Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Business Class - LHR-HKG-MEL

Hi All:

Hoping you can help me. As I've been made aware that the majority of Cathay's 747's have been re-fitted with the new business class and only some of the A330's have been re-fitted, I'm wanting to make sure that I'm not paying for an inferior product, otherwise I may go with Qantas.

My schedule is as follows:

I will be leaving LHR to HKG on a Wednesday (747)
Continuing on HKG to MEL on a Monday (330)
and then a full return MEL-LHR on a Friday (340-747)

Can anyone tell me if these planes are fitted with the new product? Or am I safer taking Qantas? Also, my understanding is that Cathay's NEW business product is better than Qantas's, agree?

Thanks for your help.

Many people feel that Cathay's new product is inferior to the previous one, so your basic premise may be flawed.

no A340s have the new product. MEL is less likely to get new product. So if new product is important you may want to reconsider.

SYD gets the new product (no more F class), while MEL gets the old product (with F class).

Maybe I'm a bit confused... Isn't the new product lie-flat where the old product was basically a reclining seat?

So, would you say that Qantas business is better than Cathay's product?

So, would you say that Qantas business is better than Cathay's product?

Hard product wise, I would go for the Qantas Skybed in preference to Cathay's product. Between Cathay's old and new products, I'm of the camp that prefers the old to the new. The new one, whilst totally flat, is simply too cramped width wise and consequently feels claustrophobic, as well as anti social.

In the past I have by default gone for fully flat options in JCL in preference to angled flat ones. However after traveling some, I now realised that I am not crazy about a fully flat bed and no longer go by default for a fully flat bed. The only fully flat bed I've ever truly felt comfortable in is the NZ Business Premier seat. Aside from that, I'd still go with the QF Skyslope over the other fully flat offerings I've tried (BA, CX).

As for the other aspects of both airlines' J products, it is more a matter of personal preferences and at the end of the day you are comparing 2 v premier airlines.

Maybe I'm a bit confused... Isn't the new product lie-flat where the old product was basically a reclining seat?

So, would you say that Qantas business is better than Cathay's product?

CX new J is quite controversial. You can find people on both sides. My family likes it. The kids love the beds and the partitions make them feel like they have their own rooms. They love the big-screen TV. We all slept very well with the lie-flat beds. The duvets were also very clean and comfortable.

Maybe I'm a bit confused... Isn't the new product lie-flat where the old product was basically a reclining seat?No - the new long haul product is fully flat cubicles. The old long haul product is lie flat (but not horizontal, and not in a cubicle, and with windows you can look out of, room to read a paper, the ability to chat with your travelling partner, the ability to see any kids travelling with you, etc). The "reclining seat" is the regional business class product which does not go to MEL or SYD except for occasional last minute equipment substitutions.

no A340s have the new product.
Not now but the A343s will begin retrofitting in 2009. From what I heard once all the 343s have been fully converted into the new interiors, they will all be 2-classes and designated as the 34B.

The "reclining seat" is the regional business class product which does not go to MEL or SYD except for occasional last minute equipment substitutions.

PER gets the regional business class and it is a very old and very inferior product in my view - I will certainly not be using Cathay again whilst those planes are used on this route. If I were you, I would check to make sure that MEL does not get the same tired Airbus that we get in Perth - if they do then I suggest avoiding them. A 7 hour plus flight is long haul in my opinion and Cathay should use suitable planes to operate it.

CX new J is quite controversial. You can find people on both sides. My family likes it. The kids love the beds and the partitions make them feel like they have their own rooms. They love the big-screen TV. We all slept very well with the lie-flat beds. The duvets were also very clean and comfortable.

Speaking of which, my parents loved the new JCL seats. They especially liked the privacy (in response to my comment about the seats being anti social... so "one man's meat...") and didn't think it was at all narrow.

So.... "try it for yourself" i guess. :)