(I have posted a similar query at the end of the other active business class seat session but am creating a new topic to get more attention; my aplogies for the clutter).

How does CX J compare with AA 777 MRTB 60" pinch seat to LHR and BA 747 J on LHR-DEL.
I am interested in a comparison of the new J seats (34C SFO-HKG) and the old J seats (JFK, LAX-HKG) on CX.

I have not flown CX ever but have enjoyed the 60" pinch on AA 767/777 business class cabin. The pictures which Betsy took somehow gave an impression of the cabin being cramped. Is the seat-pitch wide enough?

All these plans are for a vacation US-DEL which I will be taking with my AA miles. The CX award is the best bang for the buck but requires a 15 hour layover in HKG after the trans-pacific flight. I do not mind spending a day in HKG.

What is more important to you?

Service? Seats? Food? Surly FAs?

For Service - Go with CX.
For Seats - Go with BA (flt beds if that's important to you) - CX new J not offered on all flights and even so, only on selected A340s only.
For Food - CX
For surly FAs - Hmmm AA comes to mind.

AA wins a mile in surly FA, and elderly FA on int'l routes

Thanks Folks.
We have decided to go with CX. We could not get the SFO-HKG flights on the outbound so will be going LAX-HKG on the 747 and returning on the HKG-SFO flight on the Airbus (which I hope will have the famous new seats). I will keep on looking for seats on the HKG-SFO flights.

To us, the comfort of the seats and the palatability of the food service is the most important. I am an omnivore, wife is no meat (egg, milk ok). The last time we flew AA J to Europe and the service was nice though I do not have anything to compare with.

Now the other question: How to spend the 15 hour layover in Hong Kong? We are first time visitors and going in the second half of February. My better half would definitely like to shop for end of season clothing sales, while I might think of picking up some electronics. We would also like a half-day tour/cruise to get a general feel of the land. There is a possibility that we may make this an overnight stay if we can find enough motivating factors.

Well, it's not much time to hit the city, so you might want to take a tour of the airport, check out the shops on the concourse, and then spend the remainder of the time in the Wing, the world-famous CX lounge in HKG.

you would be surprised at the food cart.
(remember to try the food at thw Wing as well, esp the DangDang Noodle)
there would be enough veggie, but i would suggest you make the special meal order prior the flight.

12 hr in HK:
1. search for relevant forum, there are a lot of good suggestions. the peak, tsimshatsui, etc
2. get a one-day RT ticket on the express train (same price as 1-way) and go to central,
get a cab to peak tram station and take the tram to go up the peak,
after coming down to the tram sta again, walk through HK Park to Pacific Place (the Mall) for shopping (should be final sale after the chinese new year),
[optional] lunch at the peak or the shangri-la/conrad at pacific place

it should be evening by then. if you still have time, take the star ferry to Tsimshatsui and take picture for the night view of HK Island from the other side of the sea.
[if you are OW emerald and can access the F class lounge in the Wing, dine somewhere else than the Penisular Hotel, because their chef cater for a free buffet when you are back to the Wing]

enjoy

Thanks for all the info. I am a OW Emerald (EXP on AA) so will definitely go to the F class lounge on the Wing. I have heard so many good things about the Wing that it is becoming the highlight of my visit. I hope my expectations do not get too high

Will be doing all the searches/lookups in the Airport forum and other forums for Hong Kong related stuff.

then i have one more suggestion to make good use of the wing.

get your borading pass out of HK (either in US or in the counter when you arrived at HKG in the morning). you need to have the boarding to access the wing.

when you arrive at HKG 6am in the morning, go to the transfer/transit area (where you have to show the outbound boarding pass to get thr' the security). go up 2 levels in the elevator to get into CX F lounge.
in the lounge ask for the cabana, take a good bath and try the buffet breaksfast, and explore the lounge a bit.

check in your lugguage at the F lounge conceige (you may want to repack and bring only your passport, ticket and boarding passes) before going down 2 level again via the same levator to exit immigration for your day in HK city

You should also visit the Pier, their new lounge. I find that fascinating, too.