Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - How are new sliding Y seats for bad backs?

Mr Canuck and I are planning a trip from NYC to YVR in the summer for a family event. Last year, we flew Cathay - the direct flight was a great price (around $380) and we got lucky with an op-up to Business. (It might have helped that I was BA Gold at the time.)

This year, I've dropped to Silver (with no flights so far this year), so our chanced of an op up are slim, but we'll still benefit from priority check-in and lounge access.

I'm worried, though, about the seats in economy. I recently ruptured a couple of discs in my back and, while I expect to be as healed as I'm ever going to be by the time of the trip, I also expect to be uncomfortable from time to time. I'm wondering whether the new economy sliding seats on Cathay are going to be worse, or better, for me than typical airline seats.

Another option we're considering is Jet Blue to Seattle, where we'll get at least 34" of leg room and might pay for EML 38" seats.

I don't have serious injuries like you, but personally, I've never found the CX seats to be any more uncomfortable than any other Y seats, and I don't particularly find that reclining traditional Y seats provides comfort for my back. However, perhaps someone with a similar health situation can provide a view that is more helpful.

Personally, though, flying into YVR vs. SEA is a huge issue. I'm not sure whether you'll be driving or taking a bus or a train from SEA to YVR, but it's 3 to 4 more hours after you get off the flight - and then, it's 3 to 4 hours *back* in order to make your flight in SEA. I've done it before, and probably will again, for some last minute trip where seats on CX are 3x the usual price or simply not available, but really, think about the extra travel before choosing a flying into SEA option, especially if that further travel may exacerbate your condition.

Also, I'm probably an oddity, but I love the CX JFK-YVR schedule- I can go to work the day before the flight and the day after. There are probably more people who hate arriving at 12:45 AM, but if you have to be in the office, there's really no flight schedule better.

Thanks, hemispheric.

The SEA option is a relatively viable option for us. My dad lives in White Rock (just north of the US border) and my sister lives near Bellingham. They're quite willing to come and get us, and usually like to fit in a trip to the outlet malls en route. Mr Canuck and I are also considering the possibility of spending a day or two in Seattle to make the trip a little more interesting than the usual trip home.

I like the Cathay schedule, too, though for the reasons you mentioned and especially on a short trip like this on. We can leave after work on Friday (without panicking), enjoy a full weekend in White Rock, and enjoy a day or two extra before flying home and going straight to work. Of course, the experience goes much more smoothly when you get op-upped to J. (I've had incredible luck with Cathay over the years: 12 segments and 11 of them upgraded; mostly J to F, plus the two op-ups from Y to J last year.)

many people have complained about there not being enough lumbar support for the new Y seats, especially when it's reclined. it feels like there's a hole between where your back and seat is that can't be filled even with 4 pillows.

however, i personally love the new y seats since i HATE having someone recline into me. to get comfortable, i find that i really have to move my bum forwards a bit and slump into the seat more. don't know if that makes sense to you, but once i get into that position i'm very comfortable (in Y class terms), even for a long yyz-hkg flight

It looks like I'll be getting some input from my dad, soon, since he's about to book a flight YVR-JFK-YVR. He has had back problems in the past and I'll ask him to think about what it would have felt like, when he had back pain, to sit in those seats. (He's an ex-road warrier who never complains about anything like this, so I'll have to remind him to think like a wimpy person like me.)

I have a bad back, too. The new Y seat is not too bad if you sit straight. However, I found it quite uncomfortable for my back when it's at reclined position. I usually ask for an additional blanket to use it as my back support during the flight. If you can bring a small pillow with you to use it as a back support, it would be even better.

I don't have a back problem, but I still found the lower-back support for the new Y seat lacking, particularly when reclined. When reclined, I definitely needed my lumbar travel pillow to get comfortable.

The only comment I can say is that having only ever walked through Y class is that dont look comfy at all and my friend flew to Australia on them and he said they were really hurting his back. He got up every hour to stretch and relieve the ache

The only comment I can say is that having only ever walked through Y class is that dont look comfy at all and my friend flew to Australia on them and he said they were really hurting his back. He got up every hour to stretch and relieve the ache

I ruptured a disc in my lower back 8 years ago so I too am careful with it. I find the new economy seats less comfortable and always ask for an extra pillow to fill the "hole in my back" feeling. The problem with doing that is that my knees then get jammed into the back of the seat in front. And I'm only 5' 8" so it must be a bigger problem for anyone taller.

Actually the new shell seat isnt that "bad" for the backs , it just make you feel uncomfortable as you only have very slight amount of recline almost 0.
So must well you sit normally and dont recline.

The seat is still alright for short flights (less than 5 hours)
I flew HKG-YVR on 888 , i did not have any sleep throughout the 12 hour flight.

...just spent the night in Y LHR-HKG and connecting to NRT. Have to say I was very, very impressed by the fixed shell seat and the overall CX service. I used CX freqently ten years ago but not since, they were good then and still are.

I recently suffered a prolapsed disc so was somewhat nervous of the journey having read a few detrimental comments. I actually found it perfectly comfortable and it is an absolute joy to have no recline from the seat in front of you.....I will be amazed if other carriers don't copy this in due course.