@@MattsPlanetHello Matt, around the time you wrote these words Times Radio broadcast an interview with Isabel Hilton who was saying exactly the same. I myself last visited in the early 1990s (my first visit was 1974) and hopefully I can make one last visit.
The 'atmosphere in Hong Kong' certainly has changed since I started making regular visits in the late '80s. There used to be a stark contrast when you crossed the border into mainline China CX was hit hard by the pandemic - plus one of two major scandals.
Cathay is generally pleasant if you take its medium or long-haul flights but for flights to/from MNL, they tend to be overrated, especially in economy. I suspect that’s the case too for flights to/from TPE and BKK.
nice review! keep up the good work Matt :) HK has changed, but the world has changed since the last 15 years, I doubt I can say the UK has improved by any means in those years...
We used to visit HK regularly until 'they' got hold of it.......................last visit was in Nov 2018, and said it would be our last. We then travelled on to Delhi ( for Agra ) from HK on CX695 ( B777-300 in Business ) and the whole experience was just fab....................I feel the catering was much better than you got and the cabin was not darkened. The crew were watchful the whole journey.
Hey Matt- id just first like to say you are my favourite flight reviewer by far! I like how specific you are with positives and negatives- and also the fact that you actually accept the crew are human beings and things go wrong. On another note, what’s the chance of you doing an Air France video anytime soon?
Thanks for that! I am very close to booking an AF business trip for early next year.... Quite easy to access with Virgin points these days.... La Premier would be good but I need to put a zero (or two!) on my sub count to be able to afford it!
Great video again, Matt. I believe the lower latch 6:00 allows the lower extension padding to be pulled up? You can see it move a little when you press on control.
Oneworld Emerald status is only worth pursuing if your travels involve London (BA First Lounge/First Wing check in), Hong Kong (The Wing/Pier First lounges/check-in area), Singapore (QF First Lounge), Sydney/Melbourne (QF First Lounge/check-in), Los Angeles (QF First Lounge), Tokyo Narita/Haneda (JL First Class Lounge), New York JFK (Soho Lounge), Helsinki (Finnair Platinum Wing). If you don't normally travel through these cities, Oneworld Sapphire is enough IMHO.
Ah - the eternal debate!!! You have a very valid point - if you regularly fly between City and Amsterdam then gold gets you close to nothing extra, and costs 2.5 times as many tier points to achieve
This is a night flight in HK time, of course lights were turned off so that pax can rest. It's not Cathay's problem that you alone didn't want to sleep, and you can always use the call light should you need anything.
It was evening rather than overnight, departing 8:30 so other airlines may have taken a different approach.... And even with the lights off, I would have expected a periodic walk-through of the cabin....
The fast track security thing is only for Cathay Marco Polo Diamond and F pax, not other OWEs: I asked the day I met you on the BKK-HKG flight. I have also been escorted through there when travelling Swiss F fairly recently. Emirates F doesn't work, it's off to the hoi polloi security line, but IME it doesn't take long. I agree regarding the Pier F, it's worth a detour to plonk yourself down at the bar: I bought a throwaway ticket to TPE for the privilege the day I met you! I've never experienced it being particularly full, although Wing F can be. Both are definitely better than the HKG Emirates lounge.
The hoi polloi process was not difficult. Interesting how you assume every door is going to open when you have OneWorld Emerald!!! If I recall, you bought a throwaway to Taipei then had to buy a throwaway back again!!!
why would you prefer BA to CX even for London-HKG??? Purely because of a wider seat? I believe CX uses a bigger plane for longer flights than this "short haul" flight. Also CX offers some bedding, better food selection. Crew is really flight specific. Some BA staff are extremely grumpy but some CX staff are let's say, don't speak English very well either.
I did look at the equipment CX uses LHR-HKG and it often is this same plane so I think its valid to compare it to BA's club suite.... And BA's challenge is consistency - some crew are poor but some are really good....
On the Cathay vs BA point on trips from LHR-HKG, I found that Cathay was significantly more expensive, in fact I've got a trip to HK booked later this year in BA WTP, and WTP on BA was the same price as Cathay's economy, which made BA a no brainer
Another great vid, I do love your reviews. I've only flown Cathay once back in 2019 and they were very good - catering, brand new A350-1000, comfy seat although space was a little tight. It was all the way to Adelaide in economy from Manchester, but had a couple of days in Hong Kong to break up the journey. Loved the city, but it was during the protests so there was an air of unease about the place, which doesn't seem to have gone away after watching your video sadly.
Thanks Joe. Adelaide is a long way from Manchester in economy - not something I think I'd attempt these days! Would make for a boring video too... Hour 3 - sat there. Hour 19 - sat there.... I think the measures taken to end the protests didn't help the sense of unease, even if its less obvious without people on the streets
Thanks - I'm sure a good time can be had and its a big, fantastic city. It will be more like a trip to a Chinese city than it would have been 10 years ago. Which is perhaps not a shock as it now is a Chinese city!
Fond memories of business trips to Honkers in the 90s. The sense of excitement and the sheer buzz of the place. It was intoxicating. But it already had changed so much by the time of my last trip in 2000, a few years after handover. Lan Kwai Fong was already a shadow of its former inglory.
Another great video mate! Shame to see Cathay still not back to their previous service levels. I've not flown with them yet, but had always heard them held in high regard before the you-know-what. You also now have me humming "Son be a Dentist!", so thanks for that (such a great film!)
Never got to experience CX in in all its 'glory' but i've flown a few biz to HKG and LHR, and Short hauls to TPE and SIN, the service is most definetly better in Asia then it is coming back to hong kong. it almost felt like some flights they were doing you a favour, some flights though in economy are really good. maybe its because i can speak some cantonese though haha..
Matt how do you book your Cathy pacific flights with Avios is it through the Ba site Also I commented on one of your previous videos about me also flying Doha to bkk first class and guess what just had a email I’ve been downgraded to business class looks like there not flying the a380 there at least not in September when I’m due to fly I’m on a Boeing 777 with no q suite now I hope it has the onboard lounge keep making the videos matey 😊
You can book Cathay though the BA website - if you can find availability! This was a complex booking that I needed to call to make. And that's really tough about the downgrade - no opportunity to call them and try and get back on another flight?
I have recently come across the youtube channels of some Indians who aspire to be flight attendant. It looks like that CX is actively hiring new flight attendants from India to be based in Hong Kong. Did you see a lot more Indian flight attendants on your flight compared to previous flights?
Having done more than half a dozen intra-Asia hops with Cathay as a BA Silver this year, I find their Economy product far more competitive than their Business product. Decent (yet far from personal) services, great meals with metal cutleries, above-average IFEs and world-class Biz/Sapphire-tier lounges, CX is more often than not the better intra-Asian regional option compared to the likes of MH, SQ (which I always find a little hit-or-miss), the Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese carriers, and certainly miles ahead of any mainland Chinese carriers. Though contrary to your lounge crawl video, I don’t see any reason how the Pier biz is worse than the Deck except for maybe… the deck? I have a soft spot for Cathay… I’m from the (spooky) mainland China (quite close to Hong Kong actually - there was a running joke that Cathay’s the “real” international carrier out from my city), and Cathay was my first experience flying international. I fondly remember the sophisticated touches, down to the little gift they sent out to kids, and their fleet of mighty 747s and A340s. They lost the race of being Asia’s best a decade or so ago with huge losses from hedging fuel prices, and they certainly took a huge toll during the 2019 protests and more critically the “you-know-what”. Having absorbed Dragonair’s operations during COVID, they are, as Hong Kong had, admittedly focused more towards China, yet last year’s “blanket incident” didn’t quite pan out well in their most important market. Fortunately route and operation wise they’re recovering quite okay in 2024 so far (the latest is they’re resuming Riyadh and Cairns services and restorations of overseas crew bases). However I can’t wait for their long overdue Business product, even though that’d take years to be fitted in their entire fleet and the current Zodiac (aka Safran) Cirrus seat is 13 years old for the carrier. Wishing Cathay (and Hong Kong) the best, yet some things aren’t anymore the same…
Thanks so much for taking the time to share that! The best long haul economy flight I ever took was on Cathay so I also have a soft spot for them and wish them the best! I think I liked the Deck as it was so empty although another commenter educated me that I was there at a very quiet time of day and it can get rammed! Hadn't heard of "blanket-gate" but it doesn't sound like the worst thing a crew member has ever done....
Personally, I would have to say that neither the seat, nor the food & beverage options would make me feel that Cathay's offerings would say that they are trying to become their previous selves. I suspect that they are now catering more than before to their Chinese mainalnd customers who, arguably do not know any better.
Good as stuff as usual Matt, we were in HK in March for the horse racing and stayed on HK island. I cannot say I noticed the signage mainly in mandarin, we did go to a restaurant where the language issues were very complicated but that is all part of the fun. We love HK and I would recommend anyone to try it but beware during months Jun-Sep its soooo humid. We flew Singapore airlines from Melbourne so cannot give a view on CP.
Cheers Craig. I think the point I'm making is that if people have been before (or have lived there) and have good memories from that time, going back may be a disappointment. If you've never been it's still a fascinating place to visit. Its just differently fascinating these days!
Great video as ever Matt! I'm surprised Cathay scored so low, given that it's often rated as having the best lounges! Do you think it was just this route or Cathay's business class offering overall?
I think Cathay has suffered from the decline of Hong Kong as a business destination and China taking so long to come back to life after the you-know-what. So investment is down and I think the in flight experience has suffered.... I'd seen other reviews suggesting its getting better, and it may be, but it was still a little lacking
Another brilliant video, i find Cathay crews really hit and miss, however my experience of them since the pandemic has only been limited to a few trips out of Hong Kong. When returning to the UK next time I've already booked with Qatar in Business to Paris, which even with a short economy connection on, was still a fare almost 50% cheaper than Cathay direct to LHR
You are not being a cynic. I had exactly the same experience on return CX flights between LHR and MNL in 2023. I was in economy and all the cabin staff completely disappeared between meal services. The meals were very average. I will not use them again when I visit my family in MNL as they are not a patch on Singapore Air.
Been to HK 3 times and loved it - but that was 15+ years ago. Sad if it's changed so much. I've flown CP Business four times; the long haul the seats were excellent, the food/staff ok but I didn't like absence of Dine on Demand or the food being served from trolleys. CP looks even less impressive now - surely it's not difficult to design a seat with a wider footwell...and having single wine option for red/white/etc. is very poor!
Others have suggested the narrowness of the wine list was because the Indian flights aren't big drinkers.... Not sure that's a good enough reason for me!!!
It rains a LOT,and I don't mean the Polish airline!,in Hong Kong but a warm humid rain it being just under the Tropic.Hong Kong is changing I'm afraid and becoming increasingly integrated into the PRC.... thanks Lady Thatcher thanks a bunch!
As I understand it only the New Territories were leased for 99 years whereas Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were not.So probably a 3 possibilities public plebiscite could have been gone for;1/keep the status quo(minus the NT),2/independence as a city state sort of like Singapore ,3/join the PRC.Had that happened the Hong Kongers would probably have gone for option 2?Obviously risky as the PRC wouldn't be happy and could have then invaded!
What a pity to hear CX have gone a bit off the boil. I’ve always seen them as innovators, with the first and only shell reclining seat I’ve ever been in.
I’d proffer that the best oneworld airline for premium service is probably JAL, then Qatar and don’t hate me - BA. All crew dependent for BA though. Their hard product is good enough.
@@MattsPlanet The availability from Japan is quite good apparently, particularly to the USA. The A350 hard product is meant to be exceptional too, but it is on JFK routes. LHR is coming soon.
Matt, I think that lower latch releases a small flap that comes up to widen a little portion when the seat is in bed mode. Might be wrong but I saw it release something when you pressed it. Another great vid 😀
Dear Matt, I must thank u for your Inspiration. 28.6.2024: I acomplished A3 Gold Status after 11 Flights in 7 Days. Thats just because of your great content. It was a great and very exhausting week with only 2 nights of sleep. All A3. All Business Class. Crazy Stuff but now Iam fed up with flying... till the 14.7.2024. This time on Tk from IST -LEJ. Looking forward to see the M/S Lounge at IST Airport. Thats this flying Virus , you know^^ should contact a Doctor, I guess :)
We do also have A350-1000 in Cathay Pacific. The delay due to weather not every time is due to the weather at the departure airport but en route weather, where some airspace can accommodate not many aeroplanes. Wondering what will happen to Singapore Airlines service since it seems now their policy is to stop the service anytime the seat belts sign is on.
Thanks. Head for Points has a Singapore review today and they do seem to be ultra cautious with turbulence now - understandably but its probably a little over cautious now
I recently flew CX on an intra Asian regional flight in Economy and was very pleasantly surprised. Asian carriers typically do not place any emphasis on Economy. Singapore Airlines (who I love on long-haul business for their impeccable offering) are as bad as any LCC on these routes in the back of the bus - they serve a paperbox meal which is typically too disgusting to touch. But CX, next to an efficient and energetic crew, also offered a proper meal with proper cutlery. Also their lounges (which I have access to as a JL Saphire status client) in Singapore and Bangkok compare well to others.
Can corroborate having visited Cathay’s outstation lounges in Bangkok, Singapore and Taipei in the past few weeks, they’ve even got Moet and Chandon in their Singapore lounge!
@@MattsPlanet For me the gold standard in Eco is Japan Airlines - they have 1 seat less abreast than most carriers, their food is delicious and the crew service is very consistent (and they come through the cabin regularly). But CX is not that far behind. SQ the crew are usually fine, but they let you feel you are in Eco. In BIZ SQ remains to be gold standard together with Qatar.
Great video. I recently booked Cathay Pacific for Bangkok-Hong Kong-London, so this video was a must-see for me. I've also booked a lot of Finnair, so safe to say I am also looking forward to that video too. 😁
@@MattsPlanet Oh I most certainly shall. I'm somewhat dull and loyal to BA, which is ridiculous as I feel they're under performing with their product. However, the staff are absolutely incredible as always. I suggested once that it feels they've become lazy.
RIP Hong Kong. I've been there many times, but I wouldn't bother now. And unless you are actually going to HK, Cathay is irrelevant. Asia is full of top notch airlines, and Cathay isn't one of them.
You mean Rip UK At least Hong Kong has lower inflation than the UK a better transport system, more highly educated population has better future because the greater bay area than Brexit Britain.
Reading some western people making comments about not bothering to visit hk because it has changed well frankly the change are inevitable as Hong Kong was brutally stolen from it motherland and I am 100% will preferred Hong Kong to New York or London when u are constantly being threaten to be shot or stabbed and contrary to what the western media has portrayed the place we are as free and has as much human right as any of you ! Thank you very much
I'd love to go and see the pandas myself. China loves pandas! Although I do worry that being a Muslim they might put me in an "education camp" if I visit? Or is that just for locals?
@@immikhanUK I think a Muslim visiting has little to worry about - no more than a Christian. Just don't try to convert masses of people when you're there!!!
@@MattsPlanet It appears that Cathay's First Class check-in desks at HKG (when new airport opened in 1998) may have inspired other airlines to offer more exclusive check-in facilities. Their check-in area is kind of out dated now as some other airlines have a separate room/area at their main airport for First Class check in that leads directly to security.
Where were you staying? Not sure english sign criticism is fair for most of hk. Secondly there is no fast track security!!!! Old people, vips, cathay diamond members, and airport/airline staff can skip it nobody else... (I agree there should be one but alas there is not)
Thanks! I stayed in Mongkok but had walked most of the way to Tsim Sha Tsui without encountering much English.... It was different by the Star Ferry for sure, but I don't (didn't???) consider Mongkok to be wildly out of the tourist trail... Good to know about the fast track - those other guys must have been VIPs!
That's what a lot of people say.... You tend to only hear about the bad experiences so as BA and Ryanair are both large, they tend to feature in reports quite frequently. But both airlines, most of the time, are pretty good at doing what you want them to do.
@@MattsPlanet i last experienced Ryanair 15 years ago and wont again but BA i have frequent experiences in business class and compared to other airlines am very unimpressed
BA are certainly doing better had a business class flight with them last year and everything was good. The CP business experience on this sector looked pretty poor
I flew Cathay Biz class Hong Kong to LHR in April. I was impressed with the food and beverage offering. Two full meals, but the best food was the mid flight snack hamburger and chips. Assume the limited choice of wines on Matt's flight to India was due to the shorter sector as there was a much wider choice on my flight. Totally agree the Pier First class lounge is amazing.
Great review as always, but most interested in the comments about Hong Kong. Not somewhere I've ever been, but it seems a bit less desirable now!
Cheers mate.... Hong Kong isn't the same experience as it used to be....
I enjoyed HK when I was there last year, especially the trams 🙂 however I have nothing to compare it against! Bloomin' expensive though!
Hello Steve, what a pity ...it means you have never experienced landing at Kai Tak.
@@NonstopEurotripSingapore even more expensive.
@@MattsPlanetHello Matt, around the time you wrote these words Times Radio broadcast an interview with Isabel Hilton who was saying exactly the same. I myself last visited in the early 1990s (my first visit was 1974) and hopefully I can make one last visit.
The 'atmosphere in Hong Kong' certainly has changed
since I started making regular visits in the late '80s.
There used to be a stark contrast when you crossed the border into mainline China
CX was hit hard by the pandemic - plus one of two major scandals.
Indeed - it's China's territory now....
Look at what they have done to Maccau...................it's totally ruined.
@@MattsPlanetHong Kong has always been in Chinese territory the British stole it by pushing drugs.
@@davidcheung5133 Giving Hong Kong to China was a mistake. It should have become an independent country.
Cathay is generally pleasant if you take its medium or long-haul flights but for flights to/from MNL, they tend to be overrated, especially in economy. I suspect that’s the case too for flights to/from TPE and BKK.
Asian airlines competing down to the level of Euro airlines!!!
nice review! keep up the good work Matt :) HK has changed, but the world has changed since the last 15 years, I doubt I can say the UK has improved by any means in those years...
That's an excellent point!!! I may just be being an old bloke moaning about missing their youth!!!!
We used to visit HK regularly until 'they' got hold of it.......................last visit was in Nov 2018, and said it would be our last. We then travelled on to Delhi ( for Agra ) from HK on CX695 ( B777-300 in Business ) and the whole experience was just fab....................I feel the catering was much better than you got and the cabin was not darkened. The crew were watchful the whole journey.
Thanks Max - quite a lot has happened since Nov 2018!
Hey Matt- id just first like to say you are my favourite flight reviewer by far! I like how specific you are with positives and negatives- and also the fact that you actually accept the crew are human beings and things go wrong. On another note, what’s the chance of you doing an Air France video anytime soon?
Thanks for that! I am very close to booking an AF business trip for early next year.... Quite easy to access with Virgin points these days.... La Premier would be good but I need to put a zero (or two!) on my sub count to be able to afford it!
Great video again, Matt. I believe the lower latch 6:00 allows the lower extension padding to be pulled up? You can see it move a little when you press on control.
Thanks! I did notice that small movement late on in the edit so well spotted! I'm not sure it makes a difference to my conclusions!!!
Oneworld Emerald status is only worth pursuing if your travels involve London (BA First Lounge/First Wing check in), Hong Kong (The Wing/Pier First lounges/check-in area), Singapore (QF First Lounge), Sydney/Melbourne (QF First Lounge/check-in), Los Angeles (QF First Lounge), Tokyo Narita/Haneda (JL First Class Lounge), New York JFK (Soho Lounge), Helsinki (Finnair Platinum Wing). If you don't normally travel through these cities, Oneworld Sapphire is enough IMHO.
First class status is only worth it when travelling through oneworld hubs? Im shocked
Ah - the eternal debate!!! You have a very valid point - if you regularly fly between City and Amsterdam then gold gets you close to nothing extra, and costs 2.5 times as many tier points to achieve
This is a night flight in HK time, of course lights were turned off so that pax can rest. It's not Cathay's problem that you alone didn't want to sleep, and you can always use the call light should you need anything.
It was evening rather than overnight, departing 8:30 so other airlines may have taken a different approach.... And even with the lights off, I would have expected a periodic walk-through of the cabin....
@@MattsPlanet agreed, seems totally alien on cx. If you ring bell they are good, otherwise nada (even on daytime flights).
The fast track security thing is only for Cathay Marco Polo Diamond and F pax, not other OWEs: I asked the day I met you on the BKK-HKG flight. I have also been escorted through there when travelling Swiss F fairly recently. Emirates F doesn't work, it's off to the hoi polloi security line, but IME it doesn't take long.
I agree regarding the Pier F, it's worth a detour to plonk yourself down at the bar: I bought a throwaway ticket to TPE for the privilege the day I met you! I've never experienced it being particularly full, although Wing F can be. Both are definitely better than the HKG Emirates lounge.
The hoi polloi process was not difficult. Interesting how you assume every door is going to open when you have OneWorld Emerald!!! If I recall, you bought a throwaway to Taipei then had to buy a throwaway back again!!!
why would you prefer BA to CX even for London-HKG??? Purely because of a wider seat? I believe CX uses a bigger plane for longer flights than this "short haul" flight. Also CX offers some bedding, better food selection. Crew is really flight specific. Some BA staff are extremely grumpy but some CX staff are let's say, don't speak English very well either.
I did look at the equipment CX uses LHR-HKG and it often is this same plane so I think its valid to compare it to BA's club suite.... And BA's challenge is consistency - some crew are poor but some are really good....
I wish BA would restore A380 service to HKG.
Old style business class.
Not terrible but not the worst out there
On the Cathay vs BA point on trips from LHR-HKG, I found that Cathay was significantly more expensive, in fact I've got a trip to HK booked later this year in BA WTP, and WTP on BA was the same price as Cathay's economy, which made BA a no brainer
Interesting - the demand for their seats is obviously there....
Another great vid, I do love your reviews. I've only flown Cathay once back in 2019 and they were very good - catering, brand new A350-1000, comfy seat although space was a little tight. It was all the way to Adelaide in economy from Manchester, but had a couple of days in Hong Kong to break up the journey. Loved the city, but it was during the protests so there was an air of unease about the place, which doesn't seem to have gone away after watching your video sadly.
Thanks Joe. Adelaide is a long way from Manchester in economy - not something I think I'd attempt these days! Would make for a boring video too... Hour 3 - sat there. Hour 19 - sat there.... I think the measures taken to end the protests didn't help the sense of unease, even if its less obvious without people on the streets
HK may well have changed, but I had a week there in January and it was fantastic. The people are lovely, very friendly.
Thanks - I'm sure a good time can be had and its a big, fantastic city. It will be more like a trip to a Chinese city than it would have been 10 years ago. Which is perhaps not a shock as it now is a Chinese city!
Fond memories of business trips to Honkers in the 90s. The sense of excitement and the sheer buzz of the place. It was intoxicating. But it already had changed so much by the time of my last trip in 2000, a few years after handover. Lan Kwai Fong was already a shadow of its former inglory.
If it was different in 2000 its really different 24 years later!
Another great video mate! Shame to see Cathay still not back to their previous service levels. I've not flown with them yet, but had always heard them held in high regard before the you-know-what. You also now have me humming "Son be a Dentist!", so thanks for that (such a great film!)
Apologies for the dentist tune! Too good an opportunity to miss for the video!
@MattsPlanet one of our favourites, so a welcome brain worm...
Never got to experience CX in in all its 'glory' but i've flown a few biz to HKG and LHR, and Short hauls to TPE and SIN, the service is most definetly better in Asia then it is coming back to hong kong. it almost felt like some flights they were doing you a favour, some flights though in economy are really good. maybe its because i can speak some cantonese though haha..
Thanks - some Cantonese may help!
Matt how do you book your Cathy pacific flights with Avios is it through the Ba site
Also I commented on one of your previous videos about me also flying Doha to bkk first class and guess what just had a email I’ve been downgraded to business class looks like there not flying the a380 there at least not in September when I’m due to fly I’m on a Boeing 777 with no q suite now I hope it has the onboard lounge keep making the videos matey 😊
You can book Cathay though the BA website - if you can find availability! This was a complex booking that I needed to call to make. And that's really tough about the downgrade - no opportunity to call them and try and get back on another flight?
RIP Hong Kong, just another bland Chinese city. All the flair, culture and unique bland of Cantonese/British culture has gone.
I'd need to spend longer there to say that myself, but that was my instinct after 24 hours there
I have recently come across the youtube channels of some Indians who aspire to be flight attendant. It looks like that CX is actively hiring new flight attendants from India to be based in Hong Kong. Did you see a lot more Indian flight attendants on your flight compared to previous flights?
I can't say I noticed. My Finnair crew onwards from Delhi was Indian and India based but I didn't notice it on Cathay
Having done more than half a dozen intra-Asia hops with Cathay as a BA Silver this year, I find their Economy product far more competitive than their Business product. Decent (yet far from personal) services, great meals with metal cutleries, above-average IFEs and world-class Biz/Sapphire-tier lounges, CX is more often than not the better intra-Asian regional option compared to the likes of MH, SQ (which I always find a little hit-or-miss), the Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese carriers, and certainly miles ahead of any mainland Chinese carriers. Though contrary to your lounge crawl video, I don’t see any reason how the Pier biz is worse than the Deck except for maybe… the deck?
I have a soft spot for Cathay… I’m from the (spooky) mainland China (quite close to Hong Kong actually - there was a running joke that Cathay’s the “real” international carrier out from my city), and Cathay was my first experience flying international. I fondly remember the sophisticated touches, down to the little gift they sent out to kids, and their fleet of mighty 747s and A340s. They lost the race of being Asia’s best a decade or so ago with huge losses from hedging fuel prices, and they certainly took a huge toll during the 2019 protests and more critically the “you-know-what”. Having absorbed Dragonair’s operations during COVID, they are, as Hong Kong had, admittedly focused more towards China, yet last year’s “blanket incident” didn’t quite pan out well in their most important market.
Fortunately route and operation wise they’re recovering quite okay in 2024 so far (the latest is they’re resuming Riyadh and Cairns services and restorations of overseas crew bases). However I can’t wait for their long overdue Business product, even though that’d take years to be fitted in their entire fleet and the current Zodiac (aka Safran) Cirrus seat is 13 years old for the carrier. Wishing Cathay (and Hong Kong) the best, yet some things aren’t anymore the same…
Thanks so much for taking the time to share that! The best long haul economy flight I ever took was on Cathay so I also have a soft spot for them and wish them the best! I think I liked the Deck as it was so empty although another commenter educated me that I was there at a very quiet time of day and it can get rammed! Hadn't heard of "blanket-gate" but it doesn't sound like the worst thing a crew member has ever done....
Personally, I would have to say that neither the seat, nor the food & beverage options would make me feel that Cathay's offerings would say that they are trying to become their previous selves. I suspect that they are now catering more than before to their Chinese mainalnd customers who, arguably do not know any better.
They still have a substantial non-Chinese route network, but you might be right
Good as stuff as usual Matt, we were in HK in March for the horse racing and stayed on HK island. I cannot say I noticed the signage mainly in mandarin, we did go to a restaurant where the language issues were very complicated but that is all part of the fun. We love HK and I would recommend anyone to try it but beware during months Jun-Sep its soooo humid. We flew Singapore airlines from Melbourne so cannot give a view on CP.
Cheers Craig. I think the point I'm making is that if people have been before (or have lived there) and have good memories from that time, going back may be a disappointment. If you've never been it's still a fascinating place to visit. Its just differently fascinating these days!
Great video as ever Matt! I'm surprised Cathay scored so low, given that it's often rated as having the best lounges! Do you think it was just this route or Cathay's business class offering overall?
I think Cathay has suffered from the decline of Hong Kong as a business destination and China taking so long to come back to life after the you-know-what. So investment is down and I think the in flight experience has suffered.... I'd seen other reviews suggesting its getting better, and it may be, but it was still a little lacking
Another brilliant video, i find Cathay crews really hit and miss, however my experience of them since the pandemic has only been limited to a few trips out of Hong Kong. When returning to the UK next time I've already booked with Qatar in Business to Paris, which even with a short economy connection on, was still a fare almost 50% cheaper than Cathay direct to LHR
Thanks - indirect routings can often save a huge amount of money!
You are not being a cynic. I had exactly the same experience on return CX flights between LHR and MNL in 2023. I was in economy and all the cabin staff completely disappeared between meal services. The meals were very average. I will not use them again when I visit my family in MNL as they are not a patch on Singapore Air.
A couple of hours more flight time on Singapore, but the upside is that there's a couple more hours flight time on Singapore!!
Been to HK 3 times and loved it - but that was 15+ years ago. Sad if it's changed so much. I've flown CP Business four times; the long haul the seats were excellent, the food/staff ok but I didn't like absence of Dine on Demand or the food being served from trolleys. CP looks even less impressive now - surely it's not difficult to design a seat with a wider footwell...and having single wine option for red/white/etc. is very poor!
Others have suggested the narrowness of the wine list was because the Indian flights aren't big drinkers.... Not sure that's a good enough reason for me!!!
@@MattsPlanet That's a terrible reason!
I last flew Cathay in 2016 and really rated them. It's a shame they're still a long way off what they once were.
They seem to be coming back but a way to go yet
It rains a LOT,and I don't mean the Polish airline!,in Hong Kong but a warm humid rain it being just under the Tropic.Hong Kong is changing I'm afraid and becoming increasingly integrated into the PRC.... thanks Lady Thatcher thanks a bunch!
Thanks Kevan - hey, the lease was up in 1997 and I don't think the Chinese were going to give us another 99 years!
As I understand it only the New Territories were leased for 99 years whereas Hong Kong Island and Kowloon were not.So probably a 3 possibilities public plebiscite could have been gone for;1/keep the status quo(minus the NT),2/independence as a city state sort of like Singapore ,3/join the PRC.Had that happened the Hong Kongers would probably have gone for option 2?Obviously risky as the PRC wouldn't be happy and could have then invaded!
What a pity to hear CX have gone a bit off the boil. I’ve always seen them as innovators, with the first and only shell reclining seat I’ve ever been in.
Been a good few years since they've been seen as innovators....
I’d proffer that the best oneworld airline for premium service is probably JAL, then Qatar and don’t hate me - BA.
All crew dependent for BA though. Their hard product is good enough.
Thanks. I need to get on JAL but I've seen reviews that suggest this! And BA can be exceptional if you get the right crew
@@MattsPlanet The availability from Japan is quite good apparently, particularly to the USA. The A350 hard product is meant to be exceptional too, but it is on JFK routes. LHR is coming soon.
Спасибо за интересный и полный обзор перелета! Успехов вам! Лайк!
Приглашаю на новинку с острова Занзибар!🤩
I'd love to go back to Zanzibar... They ran out of beer a few months back though?
Matt, I think that lower latch releases a small flap that comes up to widen a little portion when the seat is in bed mode. Might be wrong but I saw it release something when you pressed it. Another great vid 😀
Thanks - I did notice something move when I was editing the video but I've no idea what it was! Need to fly this seat again!
Always a pleasure watching your reviews. Thanks for the information!
Thanks for watching!
Dear Matt, I must thank u for your Inspiration. 28.6.2024: I acomplished A3 Gold Status after 11 Flights in 7 Days. Thats just because of your great content.
It was a great and very exhausting week with only 2 nights of sleep.
All A3. All Business Class. Crazy Stuff but now Iam fed up with flying... till the 14.7.2024. This time on Tk from IST -LEJ. Looking forward to see the M/S Lounge at IST Airport.
Thats this flying Virus , you know^^ should contact a Doctor, I guess :)
It's addictive.... Congrats on the gold and enjoy the benefits!
@@MattsPlanet I will try. Flew ATH-Lis back and forth. I love both cities and the Acropolis was so lovely. Thanks for bringing me to the A3 xperience
We do also have A350-1000 in Cathay Pacific. The delay due to weather not every time is due to the weather at the departure airport but en route weather, where some airspace can accommodate not many aeroplanes. Wondering what will happen to Singapore Airlines service since it seems now their policy is to stop the service anytime the seat belts sign is on.
Thanks. Head for Points has a Singapore review today and they do seem to be ultra cautious with turbulence now - understandably but its probably a little over cautious now
@MattsPlanet next time they just need to avoid thunderstorms...
Fast track in HK is only for First and CX Diamonds :)
One day....
I recently flew CX on an intra Asian regional flight in Economy and was very pleasantly surprised. Asian carriers typically do not place any emphasis on Economy. Singapore Airlines (who I love on long-haul business for their impeccable offering) are as bad as any LCC on these routes in the back of the bus - they serve a paperbox meal which is typically too disgusting to touch. But CX, next to an efficient and energetic crew, also offered a proper meal with proper cutlery. Also their lounges (which I have access to as a JL Saphire status client) in Singapore and Bangkok compare well to others.
A few people have commended Cathay's economy cabin
Can corroborate having visited Cathay’s outstation lounges in Bangkok, Singapore and Taipei in the past few weeks, they’ve even got Moet and Chandon in their Singapore lounge!
@@MattsPlanet For me the gold standard in Eco is Japan Airlines - they have 1 seat less abreast than most carriers, their food is delicious and the crew service is very consistent (and they come through the cabin regularly). But CX is not that far behind. SQ the crew are usually fine, but they let you feel you are in Eco. In BIZ SQ remains to be gold standard together with Qatar.
Thanks for the info + video!
Thanks Jimmy
Another good one Matt and I have to agree wholeheartedly on the little shop of horrors review you give 😊
Top quality film! Happily passes 90 minutes whenever I see it on a plane!
Matt sacrificing himself to drink cognac is like Arthur Denton suffering from Dr. Scrivello´s dental treatment
The pain is real....
@@MattsPlanet some like a little pain
Where was the oneworld pin????
This was filmed weeks back!!!
@@MattsPlanet
Ok, will let you off, 🤣🤣
Great video. I recently booked Cathay Pacific for Bangkok-Hong Kong-London, so this video was a must-see for me. I've also booked a lot of Finnair, so safe to say I am also looking forward to that video too. 😁
My Finnair video will be along next week... Quite a contrast!
@@MattsPlanet How convenient! 😂
Another great video! I do not fly as much as I used to, but if I spotted you at the airport I'd definitely be waving at you like a looney!
Wave away! And come and say hi - I'm a friendly chap!
@@MattsPlanet Oh I most certainly shall. I'm somewhat dull and loyal to BA, which is ridiculous as I feel they're under performing with their product. However, the staff are absolutely incredible as always. I suggested once that it feels they've become lazy.
I look forward to your videos every week!!! I was devastated yesterday wasnt sunday because I was jetlagged…
Thanks so much - been anywhere nice?
@@MattsPlanet Scandi tour! DK, NO & SE.
Absolutely love that film, and teched the show! It is such a weird show!
Fantastic! Teched the movie or one of the stage shows?
@@MattsPlanet Stage Show, im not that old! 😂
RIP Hong Kong. I've been there many times, but I wouldn't bother now. And unless you are actually going to HK, Cathay is irrelevant. Asia is full of top notch airlines, and Cathay isn't one of them.
Thanks - that's a good script for a video but it would be quite a short one!
You mean Rip UK At least Hong Kong has lower inflation than the UK a better transport system, more highly educated population has better future because the greater bay area than Brexit Britain.
Reading some western people making comments about not bothering to visit hk because it has changed well frankly the change are inevitable as Hong Kong was brutally stolen from it motherland and I am 100% will preferred Hong Kong to New York or London when u are constantly being threaten to be shot or stabbed and contrary to what the western media has portrayed the place we are as free and has as much human right as any of you ! Thank you very much
Opinions are great aren't they? And that's yours....
And I thought the British leased Hong Kong not stolen it and at the end of the lease they gave it back
I'd love to go and see the pandas myself. China loves pandas! Although I do worry that being a Muslim they might put me in an "education camp" if I visit? Or is that just for locals?
@@immikhanUK I think a Muslim visiting has little to worry about - no more than a Christian. Just don't try to convert masses of people when you're there!!!
@@MattsPlanet LOL! Yes, my key aims would be noodles and pandas. And that Terracotta army thing.
My comment
My response to your comment!!!
I find CX cabin crew much improved since the HK based racist cabin crew got fired. .... vast improvement of attitude from those remaining.
I have to admit I hadn't seen that controversy before I travelled but it sounds serious!
Big fan of those funky check in desks
I liked it too - always nice to have a sit down though!!
@@MattsPlanet It appears that Cathay's First Class check-in desks at HKG (when new airport opened in 1998) may have inspired other airlines to offer more exclusive check-in facilities. Their check-in area is kind of out dated now as some other airlines have a separate room/area at their main airport for First Class check in that leads directly to security.
You sound so elitist.
I’m french and sometimes pretentious but you sound terrible.
Sorry you feel that!
Where were you staying? Not sure english sign criticism is fair for most of hk. Secondly there is no fast track security!!!! Old people, vips, cathay diamond members, and airport/airline staff can skip it nobody else... (I agree there should be one but alas there is not)
Thanks! I stayed in Mongkok but had walked most of the way to Tsim Sha Tsui without encountering much English.... It was different by the Star Ferry for sure, but I don't (didn't???) consider Mongkok to be wildly out of the tourist trail... Good to know about the fast track - those other guys must have been VIPs!
@@MattsPlanet must apply to have you added as a VIP for next time! Hopefully airport express (and check in) fully restored for all airlines soon!
@@shehebehsuebwisshgauwbevsjs I wish!
If i understand correctly BA is for a long time already competing with ryanair to see who can hit rock bottom first for customer satisfaction
That's what a lot of people say.... You tend to only hear about the bad experiences so as BA and Ryanair are both large, they tend to feature in reports quite frequently. But both airlines, most of the time, are pretty good at doing what you want them to do.
@@MattsPlanet i last experienced Ryanair 15 years ago and wont again but BA i have frequent experiences in business class and compared to other airlines am very unimpressed
BA are certainly doing better had a business class flight with them last year and everything was good.
The CP business experience on this sector looked pretty poor
I flew Cathay Biz class Hong Kong to LHR in April. I was impressed with the food and beverage offering. Two full meals, but the best food was the mid flight snack hamburger and chips. Assume the limited choice of wines on Matt's flight to India was due to the shorter sector as there was a much wider choice on my flight. Totally agree the Pier First class lounge is amazing.
Thanks Alan - good to know. A hamburger for a mid-flight snack is pretty good!