CX J RT or Y outbound and F return?
 

Hi FT!

This is my first post here. I've been a long time reader and really enjoy FT.
What prompts my first post is that I'm in the position to take a trip to HKG in November and have a fixed budget for the flight that allows me to either book J round trip from LAX or book Y on the outbound leg and return in CX F routed either direct to LAX or through ORD to LAX.

I've heard wonderful things about CX F and have never had the opportunity to fly it yet. I've also never been in CX J. I've flown AA F TATL and TPAC in the past and like many on here was not super impressed so I'm not sure it would be worth it. I have flown to HKG on CX in Y before so I know I can definitely manage just fine in Y. I'm very interested in your opinions on CX J vs F.

My question to all of you is whether you thought CX F was worth foregoing J on the outbound? Your opinions are much appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome to FT, Flying Trojan

There are currently two different J-class products fitted on Cathay's long-haul aircraft. Both are configured in a herringbone pattern.

The majority of long-haul aircraft (all 744s, all 343s, most 77Ws, most 333s) are still fitted with the older product, which was rolled out in 2007, if I remember correctly. This older iteration is code-named 'Olympus' and is marked by narrower seats and high dividing partitions, earning it the unfortunate nickname of 'the coffin' for its lack of width. Olympus seats are angled away from the window and towards the aisle. Middle seats are angled away from each other.

Cathay announced a new J product in December last year. You'll see this referred to in the FAQ thread of this forum as "Cirrus." Cirrus seats are mostly seen as a vast improvement upon the old product - they are much wider; 'A' and 'K' seats actually face the window, while the middle seats are angled towards each other, making it more suitable if you are travelling with a partner. The "New Business Class" profiled on the CX website is Cirrus.

LAX is serviced by the 773-300ER. However, only 7 (at last check) out of 24 of these aircraft are currently fitted with Cirrus. The idea is that the 4 daily rotations to JFK receive Cirrus before (the increasing number of) Cirrus aircraft get deployed to LAX and LHR (the next ports in line to receive the product). In practice, due to CX's tendency to switch aircraft around a lot, many other ports have already seen the new product (albeit infrequently).

This is all to say - you can't by any means be sure of getting a Cirrus aircraft out of LAX in November. Still, having said that, LAX-HKG is one of the longer segments on the CX network and their Y seat is super-uncomfortable. I'm not sure if you've flown on CX since the new product was introduced. But if not, it's a fixed shell, meaning that instead of reclining, the seat cushion slides forwards, generating a large gap between the cushion and the backrest. Even on shorter flights, it is enough to give you back ache.

So however nice CX F is, I would take the two segments in J any day, just to avoid Y. Another reason to do double-J is that the LAX-HKG segment is significantly longer, and this is the sector you say would be in Y. But that's just me. I'm sure that if you CAN tolerate 15 hours of Y, the F product will not disappoint.

Good luck!

I'd do the Y & F option hands down, in my opinion the economy on CX is an amazing product, and there's always those who complain about it but it is amazing IMO. Now the F on CX is the best F class I've ever flown that's all you need to know really !

I would do J round trip, because you have no previous experience of CX J or F, you will likely be extremely satisfied already with J. You will have comfort both ways instead of one way. Also if you fly via ORD, you have a chance of flying CX new J product.

Whilst flying CX F is amazing, you will have to fly Y one way. Personally I would dislike mixing a longhaul trip between Y and a premium class, Id rather settle for medium to good comfort in J for both segments so that I was in a premium class for both flights. Both flight segments will be long, so its nice to have a lie flat bed for both flights. Whilst food is nowhere near F standard, service should still be excellent.

Are these award tickets using AA/BA miles? Can you issue one-way travel on CX in F and maybe Y in another carrier through TYO if you want to avoid the shell seat in CX Y? And it will break down the travel by a bit so you can walk around for a bit and relax at the lounges before your next flight

If it's not an award flight, would it be better to go through TYO in either inbound or outbound and use whatever AA upgrade coupons you have to upgrade that transpacific flight, and fly on either JL or CX codeshares to/from HKG in Y?

Are CX award tickets booked with BA miles allowed to be changed after the trip has started?

For example, a 3 week trip booked in F on the outbound and J on the return. Midway through the trip, F opens up. Will we be able to move into F? I know I should have booked 2 one-ways but this was done over the phone awhile ago.

For me, round trip in J and it isn't even close. Yes, F is amazing but 14 hours in Y is painful and J is quite nice. The taller you are the more heavily I would lean towards J RT

That depends on BA rules. You should check that with the BA folks :)

No changes on RT once the first leg is flown :(

Solely because of this statement, I think you should do the Y-F combination. CX F is truly a treat, and if you really can manage just fine in Y (clearly, many of us here on FT cannot) in one direction then it's a no-brainer to do that and "splurge" on the other.

I'm sorry, but it's hard to take seriously anyone who calls any economy class "amazing."

Thank you to all of you for your advice! I've decided to do the Y+F combination. Had I not switched firms, I would still be traveling on the deepest of discount Y to HKG, so I think I'd like to get the experience of CX F before this opportunity disappears.

This using miles for an award, these will be purchased tickets. My new firm has a pretty liberal travel reimbursement policy up to certain limits.

I've seen a few threads where people have talked about purchasing an upgrade from CX from Y to J on the day of departure. Is this possible if I hold a codeshare ticket? If anyone has done this, is it an exorbitant fee?

I know everyone has quite different opinions on these things, and thank you all for sharing.

I would also choose the 2xJ ride.

Also a contributing factor, 2xJ also likely accumulates more qualifying/tier points if you credit to AA or BA.

Also, you get 2x lounge access, priority boarding, and extra luggage, both ways.

You'll be better taken care of in the case of IRROPs and stand a better chance for an upgrade.

If you do end up riding Y+F, do the Y leg first :)

BA just sent out an email saying change will be allowed after you started your trip...well that is after they have changed to the new program in Nov :D

First of all, welcome to FT, OP! It sounds like you've already made up your mind, but if not I'd second Frayed_Yak's (and others') good advice about doing 2xJ. In fact, one of the benefits of accruing more miles by flying 2xJ is that it could put you well on your way to a FT award F on CX down the line.

One other possible option to consider: If I understood your posts correctly, you have to keep your total cost within a certain budget. It could be that if you fly some days of the week the trip will costs less than on other days, perhaps opening up the possibility of other options (perhaps even one way in J and one way in F?)

The fee will be the difference between your purchased fare and the regular business class fare, which is likely to be quite high on the day of departure. No discounted upgrade fees. It may not be possible on a codeshare. The issue is that they have to be able to figure out what the cost of your ticket was so they can up-charge you, and that is likely to be a problem if the ticket was purchased as a codeshare. In fact, my one experience with this was trying for a J->F upgrade on a CX flight on CX stock using a corporate negotiated fare and the HKG staff couldn't figure it out, so it wasn't even an option.