- Joined
- Apr 29, 2012
- Posts
- 225
- Qantas
- Qantas Club
- Virgin
- Gold
3rd in what was to be four trips from Sydney to Asia. One of the trips was cancelled due to illness which was disappointing as that was going to be J Class on SQ, but on my return from KL the pax next to me was coughing the whole 8 hours home and ended up catching something that knocked me out for 2 weeks and unfit to fly for the SIN trip.
So back to Y class on CX and a good comparison with my recent VS trip to HKG. (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/vigin-atlantic-syd-hkg-april-49895.html)
Similar aircraft (A330 v A340) from a pax perspective, but I would say the CX aircraft seems a little fresher. Whilst my travel is with VA (Gold) and my status with QF has rightly tanked, I was able to take advantage of the CX Gold status via my AMEX Plat card. Prefer not to fly overnight in Y class, as as CX has the only day time flight from HKG to SYD they became to obvious choice.
Check in online was a little clunky but got my boarding pass. In the end needed to check in a bag (was contemplating not, but had too much material for the training course I was running). Checkin at airport very efficient, priority tagged and pass to the QF Business Lounge. Had an extra leg room seat (row 39) and was able to move into one of the aisle seats so I had the extra legroom and seat next to me vacant to work on the way up. Much better service that TollDatna for VS.
Been a while since been in that lounge, still looks the same, but was impressed with food service, more than happy to bring gluten free bread from kitchen and toasted it for me. Would be nice to know if the sausages were gluten free, but not stated to left them alone.
Boarding the aircraft was easy, able to pre board. Crew took and hung up jacket. Cabin Manager came around and introduced himself (as Gold CX member) and offered a bottle of water before departure.
After departure, breakfast was served, and unfortunately my Gluten Free food wasn't on board. Not sure what caused the problem, whether change to the earlier flight (but changed two weeks before departure) or a problem in Sydney (recent VS flight ex Sydney also failed to load Gluten Free food). In the CX case I think there may have been a system issue as there was nothing on the manifest.
Staff did a great job to find food for me to eat during the day and the Cabin Manager was most apologetic.
The Y Cabin Supervisor went out of her way to assist with food during the flight and also went and sent ACAR (?) messages to CX to track down the issue and ensure for my return flight there would not be a repeat. Provide me with a copy of one of the messages and response.
Found the inflight entertainment a little limited in variety of TV and movies, but was mainly working so ok. The hand control devise eventually broke and reported this for repairs, fortunately can operate via touch screen.
Delayed arrival slightly into HKG due to weather and Captain kept us fully informed.
Was very surprised at the very light load, about on 60 in Y class.
Arrival and exit from the airport very smooth.
Crew suggested that I contact CX reservation to confirm gluten free, however the CX Asia Miles always engaged and Reservations number wait time was unacceptable and never go through and gave up. Relied up the fact that I could see gluten free in the online system (although I saw that on the way up as well!).
For return, checked in at Koowlon Railway Station, handled well, again moved from my extra leg room seat to middle aisle extra leg room seat with seat next to me vacant so was able to work easily on the way home.
Was a little disappointed with the CX lounge - made the mistake of going to the lounge near gate 17 (my departure gate), turned out to be a Dragon lounge and very poor food selection (particularly for gluten free person), so moved over to the Wings Lounge near gate 4 (?). It is a nice and well set out lounge, found the coffee cafe area the place for me for the morning flight departure.
Unfortunately, they are not set up for gluten free needs at all, which was very disappointing for a carrier of the class of CX.
Priority boarding went well.
On board the Y Cabin Supervisor went around to confirm all the special meals on board (yeah gluten free for the trip home), and then came back, was a little awkward as he then was introducing himself to me as a Gold traveller. Got bottle of water prior to departure.
There was a delay in pushing back and departure due to congestion, flight deck kept us well informed.
Gluten Free breakfast was awful, vegetarian breakfast of vegetables. Mentioned this to the excellent Cabin Services Manager who spend time with you Y crew, discovered this on my walk and had a nice chat with her. She took note of the breakfast and feed back on my experience in the Wing Lounge.
Gluten Free dinner much better (rather dry though - but that tends to happen).
Flight crew caught up time, but then we ended up being delayed again as SYD was congested (around 8pm!).
Apart from the Gluten Free issue, great flight on CX.
To compare with VS recently (see my other trip report).
Both had a failure to load Gluten Free food from SYD and cabin crew on both did a fantastic job to help and recover.
CX cabin fresher than VS.
Check in Experience in SYD is better with CX as their own staff, where VS use Toll Datna who don't respect VA Status.
Recognition on board - CX were better as CX member where as VS don't seem to recognise VA status.
In flight entertainment - whilst had equipment issues on both ex SYD I thought the VS was marginally ahead with content.
Lounges SYD - neither airlines have their own lounge in SYD, impressed with both QF and NZ lounges - too close to call - great experience in both.
Lounges HKG - both have their own lounge - found the VS Clubhouse more service orientated and managed gluten free better than CX. Need to reflect though that CX was at breakfast time and VS was at dinner time.
Cabin Crew - both were excellent
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