Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Some questions flying CX839 YVR-HKG

In the past we have always flown SQ but given the great price and that SQ will cease YVR flights in April, we've decided to give CX a go and have booked our flights (for 2 Adults & 1 Child-age 12) in Y from Australia to US/Canada as follows:

30 November CX105/CX880 - ADL/HKG/LAX
6 January CX839/CX104 - YVR/HKG/ADL

I find that my return flight from YVR on 6 January (CX839), according to the CX website that the aircraft type is shown as 34D departing at 1430hrs. This is more convenient than the 0200hrs 777 flight as it provides a pretty much direct connection to CX104 in HKG onward to Adelaide.

Just wondering though if anyone can answer a couple of questions for me:

(1) According to the CX FAQ it is expected that these aircraft will be upgraded to the new Olympus product sometime this year. Does anyone know if this is still on schedule.

(2) Irrespective of the new product or not we'll be on the plane so was wondering given that we can pre-select seats, which seats should we try to get, given that there are 3 of us but the config is 2+4+2. I believe that the config becomes 2+3+2 at the rear but my significant other is worried about the extra movement at the rear of the aircraft and really doesn't like sitting in the middle seats.

(3) Leaving at 1430hrs and heading west, will this be a predominantly daylight flight.

(4) Any idea what the loads tend to be like on this flight.

Thanks

(3) Leaving at 1430hrs and heading west, will this be a predominantly daylight flight.

Nobody has answered the thread, so I'll try #3.

You're going in late fall/winter. Sun will set fairly quickly in a couple of hours or so as you head NW. It'll remain dark till after half way through the trip. Then you'll see daylight for a few hours, and then sunset about 2 hours before arriving Hong Kong at 8:30p.

It's a flight with two sunsets in the winter.

In the past we have always flown SQ but given the great price and that SQ will cease YVR flights in April, we've decided to give CX a go and have booked our flights (for 2 Adults & 1 Child-age 12) in Y from Australia to US/Canada as follows:

30 November CX105/CX880 - ADL/HKG/LAX
6 January CX839/CX104 - YVR/HKG/ADL

I find that my return flight from YVR on 6 January (CX839), according to the CX website that the aircraft type is shown as 34D departing at 1430hrs. This is more convenient than the 0200hrs 777 flight as it provides a pretty much direct connection to CX104 in HKG onward to Adelaide.

Just wondering though if anyone can answer a couple of questions for me:

(1) According to the CX FAQ it is expected that these aircraft will be upgraded to the new Olympus product sometime this year. Does anyone know if this is still on schedule.

(2) Irrespective of the new product or not we'll be on the plane so was wondering given that we can pre-select seats, which seats should we try to get, given that there are 3 of us but the config is 2+4+2. I believe that the config becomes 2+3+2 at the rear but my significant other is worried about the extra movement at the rear of the aircraft and really doesn't like sitting in the middle seats.

(3) Leaving at 1430hrs and heading west, will this be a predominantly daylight flight.

(4) Any idea what the loads tend to be like on this flight.

Thanks

1. Yes, it's still on schedule. The CX FAQ does get updated regularly as well, just FYI

2. If you don't like middle seats, I suggest you get 2 seats at the side (window+aisle) and then the aisle seat in the middle section.

3. See post above

4. I'm quite sure your January flight will be quite full as it's the end of the holiday season and many pax fly around that time. The November flight will have noticeably less load, but not very sure as to how full it'll be.

Thanks. We are really looking forward to the trip and it will be interesting to compare CX Y with SQ Y.

I'll also keep a regular check on the FAQ thread.