Cathay - why do people go on about them?

Ahhh, he says, sinking into my beautiful suite at the Peninsula Beverly Hills at last after one of those journeys : 5 hr drive Agra to Delhi, 3 hrs at Delhi airport, 5 hrs Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, 3 1/2 hrs at HKG (delayed flight) and then 12 hrs Hong Kong to Los Angeles ... I had to write it down because I couldn't do it in my head. I have no idea when I will sleep because this journey has already involved two night times!

But, with full TR and comparison between VS, Jet and CX to come - why do people rate Cathay Pacific?

I am not really sure.

My parents recently flew CX from AKL-HKG and said it was pretty dire compared to VS/SQ/BA/QF. Majority of people I have spoken to jsut do not rate them.

CX was of course a widely regarded airline in the 90's- is peoples rating of it being a good airline a carry over from the 90's?

We flew them on regional business HKG-BKK-HKG last year and I have to say the service was better than some BA F flights we have taken.Loads of crew, always addressed by name very good food and quality drinks.

I did CX F and new J last year and it was excellent.

There are two CX's.

The old CX was a superlative airline that rivalled and often beat SQ for inflight service, food, drink and all the little touches. I started flying CX reguarly in 2002 and this was the airline I fell for. However, the rot set in with SARS in 2003 pressurising margins, spawning:

The new CX with indifferent food, adequate wine, and some surprisingly surly service (all recruited from a Kowloon McDonalds). Some of the hardware is also distinctly iffy, especially if you get the dreadful new Regional J seats or the old New Business class.

My hit rate is 60% new, 40% old now.[n] That said, I still generally find CX better than VS....