Singapore v Cathay (SIN-HKG)

[NinnyPoo]

I travel Singapore to Hong Kong a lot in both Business and Economy. I try to travel the cheapest flight and in business this is usually CX.

On Monday evening at 6-30 pm, CX 716 from SIN-HKG was an incredibly old 777-200 that must have been the first 777 received by Cathay. The seats were mid 90s at best and had the most basic of controls. The TV was a 5" screen on a pole. The TV also had no on demand features. Service is slightly better, but you feel the staff are a bit embarrassed on the hard product.

SQ save their better planes (380 and 777-300ER) for this route usually. Given the frequency of business travel (paid) CX should have a better product to win business. Many of the passengers also transfer to flights to the US at HKG and their first experience can be negative.

Yes I have a choice on the flight, and CX is usually cheaper, but the product compares to an AA 767-200 flying LAX to JFK in Business on the flight I went on. It is not worth the SGD 2000 for business v SGD 700 for economy.

 

[amaroo]

We're doing this round trip later this year. B777 on the way up and A300 back - both are showing new J fitout. Could change at anytime...

Doing it on points so I'm not that fussed as long as it's not the coffins! FWIW 2 x return J SIN-HKG cost 152,000 + A$236.63 inc AMEX fees

 

[mannej]

Essentially you are on Cathay's regional product. Yes it may be dated, but it is similar to what you would have received on a trans-con Business flight between Perth and the east coast prior to VA and QF introducing the beds onto selected routes.

As for the 380, would it make economic sense for a route of that length? Who knows.

FWIW, Cathay are known to change their equipment on routes as it suits them.

 

[yohy?!]

i actually prefer the old regional business class seats to the new product which is very uncomfortable although the new IFE is better.

CX cycle a lot of their new long haul product through HKG-SIN so its bad luck to be seeing the old stuff still.

 

[mushez]

I fly this route often on CX, actually will fly tomorrow on the 747, have done it once in J and got the same bird the OP got by the sounds of it, and have never purchases J, nor would advise anyone to buy any J product on CX as a result.

After J with EK, my J with CX experience is not even what I would consider Y+ to be.

Actually has me looking at flying with EK all the way to DBX, to fly back to PVG, as currently fly EK to SIN, then CX SIN into China, often PVG.

Yes I have also flown BNE-HKG-PVG with CX in Y, and don't like the product and too many bad experiences.

But I do fly CX for price & time reasons and suck it up for the 4 + 2 hour flights I do have with them each time.

SQ equally have a few old birds (777) I flew once SIN-PVG 3 years ago. I hate saying it, but have preferred the J* options I have flown into China than CX or SQ.