Had requested for upper deck seats, I find this much more peaceful than main deck. Reached the arpt in 20 mins and went directly to passport control.
Cathay has 2 lounges in HKIA. The older one is called the Wing and is around the earlier gates and the brand new one is the Pier at gate 63. If you want to go to Pier its a bit of a walk so u can take the train which will get you nearer. My flight was boarding from gate 16 but yet I went to the new lounge. Its a pretty good lounge. They have a massive bar, like its long. But I was not to impressed with the drinks selection. They only have the routine run of the mill brands. Smirnoff for Vodka and Black Label/Chivas for Whisky. They also have a noodle bar and a coffee and ice cream bar. The lounge must be having more than 75 computers in a section so u will always get a PC.
Boarding was on time. I have reviewed the seat in an earlier review so wont review again. The staff was fantastic and very hospitable. The only strange thing I found in Cathay was that they do not have single malts. I wanted a malt whiskey so first they got me a Jack Daniels. I returned it so she got me all the bottles to have a look at and non was malt. Finally another hostess arranged a malt from first class but it was Glenfiddich!!! I mean a GF in first class?? There are airlines out there which have at least 2 malts available in biz and a malt library in first. Keep in mind I am being picky here and the crew did their best to ensure I got the best malt they had on board, just that it happened to be a GF. The wine list was impressive. Meal was good.
On this flight I slept and I found the bed to be quite comfortable. I slept for maybe 4 odd hours. They served breakfast also which had a varied selection. The flight landed on time and I was out of immigration and customs with my luggage which came pretty fast, in about 20 minutes. This is truly a record.
I have read a few reports on other websites and magazines about how this biz class is not good. Dont believe it. The seats are very comfortable, the crew is great, the service is amazing and the IFE is fantastic. What more do you want?
oldchinahand - 12/11/2008 04:17
From reading this glowing report of Cathay's very ordinary (at best) new business class I can only assume that the comparison is with the even worse US based airlines business class offerings and not the excellent BC products offered by other Asian based and Oneworld carriers.
amadeaus - 13/11/2008 09:28
How can anyone take a review seriously when half of it is about single malt whiskies ? What was missing was a real impression of Cathay's business class which I will be flying on soon and would really appreciate.
BusinessTraveller - 13/11/2008 09:34
Business Traveller replies:
Hopefully you should find the information you need in our recent review of the new business class product, which can be read at:
http://www.businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested/airlines/cathay-pacific/flight-check-cathay-pacific
vcg1111 - 13/11/2008 16:53
There are about 3-4 airlines that currently have a herring bone layout (the ones I have flown, maybe more out there). Virgin, Jet Airways, Air New Zealand and Cathay. I would say the biz class is about the same in all of them as far as the seat is concerned. Service in Cathay is outstanding of all One World Airlines. If u find service at BA great (and I am a Gold card at BA), then I don't have much to say. Crew at Cathay is always ready to help. Not something that BA even attempts in Club. The only other Asian airline that is great is Singapore. That is fantastic. But it will probably cost u 30-40% more on the same sectors.
So if u want to spend the xtra go ahead and go on SQ, surely a much better product. But compared to other One World airlines biz class, I think Cathay is one of the best.
AlanGuignon - 20/11/2008 23:27
I agree .. who cares whether its a single malt or a triple malt on board ... its not a flying bar .. its an airline and space/weight is a premium ... boy, cant you wankers get real?
Pat_travels - 21/11/2008 05:30
I flew CX 750 BOM-BKK on 20/11/08.
A big advertising campaign has been ongoing in Mumbai re the new business class CX has on this route.
I have to say on the whole I was disappointed. The flight departs at 05:20 so not the best time of day. For me the business class ticket covers the whole trip. Check in was ok but the lounge at the airport is shockingly bad. No facilities except a tv, a sparse selection of drinks and food which had clearly been scavenged over many many times through the night.
Boarding was a scrum and on a 747 400 when circa 250 passengers all want to get on at the same time it gets messy!
The seat - mine 14K was good, the lie flat bed is the longest I have experienced, the tv the biggest and the selection of programmes was vast, up to date and varied.
The high sides to the seat gives you complete privacy unlike the herringbone design on other alines, notably VS. But I did find the seat very narrow and those sides really do restrict movement.
The tv has little adjustment scope so can be difficult to watch if you want lie back.
The pillow is small and flimsy and the blanket cheap, no nice duvet like LAN or even a padded blanket like BA.
The amenity pack is pretty poor, at first you think you have a lot then you realise the weight is a big bottle of mouthwash!
I chose to sleep immediately and wanted breakfast near to landing. The crew stated they service breakfast soon after take off and seemed unwilling to cater to my wish. I asked for breakfast 90 mins before landing. I was offered only the Indian breakfast selection as the continental breakfast was all taken. The coffee served was cold and the selection of breads were rock hard and stale. A very poor service.
When I asked for a customer feedback form, 3 members of crew came and asked what was the problem. I have always found CX crew to be rather 'stand off' and cold, this experience continues that thought.
Overall, a short flight, premium price for business class and one disappointed passenger. The new business class is not that special. I hope on longer sectors the overall service is better!
