Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - New Business Class

Which if any of the North American Routes are equipped with the "New Business Class"? I flew last year on the HKG-LAX 747 and was greatly disappointed to find the "Old" cabin which I think is worse than AA across the Pacific. Any ideas?

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AA Exec Plat 2MM

So far, confirmed are the A340 flights to YVR, YYZ and the odd LAX on the new A340-600.

All 747s are being refitted but CX will not confirm where they will fly to. Currently you'd see them more on the European runs than US ones.

The seats may be 'worse' than AA, but the service and food certainly makes up for it.

Give me CX anytime over AA.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Guy Betsy:
The seats may be 'worse' than AA, but the service and food certainly makes up for it.

Give me CX anytime over AA.</font>

Having flown many times to Europe in AA Biz and only a few times to HK in CX Biz, I totally agree. CX beats AA in every category.

Effective 9th January 2003, 8 CX Boeing 747-400 aircrafts have been installed with the new Business Class product. The aircraft registrations include:

B-HOV
B-HOY
B-HOW
B-HUF
B-HUI
B-HOT
B-HUG
B-HOR

On 14th January 2003, B-HOO will be fully installed with the new J class.

As for the A340-300, so far there are only 4 aircrafts remaining for the new J and F class installation. These remaining aircrafts registration codes are as follows:

B-HXD Due for completion - 28 FEB 03
B-HXF Due for completion - 25 AUG 03
B-HXG Due for completion - 01 FEB 03
B-HXH Due for completion - 31 MAR 03

The difference between CX and AA in service is the biggest thing. The 747's are really geting run down. I experienced the "New Business Class" between BKK and SIN and thought it was almost as good as AA's first class cabin for Asia. I was surprised that they had it for such a short run while the SIN - HKG leg used one of the rattiest 747's I had seen in a long time.

I guess that when CX completes the upgrades AA may have to start providing the Flagship Suite on its Pacific runs.

BTW, when are we going to start seeing the CX codeshares that were supposed to be coming with the open skies treaty?

That's 8 out of 19 747s. oneworld fan, do you happen to know the schedule for the other 11?

CX uses several codes on their CRS to determine which are the ones with new cabins. Note that I use 'new cabins' because when the aircraft goes into service, CX reconfigures the entire aircraft. New Business Class are installed, as well as changing the IFE entirely between First and Business Classes. Economy Class also gets new seats. So it's not just the 'Business Class seats'.

The codes for airbus aircrafts with the new Biz and First Class configuration: 34C. The 34S were with new First but old Biz seats and CX are doing away with this confirguration first.

The codes for the 747s were 74Y and 744. But lately I see that 74J has also been reconfigured. It still has an 'enlarged' Business Class section, but down from the previous 90 in the old Biz to 63 in the new. That is the only way you can tell if it's the new or old seats - through CX res.

I just checked... and they have been flying the last couple of days on CX 888 - the HKG-JFK route via YVR. But as always, CX tries to put this aircraft on daily but changes do occur. That's why you won't see them advertise "Daily to NY with the New Business Class" until the entire fleet has been done.

And lastly, if and when CX does have an aircraft change... you really have no recourse to 'complain' because their primarily function is to get you from point A to point B. Everything else is secondary and a perk.

AA's overall service structure ... from meals , to aircraft, to service attitude simply is no match for CX.

For the time being, CX does not need AA's codeshare. It can fill seats on its own. And AA will never fly to HKG on its own metal. It's just not financially feasible for them to do so.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EMagination:

BTW, when are we going to start seeing the CX codeshares that were supposed to be coming with the open skies treaty?</font>

there was an article in the SCMP today that mentioned the code share agreement has been approved by the US gov't. code share services will begin soon.

[This message has been edited by miki13331 (edited 01-09-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trav2000:
Having flown many times to Europe in AA Biz and only a few times to HK in CX Biz, I totally agree. CX beats AA in every category.</font>

50 inches of pitch vs 60 inches? be real! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I'm booked on flight 881 which according to both Expedia and the Oneworld Timetable uses the 346 variant. This does not jibe with the codes used on the CX website (34C, 34S, 343)

I'm most looking forward to better connections between AA and CX. It has started getting better but there was a time that I had to overnight in either HKG or NRT to get to either Manila or Jakarta.

It's high time that they added another Asian carrier to OneWorld. It's silly that they have 4 European carriers and only one Asian.

AA has a notable advantage in a couple categories not often measured. Seat WIDTH and seat belt length. I find CX's Biz seats a tad confining.

And the Bose Headsets are a major plus as well.

seat pitch, you mean?

for width, i didnt feel the difference. mainly because the electronic control protudes to take most of the space
but the pitch is really good. you can pass from window side and not disturb your seatmate

i think cx's J pitch is more than 50inch (55 or 58 for NBC), though still smaller than AA's 60. however, the difference is not enough for make one choose aa over cx --- although i had always put seat as the most important criteria for flying

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 01-09-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pegasus8228:
seat pitch, you mean?
</font>

I'm sure he meant width. It's not something I had a problem with when I flew new-J, but the seat is, for example, significantly narrower than the F seat.

I too am close to the limit for some of the seat belts (more in Y than J, and it varies by plane). I am a large gweilo, but not that gross, so this is something I feel CX needs to look at.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EMagination:
AA has a notable advantage in a couple categories not often measured. Seat WIDTH and seat belt length. I find CX's Biz seats a tad confining.

And the Bose Headsets are a major plus as well.</font>

Seat width and seat belt length are not of concern to me. Service, food, comfort, etc are. Now tell me how AA compares.

If you are comparing AA's Business to CX Old Business, I find AA's seats much more comfortable and easier to sleep in. (the longer seat belts also allow you to sleep on your side without removing the belt) and the food better. As for service, no doubt, CX's service is better than AA's FIRST class.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by trav2000:
Seat width and seat belt length are not of concern to me. Service, food, comfort, etc are. Now tell me how AA compares. </font>

then AA cannot compare. period.
what it could possibly compare we had already listed.

if you had been to the US, and if you had read Gulliver's Travel, you know why there is a difference in size.....that "genetic" advantage is what is left for products from US carrier

Add to oneworldFan's list:

B-HUD will enter the hanger on 12JAN03, and will enter service on 09FEB2003.

The actual dates for A340-300 conversion are as follows , as per CX's CRS info page:
A34C
--------------------

B-HXG - PLANNED 28JAN03
B-HXD - PLANNED 30MAR03
B-HXH - PLANNED 27APR03
B-HXJ - PLANNED 21JUL03
B-HXK - PLANNED 25AUG03

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CX also apparently had planned to convert 3 A340-300s codenamed: A34J with a large Business Class cabin. It would have 8F/60J/125Y . Total: 193. But no aircraft has been configured for this layout yet. Me thinks it was originally planned for the nonstop HKG-JFK or HKG-YYZ and v.v. runs prior to the A340-600's delivery.

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 01-10-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EMagination:
I'm booked on flight 881 which according to both Expedia and the Oneworld Timetable uses the 346 variant. This does not jibe with the codes used on the CX website (34C, 34S, 343)

I'm most looking forward to better connections between AA and CX. It has started getting better but there was a time that I had to overnight in either HKG or NRT to get to either Manila or Jakarta.

It's high time that they added another Asian carrier to OneWorld. It's silly that they have 4 European carriers and only one Asian.</font>

True. We also need maybe another partner to AA in US West Coast. Perhaps ALASKAN? For Asia, there's talk of JAL, but honestly they could do with someone like MALAYSIA AIRLINES. I say drop IBERIA.

On Jan. 10, 888 was a 747 with the new J. I was in Y. It really was long! They no longer allow us to use the lounge at YVR? It was a nice flight, even in Y. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chiangi:
On Jan. 10, 888 was a 747 with the new J. I was in Y. It really was long! They no longer allow us to use the lounge at YVR? It was a nice flight, even in Y. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

What do you mean it's "long"? You mean the J cabin? So you mean it's 74J converted with new Biz Class, right?

By the way, aren't you gold member? No luck on upgrade on that day? Also, why can't you use lounge at YVR? Are you referring to the transit to/from JFK?

I think he means the flight was long. BTW, fakecd - don't expect to be upgraded a lot as a Gold. If my experience is anything to go by, 'luck' is the right expression. I have been upgraded once while still Green, and that was it.

fakecd, sorry, I meant, as mhtaipei says, the flight was long. I flew to JFK.

As for upgrade, I was not counting on it but I did think there was a reasonable chance for me as a MPC Gold. I even thought about switching to AA Executive Platinum/oneworld emerald. But I just didn't bother.

I think the flight I took was slightly overbooked in Y with all the business class subclasses J, D and I each showing 9. But it was not overbooked from YVR to JFK. I guess CX operationally upgraded those going to YVR, which makes sense.

I had a short-haul connection to this flight from BKK to HKG with all the economy subclasses showing 9. Somehow I was upgraded at the gate. One guy was even upgraded onboard (which I think rarely happens on CX). A few Y setas were available.

It really is a magical thing. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

One thing I thought interesting on HKG-YVR was I was asked a meal choice in Y before they start serving.

It seems HKG-YVR is all year fully booked... By the way, I think it would have been fair for you to be upgraded to YVR, but then Y in JFK. But as you say, it's a lucky treat, so what can we ask for?

I will be doing that run from SYD in Feb. It's Chinese new year and showing all 0 in Y, B, H... so I'm pretty optimistic. Well, even if I don't have the luck, I've always secured myself that row 67 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I recently flew PER-HKG on CX 170 in J-class, and found the food service excellent. Curiously, the Asian aspects of the food fared less well, with overcooked steamed rice accompanying the main meal and a soup noodle dish for the snack later on with little flavour. However, the fish, ocean trout, was excellent, so rarely the case in a plane.

CX scores badly on space, however, the least space available and least seat pitch in any business class I know. My recent C-class flight with LX (Swiss) beats it hands down, and I like the DVD players available on LX so you can schedule your own movies.

My earlier flight from HKG-PER in dog-box class was terrible (space really really is inadequate), and I had to report food poisoning on arrival in PER. Something wrong with the catering ex-HKG?

Concerto,

You obviously don't know very many business classes then. I guess you flew to PER on an A330. This is a regional route as far as CX is concerned, not a really long haul. The seats are far better than most intra-region flights in Europe or N America - much wider and with reasonable legroom - intra-region business class in those other markets has more or less the same pitch as economy!

If you fly HKG-Europe on CX you will get a flat (albeit not horizontal) seat (unless you are on an old-J, but they still have prety comfortable cradle seats), large amounts of audio and video on demand, excellent food and unsurpassed service.

One thing I thought interesting on HKG-YVR was I was asked a meal choice in Y before they start serving.


I've found the same thing when flying Y. They'll come and take my order first and bring me my food first. It's nice, but sometimes kind of embarrassing in a way....

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Commuter:
One thing I thought interesting on HKG-YVR was I was asked a meal choice in Y before they start serving.


I've found the same thing when flying Y. They'll come and take my order first and bring me my food first. It's nice, but sometimes kind of embarrassing in a way....</font>

Is that an unofficial new entitlement for the diamond members? Or the crew just happen to remember your face, and gave you an extra nice service? Also, what's your favoriate seat in Y if you happen to be flying in Y cabin?

How does one check the aircraft registration code for the upcoming flight? Do I simply call local reservation? Or the MPC? And what do I tell them if they ask, "why do you want to know?"

Any experience on this?

Res wouldn't know till AFTER the flight has taken place!

Aircraft schedules and rotation are made available to airport controllers. Unfortunately that sort of information is not made available to the general public.

Has anyone had any experience on the CDG-HKG route ? I called CX yesterday and they wouldn't tell me how many flights were likely to be with the new seats. My next CX trip is in April so I'm just wondering...

I did HKG-CDG-HKG in late December. I think both ways it was the old versions. (I don't remember details anymore. I had way too many CX flights in the past few months.)

While I don't know aircraft registration numbers, one way to figure out from the exterior is the livry. The Asia's World City model has New Business Class. The City of Life equipment has currently old seats.

Correct me, if I am wrong.