Does anyone have an update on when the A340 fleet will have their first class cabins removed? I have a trip from YVR-HKG in July1 on the afternoon flight. Shall I change it, or will first class probably be still offered. Thanks so much

I'm curious too, as I'm booked First Class on 340s serving YVR-HKG-JNB in September.

Is this removal of First Class from the 340s going to be fleet wide or, like BA with its 777s, affecting only a few aircraft that will be serving select routes?

What's your source?

I sort of have a suspicion that the F class cabin will only be removed on selected A340 aircraft and not ALL of them.

The September issue of CX World cited that all 15 A340-300s would have the First Class cabin removed, changing into a 2-class configuration. The refit will start in April 2004 and is expected to be completed by August 2004.

The article specifically mentioned Rome, Amsterdam and Toronto as 'thin' routes where front-end demand is low and back-end demand high, suggesting that these routes will definitely get the F chop if any sort of 343-reconfiguration plan is in fact implemented.

Assuming that the original plan is stuck to, and as much as I'd like that not to happen, a 343 July F service seems unlikely, and a September one even more so.

[This message has been edited by B-HXB (edited Nov 23, 2003).]

Doesn't it seem so funny, that it takes nearly 1.5 years for new J-class to be refitted (hence investment), but only 0.4 months to get rid of unwanted F-class cabin?

Anyways, as for original question, there is no way HKG-YVR is served by an aircraft without F-cabin. It's one of the most premium route, and my guess is that they will deploy A346 or another 744 in this route.

[This message has been edited by fakecd (edited Nov 23, 2003).]

Thanks for this info. I'm booked in F, but it is the new 346 out of LAX, so I guess I'm safe.

What are they going to do with the first class seats which are taken off from the A340? Are they going to sell them or put them in the used 747-400 which they just bought from BA?

I think this is a very sound conclusion

Speaking of which, CX will decrease its 744 fleet by one (or 2) in 2005 when it will convert its oldest 747-400(s) on its fleet into a frieghter aircraft... according to Flight International.

Sorry no link.. but I subscribe to the magazine.

Perhaps CX's looking into possible fleet of 777-LR/ER to replace the A340? SQ are phasing out their 744 and introducing 777 which are more reliable and far more cost effective. In a long term, we might see 777 flying to YVR! (since loads might not warrant double 744)

Well, I am not surprised if the daytime YVR-HKG flight has the two class A340 service. In the past, F is full on CX 839 only during peak holiday seasons, but on low season, it is relatively empty.

But the good news is that CX is going to lease 15 Boeing 747-400s from BA in order to cover the future growth... CX is still not sure what to pick as its future long haul fleet... But some of the new leased Boeing 747-400 will be passenger version... so I assume that YVR will possibly get a second Boeing 747-400 service. A340s will concentrate on the thin routes like AMS, FCO, AKL, and YYZ, and used to explore other thinner long haul routes.

LAX flights are definitely not getting the new 2-class A340... Premium traffic is very healthy on this particular route.

Carfield

Healthy on SFO as well - often hard to get seats

Early December 3 of us are trying to fly SFO-HKG and we need to go via LAX since we can not get 3 seats out of SFO (F not A)

It seems that CARFIELD and B WATSON disagree as to whether the YVR-HKG day flight will have first class . It is presently a Airbus 340. Will aircraft be switched to 340-600 or indeed will the service only be Business and Coach on this daytime YVR flight??

Don't get too stressed out just yet. We're talking about the flight half a year later! The CX schedule is not up to date, so don't trust their "equipment" info just yet.

Besides, you will be fully informed by CX if F-cabin isn't available prior to your departure. You can easily switch to the midnight flight if indeed they remove F-service from afternoon.