Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Best to avoid regional business class?

I have an upcoming trip that requires me to fly RUH-LAX (RUH is Riyadh) in paid business class. It's almost as quick or quicker to return thru Asia on CX as to go thru LHR, and I always enjoy stopping over in HKG not to mention CX service and lounges at HKG. From RUH I can go RUH-HKG on a 777 or hop over to DXB (on EK) to take a 333 to HKG. Then a 744 to LAX.

My previous CX flying experiences (including DXB-HKG-LAX) have all been in first (truly a wonderful experience), but this trip is in business class. From what I've read the CX regional business class with 40 odd inches of pitch sounds miserable for a 7 hour redeye. So I'm tempted to just take a connecting flight to DXB, despite the madness of the airport there. I know there might be an equipment change but there's a reasonable shot at old business class with the 333, and then I assume a 50-50 shot (or better) at new business class on the 744 to LAX (?). I got very used to a 180-degree true flat bed when flying RTW is F, so I can't quite imagine the regional business seats.

Advice, thoughts? Thanks!

You will be most disappointed then in the regional Y class then.

RUH? :confused:

I know there might be an equipment change but there's a reasonable shot at old business class with the 333, and then I assume a 50-50 shot (or better) at new business class on the 744 to LAX (?).

If you take CX 738 from DUB which departs at 01:15, you will have a 99.9% chance in getting a 3 class A333 which features the 'old' long-haul business class. The flight arrives HKG at 12:20 and connects well with CX 884, the 13:10 departure to LAX.

If you take CX 738 from DUB which departs at 01:15, you will have a 99.9% chance in getting a 3 class A333 which features the 'old' long-haul business class. The flight arrives HKG at 12:20 and connects well with CX 884, the 13:10 departure to LAX.

CX doesnt serve DUB (Dublin), Dubai is DXB. btw, RUH- Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

:p a massive boost to my msg count....

If you take CX 738 from DUB which departs at 01:15, you will have a 99.9% chance in getting a 3 class A333 which features the 'old' long-haul business class. The flight arrives HKG at 12:20 and connects well with CX 884, the 13:10 departure to LAX.

That does not seem like a lot of fun.
First get from RUH to DXB, depart at 1am in an unpleasant airport, and rightfully stress that you might not make the 50 min connection in HKG. Remember that you will have to go through security at HKG and that it is a flight departing to the USA (very tight security). That would be too stressful for me. But if your plan is to stopover in HKG, then all is fine.

Thanks. I probably wouldn't try for that 50 minute connection in HKG. I would either do a stopover or I would get a later flight into LAX (there is one a but after 4pm which gives about the right time to shower, shop and enjoy the lounges in HKG).

If I was in F it would be an easy call since the flatbed in F on the A333 DXB-HKG is great. In J it's probably still worth it versus the regional business class which from what I've read on these boards is appalling.

In J it's probably still worth it versus the regional business class which from what I've read on these boards is appalling.

I was on the CX flight RUH-HKG recently in J. Flight was completely full in both classes. Food is not great, pitch is 45 inches or something, pretty limited recline. Alcohol is not served for the first 2 (?) hours of the flight. Lounge in RUH is pretty nasty (small and full, but wireless), if I recall correctly. I managed to sleep, though, so it all seemed ok in the end. But if you can never sleep except if flat, you may be better off going through Europe.

VF