Cathay Pacific Economy Seats Extremely uncomfortable

[denaust]

Just arrived back Mel Delhi return economy via Hong Kong. Seat backs are fixed and do not retract.
Instead the seat base moves forward. Your knees and bottom shift forward toward the seat in front.
What this effectively does unfortunately is just to magnify your slouch. Very hard to sleep or even snooze.
These seats same on both the A330 and 747. This can be verified by Cathay.
Be aware!
Totally exhausted from these flights.
Is this a new trend in Economy seats?
Hope not

 

[nlagalle]

Just arrived back Mel Delhi return economy via Hong Kong. Seat backs are fixed and do not retract.
Instead the seat base moves forward. Your knees and bottom shift forward toward the seat in front.
What this effectively does unfortunately is just to magnify your slouch. Very hard to sleep or even snooze.
These seats same on both the A330 and 747. This can be verified by Cathay.
Be aware!
Totally exhausted from these flights.
Is this a new trend in Economy seats?
Hope not

I flew in these seats 2 years ago.. I did hear they were getting rid of them. Having said that they are good for daytime flights where you may not want to try and sleep.

 

[docjames]

There;s a heap of threads (dating back to at least 2009) on the CX "shell" seats in Y - very few complimentary. I've posted in most of them.

The seats are so unpopular that they're being replaced already.

 

[ojm]

They are horrible. I flew to LAX and back via United in Economy, and didn't feel too bad after these flights (especially after the next Cathay flight). Flew to Shanghai via Hong Kong via Cathay the week later in economy and it was horrible. Wasn't too bad on the way up during a day time flight, but on the overnight flight it was hell.

 

[blu]

OT but related: shell seat was also used on JL PE (Y+).
Best way I found to sleep was to lean forward with head resting on the tray table. Also very thin uncomfortable cushioning. And the cabin was was unbearably hot overnight.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am one of the few who actually like these CX Y seats. Yes I am a short guy (5'5) so usually leg space isn't my main concern when flying Y. The scariest part for me when flying Y is the person in front reclining into me and the shell seats prevent that.

 

[JohnK]

I have not tried these seats and I hope I have the chance to try them one day.

As someone who does not recline and cannot stand sitting behind a serial recliner on any length of flight then I think they are a brilliant idea. Apologies if this is not in line with the thoughts of others....

 

[nlagalle]

I have not tried these seats and I hope I have the chance to try them one day.

As someone who does not recline and cannot stand sitting behind a serial recliner on any length of flight then I think they are a brilliant idea. Apologies if this is not in line with the thoughts of others....

During the day flights they are prefect! but at night, no for a night flight! but each to their own too! :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

During the day flights they are prefect! but at night, no for a night flight! but each to their own too! :mrgreen:

Agreed to each their own. Some people do not have a need to recline or to have someone else recline in their face.

P.S I am lucky in that I can sleep sitting forward in an airline seat, a bus seat, a train seat, a ship seat etc....

 

[MikedOut]

I agree, the seats are hell. Did Syd-Rome, London -Syd last November...didn't get a wink of sleep. Cushions are so thin they kill after sitting for 2 hours. That said I like the concept of them (the shell).

 

[Simo]

I have some CX flights next month so not looking forward to those seats.

I forgot all about those seats.

Lucky there Customer service is great.

 

[rechoboam]

The joys of having an entire family who are extremely short!

 

[Timtammi]

I did MEL-HKG-FCO return in those seats with my daughter in 2010. We dubbed them the Cathay "Slump Seats". Horrendous! Never again.

Cheers

Timmi

 

[docjames]

I have not tried these seats and I hope I have the chance to try them one day.

As someone who does not recline and cannot stand sitting behind a serial recliner on any length of flight then I think they are a brilliant idea. Apologies if this is not in line with the thoughts of others....

Part of the issue is they're not even that comfortable as an upright seat. This only gets worse when the base jams your knees into the hard shell in front, and the airbag seatbelt digs into you.

I wont fly CX Y agian until they have better seats.

 

[Limewood]

Out of CNS or BNE these CX Y and J seats are apparently not being changed like the SYD/HKG are, pity Y is terrible and the herringbone in J are narrow and awkward had many bad reviews.

CNS to HKG its 7 hours direct in these terrible Y seats, via BNE with Q it adds another 4 hours inc. transit, flights out of CNS/HKG are usually full Q could well rethink flying direct to HKG rather than via BNE IMO.

Doing this trip April think will be long at around with Qantas.

 

[samh004]

Is this a new trend in Economy seats?
Hope not

QF has similar seats in Y whereby the seat moves forward to simulate recline, but they also recline a little too. It’s not as bad, but very similar.

I’m not sure what CX are replacing their Y seats with but a seat more similar to QF’s product would be acceptable.

 

[ozmille]

QF has similar seats in Y whereby the seat moves forward to simulate recline, but they also recline a little too. It’s not as bad, but very similar.

I’m not sure what CX are replacing their Y seats with but a seat more similar to QF’s product would be acceptable.

In which aircraft type is this? Don't fancy the idea of sitting in one of those


Sent from my iPad using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[risky]

The padding/cushions are too thin, and after 1 movie (1.5-2hrs), it really starts to get uncomfortable. The shell is possibly a better idea on paper than in practice, but it does stop the person in front invading the space over the seat-back tray, so at least you can work on your notebook PC. Like the previous posters have said, maybe OK during the day, but not for sleeping at night.

 

[samh004]

In which aircraft type is this? Don't fancy the idea of sitting in one of those

Their A380 is a half shell seat, and I found it quite nice.

 

[Pablo]

The padding/cushions are too thin, and after 1 movie (1.5-2hrs), it really starts to get uncomfortable. The shell is possibly a better idea on paper than in practice, but it does stop the person in front invading the space over the seat-back tray, so at least you can work on your notebook PC. Like the previous posters have said, maybe OK during the day, but not for sleeping at night.

I flew CX in October from HKK to SYD on my way back from Kenya and came off a KQ flight and I tell you, I regretted it (although we landed in HKK 1 hr after QF grounded their fleet - so at least was glad to be getting home and not stuck in HKK). I hadn't flown CX for a few years and I hope it will be a few years until I fly them again. KQ was more comfortable - and that's saying something!