Definitely a difference in PEY seats
 

Op-up to front row in PEY, and the cabin is half empty so I did a test. The front row PEY seats definitely do not recline as much as other rows of PEY seats. I tried 3 different front row PEY seats and 3 different other PEY seats (yes, the cabin was that empty despite Y being fulled.) I don't know if this is by design or a flaw, but you definitely don't sleep as well at the front-row PEY seats compared to other PEY seats. I would say the other PEY seats give you a 150 degrees recline, and the front row gives you 135 degrees recline.

Also, the monitor design on the front row seats are bad when you are at full recline, you literally had to bring your seat up if you want to watch IFE, and then down if you want to sleep, which will greatly irritate the person behind you.

Great Insight
 

Thanks for pointing this out. Flying PEY LAX-HKG-JFK in 12 days, and first time CX for 18 months, so this was very valuable.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the footrest. If the seat reclines too much but the footrest only goes so far, it'd probably be far more uncomfortable.

There is no logical reason for this. Did you notice this on a Airbus or Boeing aircraft?

So you already know you don't think PEY is worth paying for, you're absolutely convinced CX never should have introduced it--but then you not only accept a freebie upgrade into that cabin (one can decline an op-up, as I know from personal experience), you proceed to complain about the seating comfort. And that's when you're not whingeing about the inability to select seats on an op-up as we've heard in the past.

I really think you should consider switching to UA. They fly nonstop EWR-HKG and you might find their products more suitable. Or at a minimum, stop taking the op-ups if PEY only makes you unhappy.

I find the description of the difference in recline implausible. There's a pretty significant difference between 135 and 150 degrees and if it were true I'm sure we would have heard about it before.

This is a bit uncalled for. Why shouldn't the OP have accepted the op-up? Just because someone has an opinion that PEY is not worth paying for doesn't mean that they shouldn't accept an op-up into that cabin.

Discussing quirks about seating comfort is what FT is all about.

I didn't really see any necessity to attack the OP here.

Definitely a difference in PEY seats
 

On reflection, I apologize if my tone was too harsh. But I stand by the substance. Barring an egregious fault (a poster in another drum recently discovered a missing tray table after n opup), it seems rather low-brow to complain so much about something one has received for free, when the option of being content with what one has paid for is available.

Just completed MEL-HKG-LHR-MEL by PEY last month.
The front row is not good, especially on a 777 when PEY section with a toilet. Passengers from other side will walk thro in front of your row to reach the toilet. Cabin crews also use this path too.

The OP was simply sharing information about the PEY product which is totally consistent with what most people on FT would do (and really, one of the major reasons this forum exists).

I don't see how being a paid PEY passenger uniquely qualifies one to make these observations, or conversely how scoring an op-up disqualifies the OP from doing so.

I am not ashamed to admit that I've been op-up from Y to PEY earlier this year and I agree with the OP that the placement of the PTV in the first row of PEY is poor.

There's a big difference between "complaining" and "reporting". Re-reading the original post it seems like he's just reporting a difference he has noticed. He calls the IFE screen design "bad" in the first row but that has also been noted by others.

I appreciate the report. I will try to avoid the front row of PEY until this is verified, fixed or disproved.

I generally ignore foolish posts, but thanks for your feedbacks Midlevels and RevJim.

Anyway, yes, avoid the front row for now. The leg rest is not that good either that I didn't mention in my OP. Definitely sit anywhere else but the front row.

Actually I tried the first row on a 77h the other day and it was pretty good and I didn't notice any difference in recline compare to other rows. I actually think the first row is the best and if you put a small suitcase in front it will make it more comfortable

OP isn't complaining and hating on the product here. He didn't even state his opinion on the PEY product, but was just providing factual feedback on the product based on what he experienced. He took the time to test the seats and note any quirks associated with them. This is what this forum is about, and is no different than people discussing which J seat in which cabin is best. I plan on flying PEY within the next 3 months and this type of information is appreciated.

Your posts seems rather low-brow in attacking the OP based on your opinionated assumptions.

From the pictures I've seen online, it appears that if the person in front of you reclines their seat fully, it's right in your face. As a tall guy and a little claustrophobic, I'll put up with people walking in front me to gain the extra room. I never use the IFE anyway, preferring my own shows on my iPad. I guess I will find out in January. I'm booked in row 30 Seat G. I like to get up and stretch a lot. This seat is right next to the emergency exit, an area to get up and stretch without bothering other passengers.

i agree with the comment on the screens, they are not ideal. In fact the arms often seem to be loose, one flight it was broken and the ISM tied it up with string. Also agree that a suitcase on the floor helps greatly, the footrest doesn't work at all for me (i am only 5'11"). It may also stop people walking through...

Get ready for a lot of foot traffic come and go since you're right next to the lav, and all the PEY sitting to your left are going to cross row 30 to get to the lav. You will also notice they did made the space bigger to accompany foot traffic, but it will be bothersome.

From what I hear, there is a constant stream of Y passengers coming up to use the Y+ toilet anyway, so it sounds like you want to sit on the left side to avoid all the toilet traffic.

30A is one of the best PEY seats as you get the wall the rest your head on and also the legroom and leg rest. Pity the foot rest is not extendable but it can be resolved by using your carryon. Actually the recline is pretty decent and almost like the OOBC

Does this mean that the best row of seats in PEY is actually row 31? You can recline 150 degrees while the person in front of you can only recline 135 degrees. That might be enough that the person next to you can slip out of the row without waking you up (if you are on the aisle).

I have my first PEY flight coming up in February. I just switched to row 31 to test it out.

Yes, I think that's a good inference. Looking forward to your report.

Someone else posted that the bulkhead seat footrests do extend, but that it's not immediately obvious how to do it. Might be worth asking the FA. I will check out this Seat Recline controversy on my January flight. As I stated before, if the seat pitch between rows is an advertised 38" between all rows, there is no engineering reason to restrict the seat recline of the first row seats.

Already done that. None of the 6 flights of FAs that I've sit at PEY know the front row foot rest extends, or how to do it. Trust me, I've asked everytime hoping someone has the answer...

The foot rest doesn't extend and even the official PEY guide does not state so. If it does extend then it will almost like the OOBC

Did you mean the black part in the first picture which is missing in the second one?

http://images.theage.com.au/2012/07/...my-620x349.jpg

http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos/view/...-_SAM1443s.jpg

Yes

I'm sorry there is a way to extend the foot rest.

There is a black button on the leg rest where you can release it. This is the same as the OOBC? U can see it in the 2nd photo and I just checked the official guide

From that picture, It definitely would appear there is an additional 6 inches or so of extension on the footrest. Without that extension, that footrest would only work on someone with about a 26" inseam LOL

i'm 5'2 and even for me it's uncomfortable without the extension. really need to find the black button on my next flight...

The black lever is in the hole in the fabric of the footrest. You can see the hole to the left of the red tag (as you look at the above photos).

The "life saver of the year" award goes to SXC for knowing what apparently the FA's don't even know.. :)

sxc should go train the CX staff....

I do believe I remember reading it in the seat guide leaflet.

Is row one of PEY the only row with a leg rest? What do all the other rows get?

Seems like that's a pretty big tradeoff if you like leg support....

Yes, you get a foot rest instead

Not really, the other rows, when you recline, you can position your feet on the foot rest and it will give a good rest for your leg. Even without a leg rest you will feel satisfy.

EVA Premium Economy has the same 38" Pitch and manages a leg rest on all seats, though it's pretty useless (too short) for anyone over about 5'8" .

Got to try out the PEY seat yesterday on a shorthaul. Only 34G was available. I think it is definitely an improvement from EY but way below J. However, the IFE was not working even after 3 reset. It was BKPQ.
I will get to try 31C this weekend on a longhaul. Will see if the leg rest makes a difference.