Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - New Business Class uppder deck exit seat

Is there any 'wall' (for a TV monitor) in front of an uppder deck exit seat if the equipment features the New Business Class?

If not, how is the TV monitor mounted? Is it like a regular economy seat where you pull up one from the side/below the seat?

I'm just worried if it is just as easy to get out of a window exist seat as in a non-NBC upper-deck cabin.

I just came back from 3 flts with the NBC
on the upper deck . IMHO , the best seats
are , in this order : 86A , 86C , 86H and
86K .
On the AB side , you don't have the "wall"
with the video monitors , but you have
almost 2 more feet of leg room . The video
monitors come out from the arm rest and it's
almost 10" big ( I had the same on Malaysia
in FC ) .
On the HK side , you have I think at least
5 more inches of leg room and the monitors
are mounted on the wall in the back of row
83 .
I prefer the A and K seats because , you
cannot feel the floor when people/or the
FAs rush past you .
And even at seat 86K , you would have to
climb over your seatmate if you want to get
out while he/she is stretched out.
Sure beats the old seats no matter how you
judge it . I just hate the crap shoot of
having to rely on your luck to get the NBC
On the other hand , I did not even bother
to ask for that "elusive" upgrade to F ,
that we discussed here . To me , it's not
worth my $US800 .
Do you folks like the "mood lights" ? To me
it's so much fun watching them change
colours !! (:

The one time I had 86K with the NBC no one was next to me, but it looked like I would have to climb over them if I needed to get out of the seat. I'd definitely choose the A side. The screen does pull out of your seat on the A side, whereas it is in the back of the seat in front of you on the K side. My rankings of seat selection, and overall view of the NBC, is same as AA2MMs. Wish they were all NBC NOW! As for mood lights, CX sure is awesome.

Thanks, AA2MM and crankyusi!

I have now 86K. A and B is taken. Maybe I should switched to H, which was still available.

I would stay on 86K..rather climb over the
other person..if you don't get up too much..
Hopefully it will be a short person so there
will be room to sneak by : those seats have
definitely more room than the rest of the
other rows . I saw a tall guy laid down with
his legs completely stretched out and they
did not touch the wall !
You are not talking about the 3 hrs flts
from NRT to HKG , are you ? (:

In general, I'm an aisle-person on CX flights since I'm a heavy drinker of those Cathay Delights (always ask the first person to serve me to make a pitcher of those because I'll easily have about 10 of those in about an hour - nonalcoholic). Thus, I'd go for the aisle, but that's only because I get up quite a bit. But, since you do have the NBC, you might be able to get in a long sleep and not need to get up so much. Either seat would be okay, just a small bit of climbing over the aisle seat if you choose the window as AA2MM says. And as for those mood lights, are those the ones in the small green bamboo??? Definitely hypnotic and soothing...great for flying long-hauls.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by crankyusi:
In general, I'm an aisle-person on CX flights since I'm a heavy drinker of those Cathay Delights (always ask the first person to serve me to make a pitcher of those because I'll easily have about 10 of those in about an hour - nonalcoholic). Thus, I'd go for the aisle, but that's only because I get up quite a bit. But, since you do have the NBC, you might be able to get in a long sleep and not need to get up so much. Either seat would be okay, just a small bit of climbing over the aisle seat if you choose the window as AA2MM says. And as for those mood lights, are those the ones in the small green bamboo??? Definitely hypnotic and soothing...great for flying long-hauls.</font>

Good to see another fan of the Cathay Delights. I maxed-out at five, though as I thought all the coconut would make me sick if I had more.

If you haven't tried them I highly reccomend that you do on your next flight.

I was on a HKG-LAX with NBC and then connecting to AA LAX-SFO. I am using an award tix issued by AA. CX just released seats for AA on HKG-SFO for the same day. (I did notice on this particular flight, CX MPC had one award seat available for a long time but not for AA.)

What's more, CX has changed equipment to one with NBC from one w/o.

I naturally grabbed a seat on HKG-SFO. They did not have a seat on the upper deck exit row on HKG-SFO, though they still do for HKG-LAX.

I took 81H, the only aisle available on upper deck. An AA agent told me it is designated as 'U', which means undesirable and usually not enough recline capacity.

I called MPC and was told that there's no such designation on their part. So I took it. I hope there's nothing wrong with it. I assume I would be sitting in front of one of those mood lights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif It will be turned off in the middle of the flight, won't it?

This is not a CX issue. Rather it is with AA. Just note that I was asked to pay a 100$ change fee by a couple of AA agents for changing reservations for this ticket.

The orignal tix was for SFO-HKG-SFO and I am flying HKG-SFO. The reservation was changed to HKG-LAX-SFO and then to HKG-SFO. I never reissued it even when it was changed to HKG-LAX-SFO. Even this revalidation should not require any change fee, or am I wrong?

For this tix, I will just go to the CX counter. They usually accept an AA-issued award tix with a date that does not match the date on the reservation. I hope CX hasn't changed the policy.

I am really frustrated by these different interpretations of rule by AA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 12-14-2002).]

Chiangi,

I don't know the answer about the revalidation fee but perhaps someone else can address that issue.

Excuse my lack of comprehension this morning, but are you saying that you are now on the HKG-SFO without NBC, whereas before you had HKG-LAX with the NBC followed by the LAX-SFO? If it were me, and even with an award ticket that doesn't earn miles, I would opt for that LAX flight. For any flight 5 hours or more or so, NBC is worth the roundabout routing. Maybe an intra-Asia flight of a couple hours or so I wouldn't squabble over, but a transpacific is definitely worth a longer route to secure the NBC.

I've had row 81 on both NBC and "classic" so I too don't know the restriction about that.

OK : after 2 cups of coffee..I think I
have figured this out : he was booked orig
-inally SFO HKG SFO..then changed to HKG LA
SFO , then changed again back to HKG SFO
with the NBC...non stop.
YES . CX will accept your ticket as is ,
with the old date on your tkt , travelling
on a new date : no sweat !
AA might collect the change fees from you
if you are to take the ticket back to them
to have it reissued with the correct travel
date , even though the routing is still the
same .
You'll be sitting in row 2 behind the pilots
seats ..and the mood lights are so dimmed
that it won't really bother anyone . (:
Have a good flt ! Chiangi .

crankyusi, sorry for a lack of clarity. I also think it is worth taking a NBC equipment to LAX and then connecting to SFO, rather than taking a nonstop with an old J. I am now on HKG-SFO on Dec. 16. It's with NBC. Until yesterday, it had 7 rows on the upper deck, which I think means an old J equipment. CX apparently has done a last-minute change from a 74J. I hope there would be no more changes!


AA2MM, thanks for the clarification!

It's really great to have all those CX experts on this board. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Did you get soaked in SFO ? Chiangi (:
How was your flt ? NBC ?
Give us a quick report.
Happy Holidays Yo All !!

AA2MM, yes, it was raining there! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The flight was great and I enjoyed Shanghai noodles and dim sum.

This was my 5th or 6th NBC flight but I really couldn't tell if it was a reconfigured seat with more recline.

I just checked with MPC and they told me my upcoming CDG-HKG later this month is also 744 with NBC! And for this I got an upper deck exit window, A.

Thanks again.

I guess you can only tell that with the
angle of the foot rest ( less steep )..
Who are you flying with , transatlantic ?
or are you going back to Asia , then CDG ,
then CDG HKG ?
Thx for the quick trip report .

slightly off topic, but i couldn't help it. cathay delights!

i know, it's the naffest thing on the menu (followed closely by those drambui and champagne things), but they're just so good.

does anybody have a recipe for those of us who might...perhaps...want to replicate them in the privacy of our own homes?

i'm not sure if you can get kiwifruit juice in australia, but i'd love to hear your ideas.

--
edited for spellink

[This message has been edited by whitters (edited 12-23-2002).]

AA2MM, I am flying alone http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif BKK-HKG-CDG and then back to HKG and then to NRT maybe via TPE later this month. (But I just found out BA's F out of SIN is now available for my award ticket. I might take this trip and then CDG-NRT on NH F.) I hardly do transatlantic -- only two round trips this year. SFO-LHR on UA and DFW-ZRH on AA.

whitters, you might want to take a look at this thread ....

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum85/HTML/001309.html

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by whitters:
slightly off topic, but i couldn't help it. cathay delights!

i know, it's the naffest thing on the menu (followed closely by those drambui and champagne things), but they're just so good.

does anybody have a recipe for those of us who might...perhaps...want to replicate them in the privacy of our own homes?

i'm not sure if you can get kiwifruit juice in australia, but i'd love to hear your ideas.

--
edited for spellink

[This message has been edited by whitters (edited 12-23-2002).]</font>

Hi whitters, you might want to check this post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum85/HTML/001309.html

Was told today by an AA agent trying to book seats for me that Row 86 (NBC) was marked "undesirable". Called Cathay and was told the reason for this is that passengers tend to stand and talk or exercise in front of this row since there is some extra room. Can someone comment on this since the general feeling here seems to be that Row 86 in the best on the upper deck.


<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Chiangi:
I was on a HKG-LAX with NBC and then connecting to AA LAX-SFO. I am using an award tix issued by AA. CX just released seats for AA on HKG-SFO for the same day. (I did notice on this particular flight, CX MPC had one award seat available for a long time but not for AA.)

What's more, CX has changed equipment to one with NBC from one w/o.

I naturally grabbed a seat on HKG-SFO. They did not have a seat on the upper deck exit row on HKG-SFO, though they still do for HKG-LAX.

I took 81H, the only aisle available on upper deck. An AA agent told me it is designated as 'U', which means undesirable and usually not enough recline capacity.

I called MPC and was told that there's no such designation on their part. So I took it. I hope there's nothing wrong with it. I assume I would be sitting in front of one of those mood lights. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif It will be turned off in the middle of the flight, won't it?

This is not a CX issue. Rather it is with AA. Just note that I was asked to pay a 100$ change fee by a couple of AA agents for changing reservations for this ticket.

The orignal tix was for SFO-HKG-SFO and I am flying HKG-SFO. The reservation was changed to HKG-LAX-SFO and then to HKG-SFO. I never reissued it even when it was changed to HKG-LAX-SFO. Even this revalidation should not require any change fee, or am I wrong?

For this tix, I will just go to the CX counter. They usually accept an AA-issued award tix with a date that does not match the date on the reservation. I hope CX hasn't changed the policy.

I am really frustrated by these different interpretations of rule by AA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 12-14-2002).]</font>

BTW, 86K's seat is slightly forward of the window so in fact, you really don't have a window.

I am confused! Is the upper deck exit row on 74J row 85 or 86? It is row 85 according to http://www.seatexpert.com/CX744J.html, but row 86 according to previous posts. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

Correct link in TerryK's post: http://www.seatexpert.com/CX744J.html (no comma at the end!)

The exit row on all types of CX 747 is 86 (I was on a 74Y on Saturday - unfortunately only from SIN). The problem is that, despite repeted requests to them, CX has not updated the seat map on its website which shows that row as 85. In fact it was that way on some of the early NBC refits as you can see on the plane where the row number has been "stickered" from 85 to 86.

I've just checked on www.checkmytrip.com (http://www.checkmytrip.com) seat map on CX 744 with New Business Class and the number system on Upper Deck starts at 81-84 and then 86-88 so therefore the CX Seat Maps on their website are wrong.

My suggestion would be to email their eService Team and get them to forward the message to their e-Business department for action.

Email: eservice@cathaypacific.com

I agree, this error must be dealt with immediately as it might given the wrong impression to CX frequent travellers whom might follow the seating map posted on the CX website.

If CX is reading this post, can you please update your seat maps of Boeing 747-400 with New Business Class on your website - Many thanks.

Kind Regards,
Oneworld Fan

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

I took 81H, the only aisle available on upper deck. An AA agent told me it is designated as 'U', which means undesirable and usually not enough recline capacity.
]</font>

I guess you took the flight in 81H. What's your opinion of that row now?