Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Best seats for couple on new F?

Guys,

My wife and I are on the 777 in F from HK to NY and then on the 74A from Lon to HK in May... what are people's vews of the best seats to get on these aircraft for the new config with a couple travelling together? (its a bit confusing from the seating plan, establishing on which side the suite opening is)

Alex

The middle suites open to the left, but there are no two seats where you can sit and talk to each other (as you could with 3/4D/G in the previous 744 F), so any of the following are equally good in that they enable you to reach each other's seats without going through the galley:

1A/2A
1A/1D
2A/2D
1K/2K

I guess 1K/2K would be my choice because then you effectively get the whole aisle to yourself (the other 4 passengers being served from the left aisle).

The middle suites open to the left
Actually they open to the right; they share the same aisle as the K side.

I guess 1K/2K would be my choice because then you effectively get the whole aisle to yourself (the other 4 passengers being served from the left aisle).
From the above, and using christep's theory, 1A/2A would be the best choice.

Ooops - apologies if true - I assumed, wrongly apparently, that the middle seats on the 777 would open the same way as the middle seat on the 74A.

I can confirm, the 77A F seats do open to the right. FWIW my recent JFK-HKG on the 77A in F (full cabin) was the best CX service I've had in a while. Seemed to be more staff than usual. More attentive. Especially towards my daughter. Also, FWIW, the 77A seats ambience seemed roomier than the 74A seats. I also just had a seat on the old 744 and I had obviously forgotten just how bad they used to be. Or rather just how good the 77A is.

On the 74A, 1A/1K is by far the best pair.

You guys are very helpful. Thanks so much.

Just flew HKG-LAX in F on a 74A with my partner, definitely go for 1A and 1K. Still not quite side by side, as you do really need to crane your neck around to see past the privacy wall. But it's the closest pair you'll find in the cabin. That being said, the privacy walls do indeed give you a LOT of privacy, so much so that no one--except for the FA, if she happens to come up front--will be able to see what you're doing if by chance you decide to hop over to visit your other half for a while during the flight... (wink wink :p)

By the way, have to say that the new seats on CX, combined with their usual stellar service, food, etc. made for THE best inflight F experience I've had comparing to SQ, TG, VS and QF. CX really is fantastic in my book.

Jim's interesting comments aside (wink wink;)), are the F seats wide enough so that two people could sit together on the F seat for a while to talk, have a drink etc.? I know this could depend on the size of the two, so I'm 6'2", 205 and my wife is 5'4", 120.

Also, is the F suite set up so that the two of you can sit across from each for dining? And how comfortable is the second, makeshift seat for that?

Yes for those sizes to both questions. There is an extension piece for the table for when a second person is dining with you. It all works well in my experience.

The only thing they don't have (which I suggested when I did one of the first flights onB-HKT and gave lots of feedback to the engineer and Director Cabin Service) is splitters for the headset feed. That way the two of you could watch a movie together whilst sitting side-by-side.

Bear in mind also that on the 74A the main F toilet is also comfortably big enough for any wink, wink type activies you might wish to engage in.

Just flew HKG-LAX in F on a 74A with my partner, definitely go for 1A and 1K.

Yes, but remember that the television screens in row 1 on the 74A are limited in their flexibility/movement compared to the rest of the seats. And you can't see them at all when stowed, but you can in all other seats.

Jim's interesting comments aside (wink wink;)), are the F seats wide enough so that two people could sit together on the F seat for a while to talk, have a drink etc.? I know this could depend on the size of the two, so I'm 6'2", 205 and my wife is 5'4", 120.

Also, is the F suite set up so that the two of you can sit across from each for dining? And how comfortable is the second, makeshift seat for that?

Yes, two people can sit together, side by side. Can't really estimate by size, though. And, yes, you can sit across from each other to dine, I've seen it done. I've never actually sat in the buddy seat, but you raise an interesting question re comfort. I'll try it in January, on my next CX F flight.

Yes, but remember that the television screens in row 1 on the 74A are limited in their flexibility/movement compared to the rest of the seats. And you can't see them at all when stowed, but you can in all other seats.Yes, two people can sit together, side by side. Can't really estimate by size, though. And, yes, you can sit across from each other to dine, I've seen it done. I've never actually sat in the buddy seat, but you raise an interesting question re comfort. I'll try it in January, on my next CX F flight.
I have now done six F flights with my wife. Frankly, I dont think that dining together is a great option. The table is much too small for setting up two persons in any confortable way and the "foot" seat is NOT confortable at all. You will also spend a fairly long time without entertainment except your conversation (knowing that one person has a very uncomfortable seat).
Sitting next to each other for pre-dinner drinks is very nice.
I dont like the first row. Less spacious and walled in. TV does not get into a good position. You look at a closet on your side. Anyway you cannot engage in a conversation between 1A & 1K because the side of the seat is like a wall. So both of you would have to really bend over in an uncoftable way.tried it once and did not like it at all. I vastly prefer the second row wheter travelling as a single or as a couple. Two seats on the same aisle (e.g. 2A & 3A) is an option if one of you (2A) kneel on the seat to talk. But that is only for fun. Frankly, I have no problem in travelling 2A & 2K nad only talking with my wife pre/post dinner. Dinnertime we both enjoy the great service and entertainment system in our respective seat.
On 77A, I strongly advise 2D & 2K for a couple as they open to each other. I once flew 1A to JFK and found it noisy as FAs and pilots tend to talk in the space in front of you. 1D & 1K are even worse as they are facing the galley. For a night flight (CX840) to JFK I moved from 1A to 2D (the middle seat) which was available ,as it is much quieter and there is no need for windows anyway as it is night during the whole flight.

I have now done six F flights with my wife. Frankly, I dont think that dining together is a great option. The table is much too small for setting up two persons in any confortable way and the "foot" seat is NOT confortable at all. You will also spend a fairly long time without entertainment except your conversation (knowing that one person has a very uncomfortable seat).I wonder if we're talking about the same seats! My wife found the second seat perfectly comfortable for dinner, and with the extension piece added the table was pretty much the right size (clearly it would be too small without it). If you need to be watching television whilst having dinner with your wife then maybe you've been married too long? :D

I wonder if we're talking about the same seats! My wife found the second seat perfectly comfortable for dinner, and with the extension piece added the table was pretty much the right size (clearly it would be too small without it). If you need to be watching television whilst having dinner with your wife then maybe you've been married too long? :D

Christep; Thanks for the correction, I was not aware of the "extension piece". I have been married 30 years, but do not find it too long... I spend everyday with my beloved wife, including most business travel. So we dont really need to catch up. BTW, she enjoyed your post, thanks. But she says that she disagrees with your wife and prefers to have her own F seat half reclined when dining. I am afraid that I would have to be the one sitting on the "second" seat...

I agree the foot seat isn't comfortable for sitting at. I have tried it and it feels like you are being squashed between the window and seat closet.

For a pair of seats as a couple nothing beats 1A and 1K on the 74A which IMO is better than any possible seat pair combinations on the 77A. Yes you won't necessarily be in the most comfortable position to engage in a conversation, but it is the closest two people can be side by side and for me this means a lot if I'm traveling with my GF.

For the 77A I fully agree with 2D/K. The commotion taking place in the front doesn't make 1D/K attractive compared to 2D/K. Another positive aspect with regards to 2D/K (and all of row 2) is there are no lavatories directly behind.

its always nice to hear a good discussion about the CX F, since i'm yet to try it one day..but by the looks of the economy.. this day is being pushed back further and further.. :(