Seat pitch in BR's BC is rather limited. 42" or something substandard (BR's only superior product is Economy Deluxe, not its BC or FC offerings which are inferior).

I'm not so sure if CX is worth some US$1,700 (extra air fare/ + value of miles) if you don't get the NBC seats (CX's old BC isn't very good). What's more CX wants you to upgrade on the afternoon flight from YVR which may force a layover in HKG.

For that much money, I'd consider NW which will get you there for USD 1,890 or so. You can go with a change of planes in NRT or make a milage run of it and go via HNL (up to a 20 hr layover) and NRT (4 1/2 hr layover).

BTW, the CX upgrade award is r/t and not o/w.