KA is currently the flight of choice for rich people in China. Offering First Class is smart because Chinese would pay for it. When KA offered itself with WNZ-HKG route this virtually destroyed China Eastern. And the J class of that route is always full when I fly it every so often.

Excellent, now all CX needs to do is drop a 330 into CNX and I can avoid BKK [and change timing; current weeBus service notwithstanding] :D Actually, with the increasing number of mainland China flights heading towards CNX, this could be a realistic possibility...

Er, no. At least the fifth. The first airline to use it was US Airways (the Envoy Suite). Also Delta: http://blog.apex.aero/cabin-interior...opnotch-seats/. CX made it famous, of course. AA were next. Air France have also decided to adopt it: http://www.ausbt.com.au/air-france-p...business-class. KA are a bit late to the party :p

I think those are similar variations, but AA and KA used the exact same hard product just with different color scheme

this seat only became famous after the CX modifications.

also because CX HAS it on the highest number of planes on earth - it is seen as CX seat by passengers (when infact US introduced it-albeit a weaker version)

i thought KA was 7- QR and EVA also have this

I'm a bit confused by this statement... the current F seat is the same width as the J offering on that aircraft, the F seat has a greater recline, and a completely horizontal leg-rest, plus the option of a 'flat bed', and of course mountains of room.

What for you makes the J seat more comfortable than the F one?

I don't think that the J seat is more comfortable than the old F, but just to clarify, although the seat surface is flat, it is a sloped flat seat. It is the same as the CX J class from 2002-2006.

I guess it's all personal preferences, but the following:

1.) My back gets uncomfortable with the KA F seat, whereas it doesn't in the J lazy-boys.
2.) It is a slopey horizontal leg-rest as sxc points out above, which I don't like.
3.) Seat is not as cushioned as J. I feel like there are hard edges in the F class seat and am always kinda fidgeting around trying to get comfortable after a position gets sore.
4.) Count me as one who thinks the whole "flat bed" thing is somewhat deceptive....I actually sleep better in the KA J seat back as a recliner than the slopey KA F! I'm usually napping on KA for a few hours, and those slopey beds don't do it for me. I can't fall asleep on them. Whereas I can always fall asleep sitting upright in a comfortable recliner for a few hours. I wouldn't want a recliner for a 16 hour flight to JFK, but for an hour or two nap ex-PVG they're great.

I agree the space is nice because nobody can recline into you. For me that's the major benefit of existing F (the J seats really can get in your face if you've got someone in front, which always kinda sucks). But count me as one though who really likes CX's long-haul J, and I'm very pleased to see it going in KA F. I think it's a huge upgrade from someone who never really cared for KA's existing F. I usually don't book KA J or F, but I suppose if I really needed to work this F class might be worth it once in a while in a pinch. Versus before, I think I've only ever paid for KA F when I was on a F ticket ex-somewhere else (aka not originating in HKG). I've always contended that CX's long-haul J really is the ultimate regional seat too....I think it's a good move.

And I suppose if you're flying on those one or two mid range KA flights to India or wherever, this will be nice.

there is a setting for the leg-rest for full flat (bed mode is angled). there was trip report recently on another forum which I'll try to find. the setting is possible because of the increased pitch.

edited to add report here: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...hai-55691.html

(but I agree the new seats will a welcome addition!)

Er... Yes, I know. That's why I said "CX made it famous, of course". So I'm not quite sure what you were trying to add there...

Actually, they aren't exactly the same. To give just one example, according to their website, the KA seat has a bed extension (like the CX J seat), but the AA seat (which I have tried) doesn't. No doubt there are other differences too

If a market exists, why not bilk them?

Obviously you're missing his point. He's not doing a seat comparison between US airlines and Asian airlines. He's not comparing the old First Class seat and the new First Class seat. Webb's point is completely valid - the first class seat (and first class pricing) is a CX business class seat with new covering - it is NOT a first class seat. I had the same reaction as him when I saw it.

The Cirrus seat was originally marketed by its manufacturer as a first class seat. It is being used by AA as a first class seat on its (three-class) transcontinental services. So you can't legitimately claim that it isn't a first class seat, just because some long-haul airlines also use it as a business class seat.

You also need to bear in mind KA is a regional airline. With very limited exceptions (such as BLR, which may be switched to CX anyway) its flights are primarily short-haul, and at most are medium-haul. For that length flight, this is perfectly appropriate as a first class seat, IMHO.

New KA First Class
 

I would think this: given KA's new J seems in the pictures to be CX's new regional J (I haven't been on KA's new J yet, so happy to be corrected), then having CX's long haul J product for F seems to be reasonable because it is a step up, as it offers lie flat and more personal space.