BYO fork? Cathay Pacific asks Business Class passengers if they want to bring cutlery

There’s nothing unusual about an airline surveying regular business travelers about their flying experience.

However, one query recently sent to Cathay Pacific customers has sparked some interest.

The five-star airline is said to have asked passengers if they were willing to bring their own cutlery on board flights.

A survey was sent to members of “Cathay Lab,” an online consumer community of approximately 10,000 people who provide feedback on the customer experience. One recipient then shared a screenshot of the survey on FlyerTalk, an online forum dedicated to aviation.

“If you travel business class with Cathay Pacific, to what extent are you willing to contribute to the following sustainable initiatives?” the survey asked.

Respondents were presented with four initiatives, which they could rate on a scale from ‘very willing’ to ‘not at all willing’.

“Bring your own cutlery set” was on the list.

Members were also asked whether they would bring a reusable water bottle to refill during the flight, give used plastic water bottles to cabin crew at the end of the flight, or actively collect water bottles and place them in a recycling bin at the aircraft exit deposit.

It is unclear what the research results were and whether Cathay Pacific will continue with the concept, but it does indicate that the airline wants to boost its sustainability initiatives. Although cutlery seems like a small piece of the puzzle, these little things quickly stand out.

When Air New Zealand trialled wooden cutlery in 2021, the airline said switching to a sustainable option could prevent around 28 million single-use plastic cutlery items from being sent to landfill each year.

Since one of the main advantages of Business Class is the chic table setting for excellent food, it seems unlikely that travelers would like to travel with a cutlery set.

However, if Business insider According to reports, an airline as admired as Cathay Pacific may have more influence over customers when it comes to encouraging new behavior.

On the forum, other members said they didn’t mind any initiative, apart from the one on cutlery.

“Bringing my own cutlery makes no sense to me at all,” someone wrote. “How should I pack used cutlery to take with me? And how many sets do I need to take with me to have cutlery at the different times when food is available on the flight? This makes me shudder.”

Another described the initiative as ‘ridiculous’, adding that the airline could offer reusable cutlery in business class.

One person pointed out that it can be difficult to get a knife through airport security to take it on the plane.