This is the first time when we traveled to India using airlines other than Singapore Airlines from U.S. West Coast. We used Cathay Pacific whose price per adult ticket came out to be $300 less than SIA. I thought that I would publish a comparison of these two airlines so that others reading this blog might make prudent decision.
- Both airlines fly B-747 in San Francisco – Hong Kong route during peak of the summer.
- Cathay flies out of SFO during day time. So we didn’t have to struggle with half-asleep kids. SIA also had a similar option. Afternoon flight by SIA results in increased wait time in Singapore.
- Afternoon flight out of SFO seems to be perennially late for Cathay Pacific. For my family, it was more than two hours reducing their wait time in Hong Kong for the connecting flight to Chennai. At one time it posed a threat of missing the connecting flight to Chennai. During my travel it was little more than an hour late.
- From Hong Kong, we had a connecting flight to Chennai. The wait time in Chennai is close to 4 hours. It gives enough time to come out, stretch legs, go for bathroom breaks etc. Singapore airlines rates terribly in this area. They take you to Singapore from Hong Kong. Then there will be 8-10 hours wait time depending on which Indian city you are going to. With kids and family, options are - to book the hotel inside the airport or go for a city tour. The hotel is not the cleanest one and is not worth its cost. Considering the above aspect, Cathay Pacific got us to India very swiftly.
- Cathay Pacific doesn’t have a connecting flight to Kolkata which was our final destination. So we had to take detour to Chennai. Domestic airlines (like Indigo) may have more stringent weight / count of checked-in luggage restrictions compared to international counterparts.
- Inflight entertainment options of Cathay Pacific are very similar to SIA with personal television, large number of movies in South Asian language.
- The seats in San Francisco – Hong Kong flight don’t recline. This is the first time I noticed that in a long haul flight. Instead, as the reclining switch is pressed, the seat cushion (or part of it) moves forward. It is very awkward. Hong Kong – Chennai flight was devoid of that crookedness.
- Toilets seem to lack toiletries like comb, disposable shaving set. I am not sure whether it was our plane only or part of the low cost drive of Cathay.
- Food appeared to be frugal and less tasty compared to SIA. We tried with Hindu vegetarian and non-vegetarian variations. I can’t comment on the remaining choices.
- Snacks between the meals were far apart. Even going to the kitchen and requesting some snacks for the kids hardly evoked any response. SIA beats Cathay Pacific hands down in this area. When we traveled with very young kid, airhostesses would come and hold the baby (if needed) when the mom went for bathroom break. They kept us going with steady supply of diapers if we ever ran out of them. Now our daughters being little grown up, they need things to keep them engaged. SIA cabin crew always had ready stock of coloring books, pencils, playing cards. They never seemed to run out of stock. Cathay Pacific didn’t have anything. Kids were on their own when it comes to entertaining them and keep them engaged. They watched movies for a while and then started getting bored.
