New regional business class - is it that bad?
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA & SPG Plat
Posts: 387
No way it will be #3. Chances are CX will try to put you on some non-OW 1-2 stops crazy alternatives before even considering option #2. Load factors play a huge role too, as HKG-LHR flights tend to be quite full.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
Yeah, plus there are other connecting options in Europe where you could do CX for the long segment, then AB or even KL/AF for the short one into AMS.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 27, 2016 at 10:13 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
Then go with CX. Those who complain about the regional J seat being scarcely better than premium economy are really making a mountain out of a molehill. It reclines a lot more than the PE seat, which only reclines a few inches more than Y seats. It is as wide as the older flatbed J seats for long haul on other airlines as the layout is 2-2-2 on an A330 and 2-3-2 on a 777.
CX has few regional flights longer than 4-5 hours so it's perfectly comfortable for that. And when these seats were deployed for some of the Indian sub-continent flights, I have slept the entire flight in them without difficulty.
CX has few regional flights longer than 4-5 hours so it's perfectly comfortable for that. And when these seats were deployed for some of the Indian sub-continent flights, I have slept the entire flight in them without difficulty.
Just an add-on question: How do you get the seat to recline to sleeping position?
#34
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond, UA Platinum, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 123
its ok but its just as others said..its a step down from CX's long haul J. The seat is comparable to US domestic first class (excluding the very good transcon first on AA/UA)
#35
#36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
my food and service HKG-NRT was much much better than YYZ-HKG....much better. food was about the lowest I have seen it in J between YYZ-HKG. perhaps its the late departure but it was so so.
compared with JAL, NRT-ORD in J....no comparison. and the cabin was not too hot on JAL either.
compared with JAL, NRT-ORD in J....no comparison. and the cabin was not too hot on JAL either.
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,630
So one final question: do CX have any sales, or might I just as well book now?
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Posts: 20,397
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Ex-UK there's currently an attractive sale in Economy and Premium Economy until 30 April, and these do return but I'm not sure with what frequency. Not sure about Business class to HKG, but SE Asia destinations have good fares in this sale.
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,630
You are booking ex-AMS? I'm not sure about AMS market, but in HKG, there are few sales.
Ex-UK there's currently an attractive sale in Economy and Premium Economy until 30 April, and these do return but I'm not sure with what frequency. Not sure about Business class to HKG, but SE Asia destinations have good fares in this sale.
Ex-UK there's currently an attractive sale in Economy and Premium Economy until 30 April, and these do return but I'm not sure with what frequency. Not sure about Business class to HKG, but SE Asia destinations have good fares in this sale.
Thanks for the pointer to the current CX offers from London. There are some good prices (incl £2100 in J) but unfortunately there appears to be an embargo in October / November, which is when I was thinking of going.
#41
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,807
"The soft product was good, while I don’t love the seats in this configuration, as I find it’s tough to get comfortable in them. Fortunately Cathay Pacific operates longhaul configured aircraft on many routes within Asia, so often these seats can be avoided."
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...usiness-class/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...usiness-class/
#43
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Some hole
Posts: 2,783
Luck of the draw. But the evening flights like the 913 and 905 commonly use the A330, 772 or 773. But that doesn't mean the 77W or A350 can't do those flights either as they do on occasion. The morning flights can vary depending on load factors, availability. Pretty much luck of the draw on what you get.
#44
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 1,084
These "compare to this, Cathay is great" arguments is exactly the reason why Cathay is sunking. Is this what Cathay is good for nowadays, being better than Ryan Air is good enough for us?
Offering 2-3-2 and calling it (and selling it) "Business Class", even for regional routes, is shameful. Just because the flight is shorter doesn't mean my value expectations should be lower.
Offering 2-3-2 and calling it (and selling it) "Business Class", even for regional routes, is shameful. Just because the flight is shorter doesn't mean my value expectations should be lower.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA SL, CX GR, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 582
These "compare to this, Cathay is great" arguments is exactly the reason why Cathay is sunking. Is this what Cathay is good for nowadays, being better than Ryan Air is good enough for us?
Offering 2-3-2 and calling it (and selling it) "Business Class", even for regional routes, is shameful. Just because the flight is shorter doesn't mean my value expectations should be lower.
Offering 2-3-2 and calling it (and selling it) "Business Class", even for regional routes, is shameful. Just because the flight is shorter doesn't mean my value expectations should be lower.