Selecting Business Class Seating Cathay A350-900/1000 and Boeing 777-300ER

[prozac]

I have recently booked Cathay for myself and wife SYD-HKG-AMS return in J mid-year 2021. Departure aircraft are A350-900 and then A350-1000. Return is A350-1000 then Boeing 777-300ER. All a/c have 1-2-1 seating configuration.

If traveling as a couple wanting occasional contact, which 2 seats would you select, A & D / G & K, or D & G ?

My thoughts on best seat rows seem to be:-
A350-900 - Row 16
A350-1000 Row 18
777-300ER - Row 16. Anyone booked in the smaller J cabin?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have recently booked Cathay for myself and wife SYD-HKG-AMS return in J mid-year 2021. Departure aircraft are A350-900 and then A350-1000. Return is A350-1000 then Boeing 777-300ER. All a/c have 1-2-1 seating configuration.

If traveling as a couple wanting occasional contact, which 2 seats would you select, A & D / G & K, or D & G ?

My thoughts on best seat rows seem to be:-
A350-900 - Row 16
A350-1000 Row 18
777-300ER - Row 16. Anyone booked in the smaller J cabin?

Pretty spot on! For the -900 I'd be in rows 16 or 17. For the -1000 I'd be in rows 16-20.

The 777... three class or four? If three class, any of the rows in the middle of the front cabin are good. If 4 class, you want rows 11 or 12.

In the three class, avoid the mini cabin - lots of traffic during boarding.

For a couple I would select 2 x window. The centre seats are not conducive for conversation, you have to lean forward, and talk at a level that would be heard by other passengers. The centre seats are also not all that nice compared to the windows where you have a greater sense of space, the view, and control the shades!

Whether you pick the A or K seats really depends how you lijke to sleep. If you sleep on your right side, pick the K seats. Also, as they are reverse herringbone, plonk yourself in your favourite armchair at home... are you angled slightly to the left or right? Pick you seat on the plane accordingly. Sitting at an odd angle in the herringbone seats can make them feel restrictive.

 

[prozac]

Thank you M_T. I gather you mean 2 window seats one behind the other, not A & K? Tandem seating would also be awkward talking, is there enough space for a visitor?

Cathay do not have First class on any of these legs so I would imagine all a/c will be 3 class.
Thank you advice re mini-cabins.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you M_T. I gather you mean 2 window seats one behind the other, not A & K? Tandem seating would also be awkward talking, is there enough space for a visitor?

Yes yes, both A seats or both K seats.

There’s no buddy seat, and no room for a visitor. TBH you might get five minute’s with of talking to each other through a centre pair of seats? To me that isn’t worth losing the extra space, privacy, views, and window control.

The window seats are usually the first to go, so why not reserve those now, but for the first flight ex Australia choose the centre ones? That way if you really like the centre, once you get to HKG you can change the rest of your seating (easy to get middle seats, very hard to get last minute window seats)

 

[prozac]

Great advice M_T. We fly 6 May and hope this Covid pandemic is well and truly over by then, or there is a vaccine.

Agreed getting in early with seat reservation.

 

[Black Duck]

I have travelled in the centre seats with my husband (A350-900) on Cathay. I hadn't chosen those seats as it was an emergency booking and at the time didn't even know what plane it was going to be. I was pleased to get the middle seats as I thought it would be good to be beside my husband because I had a broken wing.

While I do like to be beside him normally, it wasn't much good on this plane. Very hard to talk as M-T says so really you have little opportunity to interact. Had I needed any help on that flight it would have been difficult for him to do so. The crew were very good though and looked after me well. If I was on that plane again I would pick the single seats.

 

[prozac]

Thank you for confirmation Black Duck. These tricks of the trade are worth gold.

 

[prozac]

OK, tentatively booked following;
SYD-HKG: A350-900 - 16A/17A
HKG-AMS: 350-1000 - 18A/19A
AMS-HKG: 350-1000 - 18A/19A
HKG-SYD: 777-300ER - 16A/17A

M_T I was concerned about going another row back on the Airbus metal because of galley noise behind. Seating availability is still fairly open.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Perfect seats!

 

[Daver6]

This is the view from an A seat on the A350-1000. As you can see in the last picture, even sitting across the aisle from your partner doesn't make it that easy to converse. They're a really nice seat with great privacy and storage space. A nice little step up from the previous generation CX J seats. Enjoy!

 

[prozac]

Photos certainly put it into perspective Daver6. I can see now it would not be possible to converse with your partner across the aisle.
Smart accommodation and 2 windows!

Edit: Mrs prozac liked the photos.

 

[Daver6]

I'll also add, that MrsDaver6 was sitting behind me. I could easily just raise myself up and swivel around if I needed to chat to her. Or just get off my bum and take a few steps, which isn't a bad thing on a long flight.

 

[prozac]

As if it wasn't enough worrying if travel will be wide open (and safe) by mid-2021, now there is the new heavy handed laws prohibiting protests against the CC govt.
Is anyone else concerned about flying Cathay?
Will there be anyone left in HKG to staff the airline?
Will Cathay be just another mainland China airline?
Glad we live in Australia beyond the reach of China ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is anyone else concerned about flying Cathay?

Not really. For the moment.

Will there be anyone left in HKG to staff the airline?

Good question!

Will Cathay be just another mainland China airline?

Already 29.9% owned by Air China! And there are some good Chinese airlines.

 

[prozac]

Not really. For the moment.


Good question!


Already 29.9% owned by Air China! And there are some good Chinese airlines.

M_T you saw the questions posed were more hypothetical in nature, however one thing I do see as possible is that China marches on HK.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

M_T you saw the questions posed were more hypothetical in nature, however one thing I do see as possible is that China marches on HK.

A lot has changed in the last two years

I would still fly cathay, no issues, but i the whole HK situation is deeply concerning.

 

[prozac]

A lot has changed in the last two years

I would still fly cathay, no issues, but i the whole HK situation is deeply concerning.

MT, that was an old post. Was just revisiting some old threads today. Thank you for the vote of confidence for Cathay...one day. It is difficult to book a OW reward avoiding HK without traveling via HEL. Not going there in view of Ukraine troubles atm. Cathay has released it's June schedule and flights ex-Au are still thin on the ground. It does not appear possible to redeem anything through AsiaMiles later in the year, yet.
Seats will open up as airlines get back to normal service.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

MT, that was an old post. Was just revisiting some old threads today. Thank you for the vote of confidence for Cathay...one day. It is difficult to book a OW reward avoiding HK without traveling via HEL. Not going there in view of Ukraine troubles atm. Cathay has released it's June schedule and flights ex-Au are still thin on the ground. It does not appear possible to redeem anything through AsiaMiles later in the year, yet.
Seats will open up as airlines get back to normal service.

Agree. I think Cathay will be one of those to keep an eye out for award availability as they ramp up flights. Getting in early could be the key!