Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX873 1/30/03 - NBC?

I'm hoping a well-connected fellow CX FTers can check if CX873 on 1/30/03 is with NBC. I have a J seat on that flight and wanted to know if I could save myself 40,000 AA miles by not upgrading to F. Since I have never tried NBC, this might as well be the first time assuming (hopefully) that is is one of the 10 out of 19 747-400s that is so equipped. Thank you so much!

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but my understanding is that if the plane is fitted with NBC then it necessarily also has Studio CX and Empower. Am I right?

Right now , today , Jan 15th : it shows that
the flt would be with an old C configuration
( there is row 84 upstairs : thus old config
Seriously , you have to check as close as
1 or at most 2 days before flt time , to
be half way sure which 744 CX will be using
for your flt .
Personal anecdote : my flight in Dec : 2
days before flight time , they showed a
switch to the NBC , but the seat map still
showed old configuration . HKG home computer
did not get around to change the seat map
for the flight till another half a day has
gone by..Only a day and a half before flt
that I was sure I would get the NBC ; fligt
info (flifo ) and seat map finally matched
PS : I'll be back from my trip on the 29th
if the thread is still up , I'll check for
you .

[This message has been edited by AA2MM (edited 01-15-2003).]

the only way you can be sure is to call the morning of your departure and ask if there have been any last minute equipment changes. the flight will have left HK by then, so you will know which configuration you will get.

But bp888's intention is whether or not to upgrade using AA miles. Therefore, even if he finds out the equipment on the day of travel, it doesn't really help him.

Thanks to the responders. I realize that CX can make last minute changes of equipment. But if their schedule says that the equipment will be with NBC that day I'm willing to chance it. I figured as it stands I have a better than 50:50 chance (10/19 to be precise) and improve my odds significantly if their equipment schedule is also in my favor.

What about my question re: NBC=Empower+Studio CX?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by bp888:

What about my question re: NBC=Empower+Studio CX?</font>

My experience with NBC is I think I've seen that laptop plug in there, but haven't brought mine on board to try it. As for the Studio CX, I think you are referring to the on-demand for audio and video. My experience is yes, the NBC will have this. I think "Studio CX" has been available on all flights I've taken, but the AVOD is only with the NBC. I think even some of the 747s that fly to\fro SFO don't have the newer AVOD in F (in F, the attendant brings a list of movies available to watch and then she loads in a cartridge by your hip).

I'd go for the upgrade instead, whether or not there is NBC.

All CX aircrafts with the new Business Class seats have AVOD in both Biz and First Class. The little mini tape player is removed from First Class when the AVOD Studio CX is installed.

Basically when a 747 goes in for reconfiguration. CX not only reconfigures Business Class but also the entire economy class seats, restrooms get 'tiled' walls and floors, First Class gets 'cleaned' up and the AVOD has to be installed. That's why it takes at least a month per aircraft!

A way to tell if the NBC is on this aircrfat. The 74J series aircraft has 12F, 90J in the old configuration. The new confirguration has only 63J.

FYI - upgrades using AA miles are booked in Z class. The same codes for upgrade AND awards. I've just taken the liberty and checked with the Marco Polo Club for 'Z' space. It's already full!

Ahem. It's Chinese New Year on the 1st Feb. Basically any flight going to/from/through HKG will be full.

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 01-22-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by crankyusi:
My experience with NBC is I think I've seen that laptop plug in there, but haven't brought mine on board to try it. As for the Studio CX, I think you are referring to the on-demand for audio and video. My experience is yes, the NBC will have this. I think "Studio CX" has been available on all flights I've taken, but the AVOD is only with the NBC. I think even some of the 747s that fly to\fro SFO don't have the newer AVOD in F (in F, the attendant brings a list of movies available to watch and then she loads in a cartridge by your hip).

I'd go for the upgrade instead, whether or not there is NBC.

</font>

As I understand it: Studio CX is AVOD. The old configuration with the 8mm tapes is what is confusingly called Cinema CX or some such convolution. Sadly the sound quality of those tapes are atrocious. And the movies selections are third-rate!

I don't think Studio CX is AVOD on all the equipment. As crankyusi says, aircraft with NBC have AVOD features. I've taken nearly 10 regional flights with Studio CX without NBC this month alone. They were not AVOD.

I think Studio CX simply refers to a new generation of video system with 49 channels and not necessarily AVOD. Or maybe I am just missing something.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chiangi:
I don't think Studio CX is AVOD on all the equipment. As crankyusi says, aircraft with NBC have AVOD features. I've taken nearly 10 regional flights with Studio CX without NBC this month alone. They were not AVOD.

I think Studio CX simply refers to a new generation of video system with 49 channels and not necessarily AVOD. Or maybe I am just missing something.</font>


I agree. The "Studio CX" debuted and was marketed before any talks of NBC or AVOD.

I have been traveling in J on CX872/873 for over 4 times during the past 2 months and I have not seen a 744 equipped with the NBC. My understanding is that CX does not use the 744's with NBC on the HKG-SFO routes. Perhaps some 744's serving that route would have the NBC, but I guess I had not been lucky for the past 2 months to get one with NBC.

Yikes !!! Right now , it shows as with the
old C class . Morning of the 30th.
And yesterday , both flts from LA were
operated with the NBC .


[This message has been edited by AA2MM (edited 01-30-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AA2MM:
Yikes !!! Right now , it shows as with the
old C class . Morning of the 30th.
And yesterday , both flts from LA were
operated with the NBC .


[This message has been edited by AA2MM (edited 01-30-2003).]</font>

Soon! Soon ! One plane at a time...
FYI - CX 889 from JFK tonight is also 'old' configuration... only every Mon and Thurs I think.

Gee I hope they are all NBC soon. That will be fantastic. YVR and YYZ are NBC. More comments please! Great information, everyone!

SHADO