Originally Posted by
synthkeys
J class mini-cabin or not?
I'm booked int J for HKG-EWR in November. I was originally booked in 21A, but prefer the right side of the plane. 11K was blocked but available as was 21K. I called MPC and changed my selection to 11K, but can still call and get 21K opened up.
I do like the idea of the mini-cabin, but really in J, it's not that important as I feel private no matter what seat.
Is there any downside to 11K vs. being in 21K all the way in the back of the section?
First, you should know the J cabin mini-section on 35G is essentially the same situation as CX's mini-cabin on 77G, 33K and 33E (and formerly 33G, which is no longer in service). Planes with Cirrus J, whereby J is the highest cabin on-board, with a galley in-between the two J sections at Door 2. Ie the second J section is behind Door 2 and in front of either PEY or Y, depending on the configuration.
I have had my best flights on these planes in the mini-cabin, but I will say they are less consistent. The main points of inconsistency are (1 of them is somewhere neutered if you're a CX elite):
1.) Last for service, which goes front to back. If you're CX Diamond, I find they service you still extremely well regardless in this case.
2.) Self-upgraders. Ironically, I find myself rooting
against totally empty mini-cabins because I've seen in perhaps 10-15% of the time self-upgraders. It's just hard for the FAs with the aircraft config to patrol.
3.) PEY/Y class folks using the forward lavs. This is particularly bad on 77G, where the lav is literally in the cabin and essentially ruins the forward middle D seat (in the A333 and A350, the rear lav is on the right-hand side, but in both cases it's located inside the galley, ie "better"). FAs simply cannot patrol vigilantly enough to prevent this.
4.) Cabin crew using the J class mini-cabin as a rest area. This should *not be relevant* for the A350 since the plane has its own FA rest area in back, but it is an issue on the A330 which does not. On light-load A330 flights, ground staff are instructed to leave the mini-cabin open, and CX permits crew to sleep there. As an elite you can accidentally swap in (or force your way in), and it can be a pain in the butt to sleep.
5.) Noise levels....this is a good thing. If you don't care about #1 , and #2 and #3 don't happen too much (you're on A350, so #4 isn't possible), then the mini-cabin is superior IMO. Quieter vibe.
As you search around, note there is one other mini-cabin in the CX fleet: the 77H mini-cabin (4 class 77W with F). This J class mini-cabin is
forward, and has a totally different dynamic. The A350/A330/77G configs all have relatively the same mini-cabin dynamic.