CX BIz Seats

[NYCguy]

May I enquire to what compensation he got (if any?)

I'll get back to you on that one. All I heard about was the vitriol.

 

[NYCguy]

I'll get back to you on that one. All I heard about was the vitriol.

There was no compensation offered, and neither should there have been - on further questioning, it turns out that it was an upgrade that was reversed at check-in, so boo-hoo!

I do feel sorry for the poor agent who had to break the news to him, though... It was not a pretty sight, I imagine!

 

[Flying Fox]

Further point

I recently travelled in F on QF to LAX and to be honest, found the CX J seat to be just as comfortable as the QF F seat. Ok, the QF seat has much more leg room and is a little bit wider, but not noticeably so, and the extra leg room only makes a difference if you're going to use it (I'm 174cm, so it made no difference to me). Only other difference is that QF F has no cocoon.

I'm not comparing other aspects of F service/cabin - just the bed.

Personally I like the Cocoon of the QF Skybed. It allows me to chat to the Mrs when sitting up-right and gives lots of privacy when sleeping (I feel like there is no one else is around).

 

[DTM1]

Personally I like the Cocoon of the QF Skybed. It allows me to chat to the Mrs when sitting up-right and gives lots of privacy when sleeping (I feel like there is no one else is around).

I guess that's ok if you manage to sleep easily in the QF seat - I don't (I keep feeling like I'm I'm going to slip off the end). The CX product was just so much more comfortable. It won't be soon enough that QF move to the new lie flat product on the A380 - then it will be possible to compare apples with apples. However, in the meantime, I've been converted to the CX product for night flights.

 

[simongr]

What is the frequency of the new style CX Biz seat out of SYD? I have yet to be on one (admittedly out of only 4/5 flights in the past six months). Is there a particular flight that is more likely than not?

 

[DTM1]

What is the frequency of the new style CX Biz seat out of SYD? I have yet to be on one (admittedly out of only 4/5 flights in the past six months). Is there a particular flight that is more likely than not?

not sure, but I know they do offer the new config on at least some of the overnight flights down to Melbourne from HKG, both on 744 and airbus.

 

[Flying Fox]

I guess that's ok if you manage to sleep easily in the QF seat - I don't (I keep feeling like I'm I'm going to slip off the end).

This is a fair point and I have head it from others also.

However, I have always wondered something. Aircraft AFAIK don't fly horizontal. They fly nose up and as such was the Skybed designed such that when sleeping you would be truely horizontal (relative to the curvature of the earth) after allowing for the fact that the aircraft is nose-up?

If this is the case, us funny human beings still notice that we are pointing feet down and hence we all prefer to be horizontal relative to the floor of the aircraft (which being nose-up means that technical our feet are above our heads)!

 

[mainly tailfirst]

This is a fair point and I have head it from others also.

However, I have always wondered something. Aircraft AFAIK don't fly horizontal. They fly nose up and as such was the Skybed designed such that when sleeping you would be truely horizontal (relative to the curvature of the earth) after allowing for the fact that the aircraft is nose-up?

If this is the case, us funny human beings still notice that we are pointing feet down and hence we all prefer to be horizontal relative to the floor of the aircraft (which being nose-up means that technical our feet are above our heads)!

Although the 747 does cruise nose up, it doesn't have sufficient attitude to compensate for the down slope of the skybeds. I found I kept slipping down them, which was a tad annoying.
I have yet to travel on a 'fully flat' seat, but I suspect it might actually have about a 5 degree slope to counteract the cruise attitude.

mt

 

[NM]

I found I kept slipping down them, which was a tad annoying.

You need to invest in some velcro underwear to fix this problem.

 

[mainly tailfirst]

You need to invest in some velcro underwear to fix this problem.

Sounds a bit rough on the boys - taking them off would be err, interesting! :shock:

mt

 

[simongr]

The bigger concern is the lack of trousers being worn to ensure the velcro connects with the seat....

 

[mainly tailfirst]

The bigger concern is the lack of trousers being worn to ensure the velcro connects with the seat....

You are of course assuming that the Velcro is being worn outward facing...

mt

 

[NM]

The bigger concern is the lack of trousers being worn to ensure the velcro connects with the seat....

The best super-heroes always wear their undies outside their trousers (or chinos in your case).

 

[maninblack]

You need to invest in some velcro underwear to fix this problem.

Well I haven't done that but after sliding down the seat all the way from London to Singapore some years ago on one of my first Skybed flights (I ended up rolled up in a ball in the footwell about 4 hours out of LHR ) I invented my non-patented Skybed solution. First of course never wear smooth or shiny material (like nylon tracksuit pants). Second go to a rubber place and have a foam wedge cut, mine is an offcut from a latex mattress maker. It is about 60cm long by 30cm wide, about 6cm thick at the foot end reducing to a zero under the knee. It rolls up quite small in my carry on and makes a big improvement. Second, I place a thin old goose down pillow just below my hips, both of which help stop the sliding down problem. Think I am crazy, well perhaps just a bit, but it works.

 

[maninblack]

I guess that's ok if you manage to sleep easily in the QF seat - I don't (I keep feeling like I'm I'm going to slip off the end). The CX product was just so much more comfortable. It won't be soon enough that QF move to the new lie flat product on the A380 - then it will be possible to compare apples with apples. However, in the meantime, I've been converted to the CX product for night flights.

It looks like I will be flying CX into Europe in a few months and the 744 from HKG will have the new flat bed product so I am interested to read the comments. My TA has flown it and says despite being of slightly suspect build quality and yes a little narrow, it is otherwise good. She says that when fully reclined into a flat bed there is extra space/width around the shoulder area due to a curve in the ajoining seat wall, meaning it is not too narrow and that the softness of the bed cushioning is good and that the bed is at least 6'6" long. She also pointed out that it has the benefit of going straight from seat to bed at the users control unlike some other products that have to be flipped and converted from seat to bed and vice versa, which is annoying and that it is no more claustrophobic than other herringbone products, AC, NZ, VS etc. She reckons the new SQ product for example is over rated with only a narrow space for feet and restrictive space around the head and shoulders and the CX product is actually a better sleeper.

It seems though that many comments lately indicate a decline in the general service standard of CX from a premium airline to something more second tier.

Thoughts on both of the above would be appreciated.

 

[simongr]

It seems though that many comments lately indicate a decline in the general service standard of CX from a premium airline to something more second tier.

Thoughts on both of the above would be appreciated.

I think the comments about the decline are from people who used to think that CX was way above others in terms of food and service and has now slipped to be on a par (on some levels). I would not rate CX as second tier personally. Just to compare the main carriers I have flown (so let's eliminate SQ and LH in terms of soft product) in J

Service

BA - generally ok, a tad matey but not amazing
QF - up and down with some with a chip on their shoulder
AA - old and haggard but generally friendly
CX - somewhat clinical and robotic but always the same

Food

BA - Average
QF - Average to awful
AA - just BYO, you'll thank me for it
CX - great cheeses and generally pretty standard

Booze

BA - A heavy french influence
AA - Seems like Chardonnay is classed as a decent drop so stick to beer
QF - Great wines and so-so beers
CX - a heavy french influence again btu generally ok and free flowing

Not sure if that helps or hinders

 

[Chucksta]

So is Johnnie Walker Gold Label the drink of choice in CX J?

Do they have it in regional routes, or just long haul?

What scotch do they have in the CX F lounge in HKG?

Any other expensive booze I should keep an eye out for?

 

[NM]

So is Johnnie Walker Gold Label the drink of choice in CX J?

Well it is if you like it.

Do they have it in regional routes, or just long haul?

They do have on HKG-KUL and HKG-NRT which are the only regional routes I have checked.

What scotch do they have in the CX F lounge in HKG?

JW Gold. Its been a little difficult to get a complete list from them, so I just stick with the Gold.

 

[NM]

It seems though that many comments lately indicate a decline in the general service standard of CX from a premium airline to something more second tier.

Thoughts on both of the above would be appreciated.

I have the choice of QF, BA and CX for my return from London to Australia and I have chosen to use CX. Nothing second tier about CX in my experience.

 

[Keith009]

CX - somewhat clinical and robotic but always the same

You can add sycophantic to that... which seems to be a symptom with lots of Asian carriers.

I think most people already know my views on this so I shadn't be repeating myself all over again. But just to add...

CX J does have Billecart Salmon NV as their regional J champers (HKG-NRT excepted) - which is quite a favourite of mine. But other than that - not a big fan of their wine list.

They do have Krug in F on a very limited number of routes, but they seem to be steadily replacing that with Champagne Deutz (ugh).

Shockingly enough - CX F was partially available when I was booking my PRG-MEL aaward. More shockingly for some - I chose to go with QF F the whole way.