Are all CX 744 flights from north america now betsy? (First class sleeper seats) Any exceptions?

I flew CX betsy HKG-YVR last week. Very nice.

All night flights between LAX/JFK/YVR and HKG feature the guaranteed first suite flights. Even the day flights between LAX/YVR and HKG begin to have those betsy sleepers, but not guaranteed. However, SFO and YYZ will not see the Betsy planes, due to CX using A340s.

Carfield

Carfield, are you certain about the Betsy seats out of JFK? I noticed on the CX website that the 74J with regular F class flies on SM ...S and the 74B with new F class flies on T. Is this info old, do you think?

Well, according to a CX Press release a while ago, overnight service from JFK,YVR, and LAX (CX888/9, 880/1) will feature the new Betsy sleepers beginning in May. The plan might have delayed a bit... I don't know... I guess checking itn.net or with CX will be the best way to find out if the new Betsy seats are available soon...

Carfield

Somebody called?

All 74J and 74B aircraft flying between HK and North America will have the Betsy First Class suites. 74B means that the lower deck will only have 28 Business Class seats whereas the 74J classification means that it will be larger lower deck Business Class section.

People who complained to CX about the lack of the Betsy Suites (they're not called Betsy Suites really, but rather The New First Class Seats which I think is too long) on the A340 long-haul aircraft would be pleased to know that the FIRST newly configured A340-300 in First Class will be rolled out in late July. These will offer the NEW FIRST CLASS SEATS aka Betsy First Seats. There are currently 12 First Class seats on their A340 aircraft. The new configuration will be placed 1-2-1 in two rows, thereby reducing the seating to only 8.

13 out of 19 747-400s have now been configured for Betsy Suites. I think the Jo'burgh run is one of the last to be configured.

But with all this new seats installed, Cathay is doing something weird to hold back 'cheaper' seats. There are now VERY limited award seats available in First Class, as well as extremely limited availability on "A" class. "A" class is used for OneWorld and other discounted First Class travel.

CX trying to recoup all their monies worth?

Singapore too became very stingy with F seats after they put in the beds and res told me a month ago that they still allow only "one or two" per flight. That's why we're on OW this year. CX had no prob putting 3 or us on out of YVR, and BA never has a problem finding us seats.

Why are they called "Betsy" seats on CX?

As far as Singapore is concerned I had no problems with A seats in April - I flew SYD-SIN (only F passenger!), HKG-SIN and SIN-FRA all on A fare RTW.

That is great news that they plan to put the Betsy seats in A340-300! Guy Betsy, is this official?

Btw, why did you change your name? I like your old handle!

bagold - my name change was not voluntary. When FT upgraded, my name sort of got booted out and even after several complaints to Michael at FlyerTalk, he couldn't reinstate me back. So here I am, back to the bottom of the heap instead of being regulated as an FT Evangelist! <sulk>

The CX First Class seats are not named "BETSY". Betsy was actually the name CX named after the first aircraft they ever flew in. When CX started this project of installing the new First Class seats, they named it "Project Betsy", as a code for staff. I guess the name stuck. Because people would check in for a flight and ask if it's a "Betsy".

My flight over to Melbourne today was on a CX A340-300. The purser on board contradicted what the first purser said. Apparently the first A340 is not to be rolled out with the new F class seats in July, but rather , the new design will be improved and approved by the CX board in July. But it is imminent that the long haul CX A340-300 fleet will get 8 First Class seats.

I'm upset . I slept through the entire meal service last night. Still breakfast is wonderful.

Cathay's First Class service is simply the best - IMHO. The new China is already in, watch for new silverwear in the next coming months. First Class toiletries are now Erno Lazlo, and Business class kits and toiletries are L'Occident (the provence aromatherapy company making all those lovely soaps etc). The CX sleeper suits make excellent jogging and lounge around suits - and unlike BA or QF's, they do not bleed or shrink after the first wash. And they come in 4 different sizes. ALmost all my friends have one now.

That's my point - a solo passenger has no problem, but two are iffy and three a no-no. Even if the flight is wide open. Of course you can beg and grovel to the CSM in Singapore, or perhaps with elite enough status you don't have to grovel, but it's not as simple as asking the res agent or the supervisor.

Near as I can tell SQ doesn't understand capacity control and applies the rule strictly instead of using it to steer leisure pax to empty flights. Last year, for instance, they wouldn't clear 3 of us HKG-SIN just 12 hours before departure, even tho the res agent admitted they had the space. So this year our USD20k airfare goes to OneWorld.

[A? I thought SQ booked rtw first class as F, unrestricted first class as P.]

[Sorry for the SQ chat in the wrong thread..]

I was reading p. 13 of the CX marketing brochure sent to people in Canada in response to some promotion. Here's a quote:

So either CX will introduce the new seats next year on A-340s on the YYZ-HKG run or they will replace the A-340s with 747s?

No - the YYZ route will retain the A340's. But they will be progressively fitted with Betsy style seats. There will be 8 in a 1-2-1 confirguration.

Planners are working on the layout now. There will some aircraft with 8 seats, and some with an expanded First Class section.

Only the CX owned A340-300s will go through this transformation. The Air China leased ones will not.