Singapore Airlines flights from Christchurch to Athens (CHC - ATH)

On schedule, courteous, and attentive crew. Really old aircraft and restrooms are not looking good.

My experience with Cathay Pacific started badly and only became more frustrating as the trip continued. It began when my original flight, which I had booked in Business Class, was canceled. Because of the cancellation, I was involuntarily downgraded. I understood that disruptions happen and was willing to accept the downgrade, but the way Cathay Pacific handled the situation afterward was extremely disappointing. The biggest issue was the lack of communication between airports. When I arrived at the next airport, the staff apparently had no record or confirmation that Cathay Pacific had downgraded me. As a result, I was forced to wait approximately an hour and a half while they tried to verify what had happened and determine how to handle my reservation. This happened at around 2:00 a.m., after an exhausting travel day that had already stretched to roughly 22 hours because of delays. At that point, I was completely exhausted and simply wanted to get to my destination and rest. Having to spend another 90 minutes resolving an issue that should have already been documented and communicated internally made an already difficult travel experience considerably worse. What was even more disappointing was the refund process. Because I had paid for Business Class but was involuntarily downgraded, I expected the fare difference to be refunded automatically. Instead, I discovered that I had to contact Cathay Pacific myself to request reimbursement. When I called, I was initially told that my situation did not qualify for a refund and that I would only be offered a travel voucher. I found that response unacceptable. I had paid for Business Class transportation that Cathay Pacific ultimately did not provide. A voucher requiring me to spend money with the airline again is not the same as refunding money for a service that was never delivered. After several heated minutes of discussion, Cathay Pacific finally agreed to refund both tickets. The cancellation itself was understandable. Even the involuntary downgrade was something I was prepared to accept given the circumstances. What made this experience unacceptable was the poor communication between airports, the lengthy middle-of-the-night delay caused by Cathay Pacific’s internal handling of the downgrade, and then having to argue simply to receive a refund for the Business Class service I had paid for but did not receive. For an airline that markets itself as a premium international carrier, I expected significantly better communication, customer service, and handling of an involuntary downgrade. Unfortunately, after this experience, Cathay Pacific has lost my confidence as a customer. This will be the last time I choose to fly with them.