On January 29, I am flying on CX 722 from KUL - HKG. The res. agent informs me that it will be a 340 that day. Since I'm on a F rtw ticket, I was happy as normally you can only get C on this sector. She shoots me down with no this aircraft is configured only with C.

I think that what is really happening is that they are using a larger aircraft due to the heavy traffic with Chinese New Years, and they are simply selling the F section as C.

Does anybody know for sure?

There are 2 types of A-340s used by CX. 3 of the fleet are rejects from one of the Chinese Airlines (CA or China Southern, IIRC). These a/c do have "first" class seating in the first 2 rows but they're offered as J/C seats. Little difference except for leg rest and seat pitch. Get the first 2 rows if possible. The a/c are not that well maintained inside. I flew one HKG-BKK last year.

Please be advised that CX uses both their A340-300 and their leased Air China's A340-300 aircrafts. Their own aircrafts shows up as 343 and Air China's as 340 on the airline reservations systems. The 340 has 2 sections of Business Class. The first 2 rows were Air China's First Class section, which CX cannot sell as their equivalent of First because well, the cabin is not that great.

Normally the seats in this cabin are reserved for Marco Polo members only. But since you are holding a First Class RTW ticket, your seat will be booked in D class. Advise the CX agent in KUL that as you are holding a First Class RTW ticket, that you are requesting to be seated in Row 2. (Trust me, row 2 is the preferred row).

Unfortunately, CX has become a stickeler in releasing those rows of seats and even if you're an Emerald from another airline, you can be bumped off by even a Silver Marco Polo member who requests one of those seats!