CX's J class share the same dimensions and seat pitches. It is fifty inches across the long-haul fleets (744 and 343) and forty-five inches across the regional fleets (777s and 330s). The width may be slightly better in the Airbus due to the 2-2-2 seating, rather than the 2-3-2 seating.
CX 888 and 889 are operated by the Boeing 747-400s with the expanded business class section. It is called the Premium configuration, but no suite yet. It has an extra section of J class between Door 2 and 3. It features both an upper deck and main deck bar. Upper deck bar is slightly smaller and located next to the magazine rack. The main deck bar is more extravagant and located behind the business galley next to door 2. It has a rack of glasses and cups, and a wide range of mineral water, soft drinks and possibly some munchies. Airbus A340s do not have this open bar, but CX F/As are always there to bring you drink. I guess the new bar is to accomodate the slightly shy Asian passengers or passengers who want a stretch or a compromise to the F/As who are negotiating the new contract and expect to work up to Age 55 (CX also wants the nonstop JFK to HKG route. One of the problems is the F/A).
About CX 889, there will be a dinner service from JFK to YVR. J class will feature slightly more extravagant dinner with an appetizer, a salad, three choices of entrees, cheese or fruit, dessert and tea/coffee and pralines. An ice-cream bar (haagen-dazs0 will be served before landing at YVR. I think you are required to deplane in YVR, and you can visit the nice CX lounge. It is pretty great... From YVR to HKG, there will be a refreshment service after take off. Fruit plate, two choices of entrees, dessert, rolls and coffee. There will be snack of sandwiches, ice-cream and noodles available throughout that flight. There will be an extravagant breakfast before landing. I personally think that the refreshment service after takeoff from YVR is pretty light. Consider AC serves a full dinner and CX boards a new group of passengers from YVR. Anyway, CX said that passengers want to sleep.
From Hong Kong to MEL, it is a flight operated by A340s. There will be two days in the week, which the flight is operated by Boeing 747-400s but with a stopover at ADL. (The return is all nonstop flights.) The service will be a supper service (salad, three choices of entrees, cheese, fruit or Haagen Dazs ice-cream bar, coffee/tea)after takeoff, and a continental breakfast before landing (fruit plate, yogurt or cereal, hot entree or choice of pastries, coffee/tea).
The return flight is more extravagant. MEL to HKG features a full lunch service (canape, appetizer, salad, four choices of entrees, cheese or fruit, two choices of desserts -- gatean or ice-cream, pralines...). An afternoon tea service before arrival consists of fruit platter, two choices of entrees (one Chinese and one Western), scones or pastries, tea/coffee).
CX 888 from HKG to YVR has the full lunch service, a refreshment (real noodle, sandwich, or ice-cream bar), and continental breakfast before arrival. YVR to JFK features the full lunch with appetizer, salad, three choices of entrees, cheese or dessert, pralines), and then they serve cookie and ice-cream before arrival.
It is quite an experience...
Happy flying,
Carfield