I swap numbers so you can either call or use the airport wifi to whatsapp the J1/2/3/4 pax and give the ground staff a good slap in the "loss of face".

The other bull:mad: is the "sorry no time to get them from checkin to the gate as the flight will be delayed", why can't they just be issued with a boarding pass and wait at the gate?

CX just to let you know this is what other airlines do!

I actually know the answer it because the checkin staff will lose some of their power/control just like the way the rest of the company is run!

The Staff at HKIA are a special type who seem to have been briefed to be as unhelpful as possible. Whether it is the Airport or Cathay itself who do not allow us to stand by 'at the gate' I'm not sure. The inevitable rush to get to the gate before it actually closes is quite unnecessary but happens all the time. The stress with wife and kids is unbearable and totally avoidable too.
Hence my earlier comment that I would rather not go or pay full fare with someone else than subject my lot to that nonsense.
Also, when you do get a premium seat, they take great pleasure in scrawling 'N/L' on your boarding pass - meaning 'no lounge'! There we are, loyal, hard working Company people and we get N/L! Will we mess the place up or drink all their poxy champagne?? Go with BA - they treat Staff brilliantly. Shame on you Bob Nipp as you've been in charge of this rubbish for decades.

I remember once travelling standby on a wide open cx flight. I asked the girl at the counter if she could possibly give me a seat with an open seat next to it.

When I boarded the aircraft there was virtually no-one on the aircraft - row after row of empty seats. When I arrived at my allocated seat I realised I had been seated right next to another solitary passenger - I just shook my head, carried on walking and took the next available empty row.

If I have a choice I would rather travel on an airline other than cx - one that recognises that standby passengers are still customers providing a lucrative revenue stream, and filling otherwise empty seats.

Travelling on a full KLM flight I was even offered the jumpseat since I had my crew card - when they found me a seat in economy they apologised profusely for sticking me down the back. Last flight on Finnair I was given a business seat, and frequently on BA.

The standby system at HKIA is a horse and pony show - the BA system at LHR makes it look third world in comparison.

Wheels Up: that is because it IS third world. The other salient fact to bear in mind is that CX seems to have an institutional policy to treat it's staff with contempt. The staff travel system is degrading, frustrating and above all, it is costly. They have turned it into another profit center, instead of what it should be: a benefit to staff to help them travel and facilitate their family and holiday needs. As you mentioned, you only have to experience the BA system to appreciate how appalling our system is. Now they have gone and basically put in place a bidding system for empty seats that will probably kill staff travel for all intents and purposes. As I mentioned in another post, if that is the case, they can expect hundreds of expat pilots to start disrupting the roster in the biggest of ways, as we will be forced to manipulate our travel so as to ensure we are spending time with our families. They will reap what they sow. Greed is always a self-destructive tendency, and CX has just taken one too many bites out of the cherry...

Just got back from the trip. We were late getting into NRT so missed the flight that only showed premium economy available. Was stunned how apologetic and helpful the Japanese ground staff were. They relisted us on the next open flight and handed us our seats and off we went.

Going out of HKG, we checked in for NRT 1.2 hours prior to departure... tight on time I thought and apologized for showing up so late. Given the standard number and told to come back 1 hour prior. 1 hour came and went. 40 prior I am addressed by an agent with "we need you to wait as there are seats available, but there may not be seats available so you need to wait". WTF does that mean?!? 35 prior to departure we are given premium economy seats and off we went. Cleared Immigration exactly the time the ticket said to be at the gate no later than. Lovely. I must say that the premium economy seats were a very nice surprise and the service was very professional and friendly.

Upon arriving Narita, it was nice to just take the shuttle bus over to Terminal 1, check the availability of which United flight was most open, list for it and check in right at the gate. If Cathay would take the laid back approach to staff travel as United does you guys would really be an incredibly enjoyable experience. The lock down at the ticket counter is indeed stressful and unnecessary. With that said, I am still grateful for the ability to travel with you guys and it was a pleasure getting to and from our destination safely in your hands.