My Neck Hurts
Personal preferences drive many of the posts here on FT, but soft, rough and limited visibility are somewhat quantitative.
In some situations, the question might be, does a person care or even notice the differences?
In these lousy photos you can see the layout of the window in our CX 777-300ER 2A seat and JAL 2A.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
JAL 777-300ER 2A seat:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
To get the same clear view out of the CX F window as JAL, you need to lean forward and bend to the side because you are not "on top" of the window. Yeah, you can see "out" but the down is the challenge.
Scratchy Scratchy
Rub your hands across the CX F seat. Is it baby bottom JAL smooth leather soft or CX rough and course "burlap"?
Personal preference for sure, but at least we can all see there is a huge difference in textures. You can discern "nubs" rising up from the CX seats and any way you look at it that is some darn tough material, I would never want my home furniture made from this stuff.
CX Seat
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
Also, the JAL TempurPedic mattress makes a comfy difference.
Up and Noisy
Personal preference when it comes to lounges, but for us, the HKG Wing was too warm. (Note: The terminal below was icy cool)
The Wing HKG lounge is just off the ceiling of a huge terminal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
We can all agree the design is a narrow, long, open air lounge with beautiful views located on the mezzanine level of the terminal.
But with the open air part comes ambiant sound, you can clearly hear the low rumble of the crowds that gather below and in the lounge F and J Class share the "same space".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
For us, JAL NRT F class only without all the "background" noise is calmer and the lighting and seating are not as blunt.
JAL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
Wing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
Booze
Also a big, BIG difference between JAL's Narita F and CX's Hong Kong F is that you are not allowed to get your own booze (or any beverage). You have to ask and be served in Hong Kong.
You can get some cans in J class, but all the F goodies are available by server only unlike the self serve system at NRT where a large selection of fancy booze is available at a self serve counter, a self serve bar, or from a bar tender.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
At JAL you can sign up for a free massage.
Photos upon request
Food
Regardless of our interpretation about the quality of the food at the Wing, JAL's NRT F class lounge did not have the fancy full service buffet dining room that offers duck, fish and more out of long standing warming trays (Ops, did my opinion slip out?).
Wing HKG F class dining:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/5186631489/
Having said all that we did manage to make due on CX quite comfortably:
Two for One
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...7625288591151/
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong view out to Harbor:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/traveltv/5185176247/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...n/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelt...n/photostream/
Please excuse any errors and omissions. I'm working from memory not notes.
Also, I forgot my user name for the original post.
The flickr Travel TV thing is a hobby, our Public Access (Chicago Access Network) TV series airing only in Chicago.