It was definitely a new 74A with new suites, and laptop power was definitely working! If only the same could have been said for the running water in the 2 bathrooms however :)

I think I found the answer to this power port on 74A question.

I was just off CX 889 JFK-YVR-HKG in F - at boarding I asked whether power port was available, and yes it was !! I asked which aircraft registration it was and the FA said it's B-HKT. I later found out that the IFE is the old-style (software-wise, it's still the big screen etc of course) - then the FA said, oh no wonder, the power port has some compatibility issue with the new IFE, and that's why this power port on B-HKT works because it's still using the old IFE.

and she confirmed that there should be only this one 74A (B-HKT) that has the power port working.

So does that mean the 747s have different IFE system to the Airbuses and 777s, since the power on those aircraft work?

good question, I have this question myself too...but I guess it's probably a combination of 747+new IFE that made it incompatible (don't know why though)...somehow, right, 77A with new IFE still have the power port working...but on 74A, either you get new IFE + no power, or old IFE + power...

What a pity that almost half of the 747-400s do not have the in-seat power activated, probably due to the OS issues between the IFE and the in-seat power supply.

With the 744 services to CDG and FRA at the moment, don't need to worry at all cause those are still the old-First Class seats until this Summer.

I find the new F on SQ superioir to the new F on CX, both the seat and food/service. But both are GREAT, and nothing beats the kaseiki meal served on HKG-NRT.

Appreciate some advice
 

I'm planning to fly JFK-HKG-NRT with Mrs Retired in September or October, probably on Cathay. Would love to splurge and fly F but I wonder if the F seats are really congenial for traveling couples. Would C class seats be better from this point of view? Sleeping for 8 hours is not our priority. How does Cathay compare with JAL or AA on these routes? Can I please tap in to the experience of you upfront Travelers to Asia and back?

Mr. Retired: You clearly have not spent much time searching around here for threads on the new CX J...(which is on the JFK-HKG route on the two daily nonstops). All of those threads will come to this conclusion: new CX J is just not compatible with couples. There are big walls between yourself and the person you're traveling with, and you lay at an angle so you can't chat with the person across from you either. Granted the new CX F is so big it's not like it's completely intimate either (and there's only one in the middle aisle, instead of two), but a partner can sit on the ottoman and have dinner with you and it certainly is better if you're going with someone you want to interact with during the flight.

in fact, you're likely to find the new J/F on the 3rd JFK-HKG service too (the one-stop via YVR)...which most often is served with a 74A I think (at least when I took it).

I am intrigued as to why there is a compatability problem between the IFE system and the power port.

CX use the same IFE (new version) as Singapore Airlines; the Panasonic ex2 (I think). Power ports are functioning on all Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380-800 aircraft.