I fly from JFK to HKG every 6 weeks. I used to go only with CX, connecting through YVR. One day, I found a better fare going from JFK to NRT via AA and switching to CX when going NRT to HKG.

Let me say that I will almost never fly CX if I have a choice in Y. I much rather pay a couple hundred more to stick with AA on that long haul - and I'm only 5' 9".

CX's Y seats (other than the forementioned bulkheads) are pitifully cramped. If you have your seat almost upright and the person in front of you is reclined, be ready to watch your LCD screen at about 6 inches away from your face. If you have a laptop, forget about using it as you can never get the angle to be greater than 90 degrees - there is just not enough room unless there is no one seating in front of you.

These days, CX sell rate is pretty good which means there is a good chance someone is seating next to or in front of you.

AA is SO much more comfortable - but as they mention, the service doesn't compare to CX.