Cathay J Class PER-LHR via HKG

[froggerADL]

I'm QF WP and it got nothing for me on the A330.

 

[yohy?!]

There are too many CX apologists on here

surprising input from an HK local! would have thought you'd have well and truly drink the kool-aid by now

EDIT: oh i see you have no MPC status, that would probably explain why CX don't love you

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Hoping this isn't the case, I have BNE-HKG (330) and HKG-JFK (16 hours on a 777) in J to look forward to in the next week. Perhaps as WP/OWE I won't have these issues, but I am travelling with SWMBO, beside for the BNE-HKG flight but 11A/12A for the long flight.

On this same trip I'm on IB and QR, so it will be interesting to compare the offerings.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hoping this isn't the case, I have BNE-HKG (330) and HKG-JFK (16 hours on a 777) in J to look forward to in the next week. Perhaps as WP/OWE I won't have these issues, but I am travelling with SWMBO, beside for the BNE-HKG flight but 11A/12A for the long flight.

On this same trip I'm on IB and QR, so it will be interesting to compare the offerings.

IMO one seat behind the other is the way to go - you both get windows, both get to control the windows, and more sense of space. The short time to 'converse' with a traveling companion is not worth giving up the benefits of the windows. I would recommend taking a seat on the left of the right of the plane depending on how you relax at home... there is a distinct 'left' or 'right' angle which if it's not the way you usually sit can make the seat uncomfortable.

I'm confused by the OP's reference to not being able to get out of the seat unless fully upright. There are no restrictions to get from the seat to the aisle even when in bed mode.

The food is basic comfort food, but this is not first class - it's business. With CX you are buying a (good) bed on the plane with a choice of hot meal and efficient service. CX crew aren't always proactive (offering to fill up a glass) but a request for a refill will be happily fulfilled.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've also done the SQ A330 from ADL-SIN in J and although that was 2-2-2 the seat was four inches wider than the CX A330. In my view SQ was better in every way and I won't be rushing back to CX A330.

On paper the CX seat width is just over 20 inches, but that ignores the space once the armrest is lowered, which brings that part of the seat to almost 28 inches in bed mode. The bottom half of the seat is also supposedly the same width in bed mode but the extendable flap rarely works. Details here: http://downloads.cathaypacific.com/cx/press/cxw/pdf/New Business Class backgrounder.pdf

That being said the SQ A330 is a pretty good business class seat. The angle is barely noticeable.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I must say I was really impressed with the CX crew. Great service, felt like F service in J for me as a OWE.
Ground staff decided to move us out of our premium seats selected some 10 months earlier to accommodate their "friends" - confirmed by the crew that they were non status pax. We advised the crew on boarding and the CSM had us back in our original assigned seats prior to push back. Apparently it happens all the time according to the crew, and they actively encouraged us to write in about the experience as they said the ground crew get away with it all the time.
Seats are great - but the window behind each other did feel a lot more spacious than the centre pair.

 

[N860CR]

I find the crew on CX work under direction rather than proactivly. It's not uncommon to walk to the bathroom and come back to find your glass cleared. Press the call bell, ask for another one. They appear within a few seconds and service you within a minute. It just seems to be the service standard. I'll admit I didn't like it at first, but I think I've just gotten used to being a demanding Westerner onboard CX. It's how the crew expect it, and in all honestly it's a better system (compared to sitting and waiting for a QF crew member to come around and think about offering something).

 

[cosi]

I always find the CX service efficient but clinical. Hard product is very good.

 

[yohy?!]

I always find the CX service efficient but clinical. Hard product is very good.

You do get superstars but they only show up every few flights, overall though it's a very consistent standard of service - you get the sense poor performers wouldn't last long

 

[cosi]

You do get superstars but they only show up every few flights, overall though it's a very consistent standard of service - you get the sense poor performers wouldn't last long

Totally agree

 

[downgraded]

I think you have to accept the "didn't work for me" aspect of the OP.
Personally i still find it the best seat going, the slide forward capability is easy to miss and you could only hope a CX crew could identify a couple traveling together and point out the feature.
CX J F&B I equate to being closer to QF PE and have been left high and dry when they've run out of the carnivorous option only 2/3rds of the way through the main section of the J A330.