Updated (see second footnote)
Another day, another data breach. Revelations that data held by Cathay Pacific has been “compromised” do worry me a little, as I have flown with the airline several times, and plan to do so again next month.
But, as a frequent traveller, I’ve got used to the idea that many people have the details of my credit cards, passport and much, much more.
Continue reading Forget about privacy, everyone’s got your number
Some bad news for Australians hoping to experience flying in an Airbus A380: Emirates, the biggest operator of these planes, is scaling back its services from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, replacing the superjumbos with Boeing 777 aircraft.
As reported by Australian Business Traveller, this will effect people at the pointy end (or, in the case of the A380, the top deck) who won’t get the latest first-class seating or the use of a bar.
Continue reading Are Aussies giving the Middle East the miss?Updated
It’s a wise airline that knows its own name. Or is it?
I’m probably not the first, or only, person to suspect that Cathay Pacific orchestrated the error in spelling on the side of one of its aircraft that got great play on social media.
Continue reading Spelling mistake or high-flying PR stunt?In the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to do quite a bit of travel at the pointy end of the aircraft. And with that, of course, comes entry to business lounges at various airports.
In this post, I want to focus on Cathay Pacific’s excellent offerings in Hong Kong and Bangkok.
When I travel, I often use an app called TripCase. It usually works like a dream. I just forward my flight and hotel booking confirmation emails to TripCase, and my journey shows up on all my devices. Flight delays and other information is updated in real time.
On my most recent trip, however, something went awry.
When I sent it my booking confirmations for Cathay Pacific flights CX713, Bangkok to Singapore, and CX712, Singapore to Bangkok, TripCase decided that I was going to New England in the United States.
I have actually been to Augusta, Maine — for Thanksgiving, no less — and I had a wonderful time. But I’m not sure how I could go there twice on successive days starting from different Southeast Asian airports.
I don’t make a secret of the fact that I like to fly in great comfort. This is especially important on long-haul flights, but a premium airline experience is also a treat on a relatively short trip.
After searching online for the usual budget options, I found a great deal *on a business class return flight from Bangkok to Singapore on the wonderful A350 aircraft.
Continue reading My Cathay Pacific business-class experience
I recently flew business class with Cathay Pacific and I can heartily recommend the experience.
I’m also pleased to say that the experience will be open to more people, now that Cathay has joined the airlines offering upgrade auctions.
Continue reading How to join the high flyers in business class
For reasons that will become clearer in future posts, I have to be in Bangkok by the last week of this month.
I checked my Qantas frequent flyer points* with the view to making a direct flight from Brisbane. But I discovered that for about the same number of points I could go first to somewhere I’d never been before — and I’m always up for that.
Continue reading Up, up and away … this time I’m off to Taipei
Brett’s travel update: after almost two months in Brisbane, I’m preparing to move on again.
Next stop, in a fortnight, is Taiwan, followed by Thailand.
Continue reading On the road again
In the current climate of austerity, many people are thinking twice about paying for business-class airfares.
As I’ve argued before, if you can afford to fly business and you want to, nothing should stop you from treating yourself. However, if it’s going to break the bank, you don’t have to totally slum it in the ever-tighter economy or “basic economy” seats.
Those in the airline-industry know were not surprised by the news that Emirates is introducing premium economy class on its 250-plane international fleet.
What that means for travellers is, of course, an affordable option between economy class and business class.
The depressing news for people of size, such as myself, this week is that we are about to be squeezed out of economy class on yet another airline.
It’s been reported that Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific will follow several other carriers and introduce 10-abreast seating on its Boeing 777 aircraft.
I understand why travel advertisements often feature pictures of beautiful young people frolicking about in exotic destinations or relaxing in impossibly large airline seats. It’s because young people do travel a lot and airlines and hotels want their business. But these pictures don’t reflect reality.
The real money in the tourism industry isn’t made from beautiful young people, because beautiful young people generally travel on the cheap.
