Wow I really agree with OP regarding crews using J seats as crew rest. I am actually surprised that there is no "crew rest" for F/As on these A330s, which fly to Australia and those flights are nine hours long. In general, I sympathize with the F/As, who have to work these overnight flights, but if F/As need crew rests, CX should have either blocked the second mini cabin for these special night flights or find spaces for a crew rest area. So what happen if the flights are full in J, does it mean the F/As will be tired and get insufficient rest to carry their safety duty? These Indian flights can be full in all three classes. If I am not mistaken, they overnight at these Indian ports too, and while body rhythm are sort of messed up, they should not feel the desperate need to use J seats to sleep. I just feel that if there are passengers around, crews should not used business class seats as crew rest. They look unprofessional and that is not the World Class airline image that CX wants to or should portray.

Singapore Airlines F/As use Y seats as crew rest, as well as few US and European airlines, which will block off a few rows in Y seats in mid or rear of the cabin with full curtains, so the F/As can even read if they choose to without disturbing the rest of the cabin. If they want to do a make shift crew rest, please invest in some curtains and then I have no problems with crews resting in passenger seats. I am sure the crews don't want passengers staring at them when they sleep too. They have some privacy too. It is not a difficult task to install a curtain to block out the last two rows on regional configured A330s or Boeing 777s.

About tea/coffee service, I don't think CX needs to carry a simple coffee service an hour prior to arrival. Since CX is one of the few airlines, that require you to prepare for landing early plus they have to show that annoying custom videos too, why don't they do a hot towel and juice/coffee runs 30 minutes prior to landing? On my last MLE-HKG, they did do a water run and hot towel service 30 minutes prior to arrival too. They are simple. if the crews worry about rushing, they can even use plastic cups. If AA can manage one, CX should be able to do so! However I find CX to be a bit inconsistent on these pre-arrival formalities on these short redeye flights from South Asian subcontinental to HKG flight. They are a bit longer than HKG to NE Asia, but yet not as long as those Dubai flights, which will feature a second meal service.

But I guess it is just hard to come to a consensus on these short four to five hours redeye flights? I actually will like a continental breakfast service - something that can be served 45 minutes prior to arrival, like serving a quick pastry, or even a breakfast-to-go bag like some European airlines on those short transatlantic flights from East Coast US to Europe. If I am in business, I should have that option. But a hot towel/juice run is the minimal that I expect at the 30 minutes prior to landing mark!

Crew rest issue is always difficult, but I really think CX should consider having a real crew rest area on these long haul A330 configured planes. They are used on flights to MEL, which can be ten hours long. Where do the crews rest if the flights are full in all three cabins (J/W/Y), which are fairly common in these SYD/MEL flights?

Regional A330s are always tricky and with KHI suspended and CMB switching to long haul A330s soon, those regional flights will only be featured on these short three hours redeye flights with no need for crew rests. But if they want to use some seats for crew rest if the flights are empty, they should invest in curtains! Mark it as a crew rest, so passengers won't be surprised to see uniformed staffs sleeping in empty J seats.

Carfield