After a few days in Ho Chi Minh, and had some very delicious Vietnamese dishes (Pho and Banh Mi are must-have!) My company was waiting for me, as I'm one of the shachiku (Japanese word, means slave of company). But before heading back to Tokyo, I sneaked out to have a dinner with my family in Hong Kong.
Grabbed a taxi near Banh Thanh Market, just about 30min way to SGN.
On my way to Tan Son Nhat Airport
Tan Son Nhat Airport
A very nice lady welcomed me at counter. I told the lady I would just check in the sector to Hong Kong only, not to Tokyo. Just a minute, I got my boarding pass.
CX's boarding pass is now in B&W after merging with Cathay Dragon Hope they'd have new design soon
The security check and passport control were quiet smooth. Soon I was at airside
SGN departure area
SGN departure area
My flight was assigned to Gate 19
Too early to hanging around at the gate, of course. Lounge was waiting for me to check it out.
CX uses the Apricot Business Lounge, which I believe serving most of the oneworld carriers departing from SGN.
As a third-party lounge, one would not expect so much. Nothing to write home about, but more than enough for having a seat and hot food before your flight.
Good atmosphere, good for aircraft spotting
Not that crowded, easy to have a seat
Food selection was also good, ranging from hot and cold dishes, rice, noodles, snack, soup and dessert.
Cold plate & Vietnamese spring roll
Flan & Bakery
Carrot soup
Fried rice noodles
Marinated meat/egg & Rice
Bacon & Scrambled egg
Drink and alcohol are also available
Spring roll and flan were good
I would say Apricot Business Lounge was not bad, from a third-party lounge standard.
Okay, let's move to the gate. I don't like rushing to the gate at the last moment, as it would be very embarrassing to have my name being paged by ground staff.
The aircraft for this short regional flight was a derated Boeing 777-300, with regional business class product. Cathay Pacific B777-300 (B-HNO)
I have commented on CX's regional business product on the first leg from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Just to recap it, I think it's OK for a daytime flight less that 4 hours.
However, CX's still using regional product on red-eye flight on NRT, KIX and SIN routes.
Champagne for my welcome drink
Menu was distributed before taking off
Three choices of main dishes
Goodbye, Ho Chi Minh City!
Love the Saigon River, viewing from sky Saigon River
Loading was about 50%, with my seat next to me being occupied.
As a short regional flight, dining was served once reaching cruising level Appetizer and garlic bread
CX's signature cocktail - Cloud Nine
All the three choices of main dishes were put on a tray, so you could really see it before making decision The chicken dish didn't seem good, so I opted for Fish fillet in XO sauce
It was OK, not good, but not bad
Finally, Haagen-Dazs
Landed at Hong Kong airport at about 2:55pm My next flight CX524 in Tokyo departs at midnight. So I made a good use for this ten-hour transit time to sneak out and had a dinner with my family, before returning to Tokyo!
My lovely cat in Hong Kong!
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Verdict
Cathay Pacific
7.0/10
Cabin7.0
Cabin crew7.0
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Meal/catering6.0
Southern Airports Services Company (SASCO) Apricot CIP Lounge
6.1/10
Comfort7.0
Meal/catering6.5
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Services6.0
Ho Chi Minh City - SGN
5.9/10
Efficiency6.5
Access6.0
Services5.5
Cleanliness5.5
Hong Kong - HKG
7.8/10
Efficiency7.0
Access9.0
Services7.5
Cleanliness7.5
Conclusion
As this was a relatively short regional flight, I couldn't comment so much. But definitely CX's catering could be improved. Nothing surprised me on this flight, so I have average 6~7 on each aspects.
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Say, you company does treat 'slaves' well. J class and with a reputable carrier as well, the definition of slave could carry such a different meaning in different parts of the world. :)
CX regional still looks competitive enough given that service and dining doesn't seem to differ that much with long haul. However it's the long haul that they are falling so rapidly behind that a change cannot come soon enough.
Thank you for your comment! Maybe I didn't elaborate the Japanese word 'shachiku' correctly lol It is coined from two words 'company' and 'cattle', means a person like who overworks hard for low wage, is exploited by his company but is still blindly loyal to his company.
Anyway, I prefer ANA more in recent years, although I still keen on CX. One of the reasons why CX is not on my top list now is that difficult to maintain status! I could only keep my CX silver although a several long haul flights even on PEY and J. However I got my ANA platinum with less flights than CX! (and... Star Alliance network seems better in Asia, comparing to oneworld)
Seems CX is going to review MPC system again soon (say December) Let's see what will happen!
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CX regional still looks competitive enough given that service and dining doesn't seem to differ that much with long haul. However it's the long haul that they are falling so rapidly behind that a change cannot come soon enough.
Maybe I didn't elaborate the Japanese word 'shachiku' correctly lol
It is coined from two words 'company' and 'cattle', means a person like who overworks hard for low wage, is exploited by his company but is still blindly loyal to his company.
Anyway, I prefer ANA more in recent years, although I still keen on CX.
One of the reasons why CX is not on my top list now is that difficult to maintain status!
I could only keep my CX silver although a several long haul flights even on PEY and J.
However I got my ANA platinum with less flights than CX!
(and... Star Alliance network seems better in Asia, comparing to oneworld)
Seems CX is going to review MPC system again soon (say December)
Let's see what will happen!
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