Well, CX it is then, after calling BA saying I wanted to book with them if they had the right price they still didn't want to sell me a reasonably priced ticket, As I don't know CX first can anyone answer these questions:

Do the A340 seats have empower sockets?
Do the A340 seats have studio CX?
Does CX have sleeper suits like BA in first?
Will CX arrange a gate pickup for me when I arrive at HKG back from NRT? I read someone in another thread who said the did.
What else to expect (besides the lovely visit from the CSD), any tips on seating etc?

Once again, thanks for any input...

I don't this you're right about an "F" ticket with a different fare basis being accepted by other airlines. I often buy Colombo (CMB) to SFO first class and although the ticket is "F" and "unrestricted" United wouldn't take the leg from HKG to SFO after Korean endorsed the ticket. UA's OW fare CMB-SFO was 50% higher than KE's. BTW it was five years ago or so but KE's F service was outstanding--surpassed SQ for me. I travelling this year from Colombo to Seattle with a stopover in SFO and bought a roundtrip F ticket for $1800. The fare basis depends on the airline that transports you over the water--in this case it's China Airlines...I doubt that I could give the ticket to UA or SQ and that they would accept it. SQ was about 50% more.

ScottC, CX did not have empower on a 744 sleeper last year. Their IFE suite in general is pretty primitive. But they do offer jammies and a little wooden box full of the usual free samples of stuff no first-class passenger could possibly want.

I thought all the info pointed to the CX A340 with the Betsy sleepers on the HKG-SFO route.

Good news, John, they ditched the useless box for a not-quite-so-useless folding bag thingie. Actually pretty nice.