Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Cx Business Class Seat Syd / Hkg - How Does It Compare To Qantas Skybeds?

I never flew CX before and I need to fly SYD / HKG / SYD in April.

I was wondering how CX business class seats compare to QF Skybeds? I don't care too much about, food, service etc, but i value a comfortable chair where you can actually sleep (overnight services)

I was wondering how CX business class seats compare to QF Skybeds? I don't care too much about, food, service etc, but i value a comfortable chair where you can actually sleep (overnight services)

Well the CX seat has a 9-degree recline angle and streches to a 6'3" flat bed. Neverthelessl, it is not fully flat but I found it very comfortable to sleep in (provided you have a seat in fornt of you to stop you sliding down). The only negative I think it has compared to the Skybed is with Skybed you have footrest built into your seat to stop your feet sliding forward, also the side console could put lowered to give you extra width.

I never tried Skybed before so I can't really give you a comparison.

The QF J seat is a great design and maybe the best of the current generation of skybeds (the advantage of being last to convert). It is significantly better than the CX seat.

The seats on the A340 are fantastic, but the seats on the A330 are not great, bad pitch and recline compared with the Skybed. The A340 seats feel softer than the Skybed and I get great sleep on them.

The seats on the A340 are fantastic, but the seats on the A330 are not great, bad pitch and recline compared with the Skybed. The A340 seats feel softer than the Skybed and I get great sleep on them.This is all very curious since the CX business class seats on the A340 and the 3-class A330 are identical...

The seats on the A340 are fantastic, but the seats on the A330 are not great, bad pitch and recline compared with the Skybed. The A340 seats feel softer than the Skybed and I get great sleep on them.

This is all very curious since the CX business class seats on the A340 and the 3-class A330 are identical...

I am guessing he is talking about the NRBC or the OBC on the 2 class A330, but they can't be really compared to the Skybed given these aircrafts are mostly used on regional routes with the 3-class A333 are used on services to Australia and occassionally Dubai.

To the OP, you would get the New Business Class seat on the SYD-HKG-SYD service as they are operated by 3 class A333 with 60" seat pitch, nevertheless the Skybed has a 78" pitch.

I've tried both QF and CX in J Class ont he SYd-HKG-SYD routes in the past few weeks.

Overall the QF Skybeds are more comfortable (especially the upper Deck on the 744). However the CX seat is not bad.

On the QF Skybeds, I find the problem is that there are so many settings switch ont eh seats it can be confusing and may take a long time to find a comfortable angle. Also the mechanics are slower and the armrest does not lower to a fully flush positiong (There is a slight bit sticking out).

Overall both CX and QF are good seats so you can't go wrong and really I don't think the comfort level is that different as some other poster mentioned.

Catering and service wise off course CX is better, but as you said, if sleep is the most important thing, than QF might have a slight advantage. Compare to BA and VS these angle seats are still miles off.

I am guessing he is talking about the NRBC or the OBC on the 2 class A330, but they can't be really compared to the Skybed given these aircrafts are mostly used on regional routes with the 3-class A333 are used on services to Australia and occassionally Dubai.


I had a 2 class A330 on MEL-HKG, if this is regional, a nine hour flight must be stretching the definition of regional. The A340 I had from HKG-YVR had much better pitch and recline, as well as the AVOD entertainment which was fantastic. One thing that surprised me though was from what I have been told, this setup on the A340 is new, they have empower ports, while the A330 had proper AC power.

In my opinion, the BA bed is overrated. I find it too hard and its narrow, the sides don't fold down. Overall, I prefer the CX product, the AVOD, food, service are all better.

I had a 2 class A330 on MEL-HKG, if this is regional, a nine hour flight must be stretching the definition of regional. The A340 I had from HKG-YVR had much better pitch and recline, as well as the AVOD entertainment which was fantastic. One thing that surprised me though was from what I have been told, this setup on the A340 is new, they have empower ports, while the A330 had proper AC power.

In my opinion, the BA bed is overrated. I find it too hard and its narrow, the sides don't fold down. Overall, I prefer the CX product, the AVOD, food, service are all better.

I agree with the comments re: the BA bed and I now choose CX wherever possible. I think that the QF seat is arguably a better design, it certainly has better pitch and I once managed almost 8 hours sleep BKK to LHR on the QF seat.

I tend to find the CX seat a little claustrophobic especially when someone is sitting next to me but I have a decent track record of getting 86A which is a truly great seat on the upper deck with CX. The CX seat is softer and works well in lazy-Z configuration. The QF seat is longer and better in flat mode. Food, IFE and service I think are comparable with both CX and QF (both infinitely better than BA).

I tend to choose CX because I can normally get a great deal ex BKK, which is 50% of the price with QF, this makes the decision a no brainer for me. I would choose between the 2 carriers based upon price since it is hard to quantify other significant differentials.

I had a 2 class A330 on MEL-HKG,

When was this?

CX has not used OBC aircraft on this route for years. I beleive it was around 2002 when they fully retrofitted all aircraft on this route.

As another poster said, the seats and the layout are identical on the 3-class A330s (333) and the 2&3-class A340s (34C & 34D).

When was this?

CX has not used OBC aircraft on this route for years. I beleive it was around 2002 when they fully retrofitted all aircraft on this route.

As another poster said, the seats and the layout are identical on the 3-class A330s (333) and the 2&3-class A340s (34C & 34D).

16th Feb 2006 (CX 134). No AVOD, no noise cancelling headphones, limited seat recline, not much room between rows.

Glad to hear this is an anomaly, it was the only thing that would put me off using CX on this route next time. :D

In my opinion, the BA bed is overrated. I find it too hard and its narrow, the sides don't fold down. Overall, I prefer the CX product, the AVOD, food, service are all better.

I agree with both posters regarding the BA bed being overrated. In addition to being old and poorly maintained, these flat beds (their best feature) are only 6ft long in old currency, which makes it difficult for anyone more than that to have a confortable sleep. I also believe that BA service and catering standards have slipped in recent years, where QF have lifted their game in J class. Have not flown CX for a while, but have two long haul trips coming up so will report back.

I agree with both posters regarding the BA bed being overrated. In addition to being old and poorly maintained

I have to agree that the BA cabins I've been in are looking a little 'tired', perhaps that is part of the reason why they are planning to update them.

The lack of noise cancelling headphones and AVOD counts against them.

As far as food goes, they have a strange selection of dishes, I tend to find a lot of their main courses to be very heavy. I had a feta salad on a recent trip and it was not very nice at all, I think it was pickled zuchini with large lumps of feta. I'm not too fussy with food normally so am easily pleased but have wondered about some of their choices.

Comparing CX, QF and BA, service is somewhat culturally influenced. On QF, the Aussie style is a bit more 'in your face', treating customers with familiarity (which I am very comfortable with). CX tends to be very professional, which can seem a little cold compared to QF and BA. I wouldn't say these are good or bad, just different.

When was this?

CX has not used OBC aircraft on this route for years. I beleive it was around 2002 when they fully retrofitted all aircraft on this route.

Glad to hear this is an anomaly, it was the only thing that would put me off using CX on this route next time

The use of 2 class A330 on the MEL/SYD routes usually (or I should say only :cool: ) happens if a 3 class A333 is not available due to technical faults or major delays. But this doesn't happen regularly.

Talking about the defintion of regional flights, it seems (and this has been the subject of a previous discussion on this board) that HKG-DXB is classed as 'regional' with most flights being operated by B772/3 and 2 class A330 fittted with OBC or the slightly better NRB. The flght time is similar to that of HKG-SYD/MEL (~9 hours westbound)

Australia still has a couple of regional services I believe:

BNE-HKG and CNS-HKG.

Australia still has a couple of regional services I believe:

BNE-HKG and CNS-HKG.

That's right. HKG-PER too.

There is little correlation between flight distances regarding what aircraft are used on 7-9 hr routes. Rather, it is decided on premium class loads.

This policy is ridiculous and they should but NBC seats on all flights over 5 hours. Why should I fly CX on say, HKG-BNE when QF has the new seats? How is that going to generate more premium class revenue for them?

I've been able to try the Skybed on my QF30 flight on 10/2 prior to landing,
it was very long, flat and like near-horizontal. Definitely better than CX's
NBC, and even BA's NBC if you'd rather have a wider and longer bed.

The QF J seat is a great design and maybe the best of the current generation of skybeds (the advantage of being last to convert). It is significantly better than the CX seat.

Spot on. The QF seat is very, very comfortable and well designed for sleeping, lounging and sitting. It beats BA hands down for the last 2, but I still find NCW better for sleeping - but then I am under 6ft.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the QF onboard service style and catering. Not quite CX, but not as far behind as I had thought.