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Cathay Pacific loses 5 Star Ranking for lounges
CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS lounges drop in Quality Ranking as SKYTRAX report on a fall in Product and Service standards across the airline's home base airport facilities in Hong Kong
"What was once a Benchmark for other airlines to set their standards against when planning lounge facilities has now fallen in quality. Staff service is far from 5 Star any more, and even the lounge amenities are tired and poorly presented" according to Skytrax.
After many years at, or near the top of the global Airline Lounge league table, Cathay Pacific First and Business Class lounge facilities at Hong Kong Airport have received a downgrading in the latest SKYTRAX 2008 ranking review.
Commenting on the review, SKYTRAX point out that whilst these Cathay Pacific lounge facilities in Hong Kong rate at a good standard, they have failed to keep pace with the changes and innovations introduced by other airlines in recent years - and this is clear factor behind rating on some aspects falling from 5 Star to a 3 Star level.
The quality of staff service is another pointer as to where standards have not kept pace say Skytrax. "Whether looking at the First or Business Class sections of these lounges, we simply do not see anything that matches up to a true 5 Star service standard" reports Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO. "Functional is probably one of the most suitable descriptions at this time, and this does underline a slow and steady decline in Cathay Pacific lounge ranking."
Worn and tatty seating, overcrowded, messy carpets / tables and lack of attention to real cleanliness are a sure sign of standards on the slide say Skytrax.
According to Peter Miller of Skytrax ... "We look for something of a 'WOW' factor in today's 5 Star lounges, and there is really nothing across these Cathay Pacific facilities which we believe warrants that. Factor in a decline in staff service attention and general service attitude, and we have to conclude that other airlines have moved ahead of Cathay Pacific in this category at present."
Many will remember when the lounges were unveiled 10 years ago how Cathay Pacific sought to set a new benchmark in airline lounge amenities and staff service - and was able to achieve this then. It is however the pace of change and innovation by other airlines since which has served to undermine the Cathay Pacific ranking.
As pointed out by Edward Plaisted, the 5 Star rating "is not about having the biggest or most equipped lounge .... we are concerned about the combined package on offer. Clean, comfortable facilities and amenities that combine with a truly special level of staff service are the core ingredients behind the 5 Star status - and on several counts we find that these CX lounges are not meeting the mark".
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I've been lurking with this very good forum for a week now, and so I've decided to register.
"What was once a Benchmark for other airlines to set their standards against when planning lounge facilities has now fallen in quality. Staff service is far from 5 Star any more, and even the lounge amenities are tired and poorly presented" according to Skytrax.
After many years at, or near the top of the global Airline Lounge league table, Cathay Pacific First and Business Class lounge facilities at Hong Kong Airport have received a downgrading in the latest SKYTRAX 2008 ranking review.
Commenting on the review, SKYTRAX point out that whilst these Cathay Pacific lounge facilities in Hong Kong rate at a good standard, they have failed to keep pace with the changes and innovations introduced by other airlines in recent years - and this is clear factor behind rating on some aspects falling from 5 Star to a 3 Star level.
The quality of staff service is another pointer as to where standards have not kept pace say Skytrax. "Whether looking at the First or Business Class sections of these lounges, we simply do not see anything that matches up to a true 5 Star service standard" reports Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO. "Functional is probably one of the most suitable descriptions at this time, and this does underline a slow and steady decline in Cathay Pacific lounge ranking."
Worn and tatty seating, overcrowded, messy carpets / tables and lack of attention to real cleanliness are a sure sign of standards on the slide say Skytrax.
According to Peter Miller of Skytrax ... "We look for something of a 'WOW' factor in today's 5 Star lounges, and there is really nothing across these Cathay Pacific facilities which we believe warrants that. Factor in a decline in staff service attention and general service attitude, and we have to conclude that other airlines have moved ahead of Cathay Pacific in this category at present."
Many will remember when the lounges were unveiled 10 years ago how Cathay Pacific sought to set a new benchmark in airline lounge amenities and staff service - and was able to achieve this then. It is however the pace of change and innovation by other airlines since which has served to undermine the Cathay Pacific ranking.
As pointed out by Edward Plaisted, the 5 Star rating "is not about having the biggest or most equipped lounge .... we are concerned about the combined package on offer. Clean, comfortable facilities and amenities that combine with a truly special level of staff service are the core ingredients behind the 5 Star status - and on several counts we find that these CX lounges are not meeting the mark".
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I've been lurking with this very good forum for a week now, and so I've decided to register.
). IMO, the CX lounges at HKG are still fantastic, although I admit they do get very crowded before the midnight-ish flights to LHR. The lounges help make transiting at HKG a pleasure.
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