About two months notice so far

For intra-asia short haul yes.

these things are unfortunately called technical debt which you need to pay the price a long time for. Even with a huge cash handout, where are they getting so much hardware to swap in.

no one does efficiency and forward thinking like my government and their crony companies do. And I pride my pink ID card for that.

We might like playing airline tycoon, but a business is a business. We will fly the recliners as long as the cost economics suffice. Sorry that we cannot pan to the 1% that need a lie flat on a 4 hour regional.

I think that's one excellent point which many people in their 'enthusiasm' for the industry overlook.

Emirates flew its Boeing 777 2-3-2 business class for a long long l-o-n-g time. Why? One core reason is what despite so many people whinging about it – and let's face it, almost nobody liked it compared to a 1-2-1 layout – people kept booking onto Emirates. They valued the massive network, the one-stop journey via Dubai from almost anywhere to almost anywhere. Add that to the fact that one leg of that journey might be on a more modern 1-2-1, and/or the Gold or Platinum handcuffs of a loyalty program, and until recently Emirates simply didn't see the need to replace 2-3-2. It wasn't a great business class seat, but it was "good enough" for where those 777s flew.

On the CX front, I often consider another angle: let's take SQ as a competitor. If you're flying HKG-SIN-HKG and the choice is between one of Cathay's regional business class recliners and one of SQ's lie-flat business class beds, then SQ is absolutely going to ace that comparo for inflight comfort. No question about it. But on such a relatively short flight, this is arguably of lesser import than other factors which might weigh more heavily, like loyalty benefits. The seat might well be "meh" but "meh" also means "good enough", with a shrug of the shoulders and a wave of hands in the air. It'll do, you know?

And outside of HKG-SIN-HKG, the route on which both airlines directly compete, how many people will choose to fly from Hong Kong to Singapore and then do a layover before catching second flight to some other regional destination, just for lie-flat beds all the way? Versus just doing one CX flight, even if it's in a regional business class recliner, which goes directly to their destination, saving many many hours of time plus all that stopover hassle?

Yes, I get the overall 'industry competition' aspect – but when the rubber his the road runway, comparing Airline A to Airline B for regional business class, the most competitive scenario plays out only on direct routes such as HKG-SIN, HKG-TPE.

Anyway, while one could suggest that CX came late to the party (which I also question in this case, as this regional business class seat debuted back in 2012 and the industry was very different then), let's embrace the fact they're now showing up and with what sounds like a pretty good present in hand.

those people who want lie flat in short flight are mostly redeem and just wanted to post picture in their fb ig to pretent they have life style.

Aww no need to be sorry. I've booked myself on SQ/JX even HX for regional so I am all good. SQ/JX seem to be able to run a profitable business with a decent product.

Quite frankly, the 1% aka your clients don't really care about your debt problem/the how, all they care about is what they see when they board.

True. I will do a stopover in TPE to get back from Japan but I am probably in the minority. The lie flat is just one factor though, wider network, better catering, better value for money also play a part. Of course SQ/JX have their faults as well. What pisses me off most is the value for money point - why would I pay a substantial premium to subject myself to a much crappier product when I can just go to the next gate particularly as you say on SIN?

The lie flat is also coming to BKK, KUL and MNL so not just a SIN problem. Its just going to be pretty Asia industry standard in short order.

The lie flat is also not just a P2P problem. If I got off F/J on a 16 hour JFK or a 14 hour LAX and then found myself in J on that 321 to SIN, I would immediately be booking away for my next trip.

For EK, EK business presents a very nice chauffeur service that almost no other airline give.
That chauffeur service is extremely valuable in places that have expensive taxi fares and very convenient.
EK service/food is also quite good and fares are better than CX for the routes that I flew with EK.
EK also offers full lieflat on BKK to HKG

I fly outside of HKG to SIN as well. XX-HKG-SIN on regional.
Chose CX cause nice HKG lounge and dont mind stopping over at HKG
BUT CX started putting ancient 330 with old recliner non functioning seats and also decided to use non-recliner 321 business seats on the routes.
Is ok if CX charge PE prices but CX charges Business prices for a recliner PE seat with a stopover.

So, back to SQ with direct flights, lie flat for the same price or less.
Other airlines like VN/MH/MU provide lie flats with short hops to SIN too at much much cheaper price.
CX is really not competitive at all.

All I'm saying is that CX probably has not finalized fleet assignment for all routes yet. CX clearly has not finalized the fleet assignment for TPE post-29MAR, either.

Don't know the specifics of DPS, sorry.

Other than SIN, I would prefer travelling to BKK on J via EK than CX, cheaper price and better hard product. EK lounges in Hong Kong and BKK are also not bad, though not better than the Pier. If I have to take a CX flight to/from BKK due to time constraint and the BKK CX J is a recliner, I would rather buy/redeem a Y ticket instead,

But for those who paid cash for J/C (not redemption or corporate travel) would not perceive more value from a lie flat vs the current decade-old recliners? They would turn down a bed at gate?

And CX is never shy from sending recliners to routes where lie flat could be necessary, redeye of KTM, PEK, KUL, and the super-high-yield CTS. Utilisation and scheduling over everything else for CX.

It is not customers who dictated CX to have 4-5 config on its A330 causing more troubles for scheduling and inconsistency of flight experience. I think it’s ok the bashing and complains keep going on here. It’s just the tiny fraction cost (technically no cost) for CX maintaining its good financials.

As for the future, let’s say “cautiously optimistic”.

My recent two short-haul flights were BOTH changed from A350 to the very same ex-KA 333 equipment :rolleyes:

I'm flying TPE-HKG on the 30th. I just got a notice today (29th HKT) that the plane has changed (was A350, now A330-300) and I've been downgraded from PE to Y. No problem, let me go online, cancel the online check-in I did a few hours ago, and at least choose a good seat in economy. Oh nope, can't, it says that I did not do online check in, even though I did.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...13bca055b1.png

Can you refresh your mobile BP and see where they have seated you in YCL? Also, you do not generally need to cancel OLCI to choose a new seat.

On Android, I can see which seat is assigned to me (5*C), but I can't see the seat map or change it:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b2e601769f.jpg

for those who used to paid for the J ticket is already get used to a non lie flat seat , it is not new at all , this seat already exist 10years ago . only the new people upset when they didnt get gey it.