I took CX 549 and CX 100 last week on both occasions the ISM was working in the EY cabin.In fact on the Sydney flight there was also a purple uniformed crew [Senior Purser ?] actualy working with junior crew.
Someone told me it's to keep the service standards up another said they were short of staff.
I have been on Cathay for many years for business and plesure but lately i have noticed their service standards especially in EY is getting bad, the postings on Skytrax and other pax forums also indicate this trend.I read some years ago,there was a policy to get local people to work as a cabin crew. Has this back fired on them?.
Cathay used to have that brilliant concept of the 7 [?] different cabin crew cultures from countries like Thailand,Indonesia,Japan,Korea etc-each bringing their own unique version of oriental charm to the inflight service.Everybody had the same planes,same food,same schdules but that concept stood Cathay apart from the competition. It may be an illusion or fallacy but I believe that concept for what even reason worked; could it be that these girls had more instincts toward graciouness and service than locals?.
On the flip side, during the occasions that i sat in the business class the service was Excellent. In fact I had a chance to compare the product directly with Singapore Airlines.Whereas the Cathay's service was a nice mixture of attentiveness and professionalism, SQ's was a bit over the top ''in your face'' ad nasuem and at times the crew was too chatty and fimiliar with the pax.I know Cx got 'Best Airline' award, well maybe in business and First but definetly not EY.
I notice they are recruiting from various asian countries again.Are they going back to that surperb concept of the various asain cultures in the cabin? Could they even bring back that catchy theme song from the seventies? afterall retro is 'in'!
Last edited by wongsuzie; 18th May 2008 at 04:55.