I had never flown with CP until recently, but I was excited because a friend of mine has had a great experience with this airline.
To be fair, my flight was an overnight flight, and most airlines have the dreadful practice of downgrading the service for overnight flights, so my first experience with CP might be affected by this practice.
The plane looked modern, and it was pretty and clean, but the space in Economy Class was just tiny. First Class looked really as a million-dollar-buck First Class, but most people seat elsewhere.
I thought the staff were friendly, ready to attend any request and help. However, I also witnessed some abruptness, like staff asking customers to let them pass when there was no need for them to ask that as they weren't passing with a trolley nor there was any turbulence.
Other airlines have the staff running the aisles all night with trays with water and juice, while others have trays prepared in the crew area for you go and pick up a glass without having to ask for anything. Neither of this happened with my CP, flight until we were very close to destination, so you have to go and ask for a glass of water when you want one.
Food was surprisingly good, that always excites me when flying, although meals were not as bulky or complex as in other airlines, Qantas for example.
The in-built entertainment program had very good digital screens and a good selection of Western and Asian movies. However, it was behind Qantas and other Asian airlines regarding volume and currency of the movies shown.
Their duty free shopping catalogue is, perhaps, the best I have ever seen. I have flown with many airlines, and these days all of them seem to sell the same products, at the same prices. Corporations selling their thing. CP distinguishes themselves by selling luxury, really innovative expensive products, at prices that can be 1000+ bucks. Nothing I would or could buy, but at least they know what they want to sell and the products in their magazine are really amazing.
CP is a decent good-priced airline, just not comparable to Qantas, Thai or Singapore Airlines in the quality of the service. Things might be different for day flights, so I will report back when I happen to take a day flight with them.
