Cathay Pre-ordered meals vs what's offered onboard in J

[Forg]

I did do a search, apologies if this has been asked before ...

J flights next week, SYD-HKG-ZUR, and we can pre-order meals.

The HKG-ZUR had something like 15 choices and there were a couple which sounded pretty good, so chose one. That included some "signature" dishes, and also "seasonal" ones.

However for SYD-HKG the selection was much more limited, and while I'd happily eat any of them which was put in front of me, none of them are particularly interesting nor stand-out as any better than any of the others. In this case it was only "seasonal" dishes, none of their "signature" ones.

Which leads to my question ... are the meals you choose from onboard, if you haven't made any choices beforehand, a subset of what's offered via their website when you pre-order?
Hence, should I wait to order, in case there's something I find more interesting offered onboard? Which would be pointless if it's just going to be two of the options the offer to pre-order online & I may as well pre-order.

 

[lazblue]

The "Signature" dishes are only available from CX's catering in HKG - of which most are only available if pre-ordered online - hence why there are more options on your HKG-ZUR sector.

The "seasonal" dishes are usually what's from their local caterer available for selection onboard (e.g. SYD-HKG) - I guess the advantage of pre-ordering is making sure that you get your preferred choice, which may run out depending on how they take orders onboards (have noticed on some flights that CX Diamonds and oneworld Emeralds get asked first)/where you're sitting/what others have ordered before they get to you....

 

[Forg]

The reason for my question is that there are 5 choices available online, ignoring the range of vegan/kosher/etc options ... surely they don't offer 5 choices to J when you're in the air departing from SYD - or do they?

And since I thought that the count of options available in-flight vs pre-ordered was probably different, maybe there wasn't an overlap between what's available pre-ordered vs what's available in flight ... ?
So does
> "seasonal" dishes are usually what's from their local caterer available for selection onboard
mean that all 5 would be available onboard (at least until the ones which aren't mushrooms sell out)?

The Q relates specifically to the flight from SYD, I get that leaving from HKG it's a different issue entirely (IIRC there are about 7 seasonal dishes available when leaving from HKG).

 

[markis10]

The answers you seek can be found here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-cathay/2181889-cx-j-menu-2025-a-12.html

 

[SYD]

The reason for my question is that there are 5 choices available online, ignoring the range of vegan/kosher/etc options ... surely they don't offer 5 choices to J when you're in the air departing from SYD - or do they?

And since I thought that the count of options available in-flight vs pre-ordered was probably different, maybe there wasn't an overlap between what's available pre-ordered vs what's available in flight ... ?
So does
> "seasonal" dishes are usually what's from their local caterer available for selection onboard
mean that all 5 would be available onboard (at least until the ones which aren't mushrooms sell out)?

The Q relates specifically to the flight from SYD, I get that leaving from HKG it's a different issue entirely (IIRC there are about 7 seasonal dishes available when leaving from HKG).

Yes, they often have about 5 options. Usually a seafood, chook and beef. Something with noodles and probably a veg dish.

I would pre-order what sounds best.

 

[lazblue]

Here is the J menu on CX departing Australia back in December - there were 5 choices of mains available for the lunch service.

 

[Forg]

Yes, they often have about 5 options. Usually a seafood, chook and beef. Something with noodles and probably a veg dish.

That's probably the entire reason for my question ... I had hoped for something with noodles, but there isn't anything noodly!


Thanks all ... since apparently the 5 is normal (could be something moderately recent as the FlyerTalk page @markis10 linked had only 3 in all the screenshots) I'll just pre-order. So as not to get stuck with some sort of slice-of-tofu-between-two-gluten-free-slices-of-bread sandwich or similar ...

 

[moa999]

Strange that a week out they can't show you what the actual onboard list will be (similar how SQ does it) but also provide the alternate choices

 

[Forg]

My wife has much more experience with QF (I’ve only been on CX in Cattle & Premium Cattle myself) … she said the QF site makes it more obvious what stuff’s only available to pre-order online.

If you fly CX in J even a couple of times you’d likely work it out. I just ain’t done it once!