How often do they change74A - 74J?
 

I'm booked on a 74A for HKG-SFO. That day both flights to SFO are 74A. Next day both flights are the old 747.

How likely will CX change the plane configuration before departure?

It's hard to say....sometimes they will be swapped to accomodate different loads. For example, if SFO has more J pax and less Y pax, and LHR has the opposite, then they will swap them around.

Equipment changes happen very often on CX (esp. short haul). I never actually believe the equipment listed in my itin. before actually seeing the actual plane at the gate.

(Then again, HKG/JFK nonstop has to be the 77A or 346, but the latter is being phrased out..)

Also, sometimes due to tech reasons. I think after check-in would be pretty safe.

After check in at HKG is not always safe. I've been in the Wing on my way to SFO and "my" aircraft has been reallocated 45 mins before departure. We had to wait 4 hours for the next available 744.

I'm also flying HKG-SFO-HKG. How do you know which of the 747s you're meant to be on? All the website says is 744.

Thanks,
Scott

I believe you can check by looking at the schedule on the Cathay site. I then look at seatguru and they have what they call each plane there.

Ok. I get it. If the website says 744, I'm on the standard version.

Thanks,
Scott

Expect the old business class - if you get the new one, be pleasantly surprised (if that's what you wanted).

744 - Standard B747-400, regular long haul First, Business and Economy.
74J - B747-400, regular long haul First, Business and Economy, but with more Business seats and less Economy seats.
74A - B747-400, NEW long haul First, Business and Economy.

Yes, I understand that. My question is, when I go to cathaypacific.com, all the flights operated with a 747 are listed as 744. How do you know if you're meant to be on a 744, 74J, or 74A? Where does that specific information come from?

Thanks,
Scott

Then it is what it is: 744 = Standard B747-400, regular long haul First, Business and Economy.

Schedules can change further down the road, however.

I agree they all say 744 and it does not give you a clear understanding of what to expect. Either ask MPO / your T/A / or try making a dummy booking at cx.com and then select seats. From the seat layout you will know (at least when selecting J or F)

No. I did a dummy booking HKG/SFO in August, where flights have been announced to change to 74A. Sure enough.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...K/Picture1.png

On Tuesdays however, CX872/3 are still EQV, and CX870/9 is always EQV, meaning equipment is different on different days: eg, maybe 74A or 74J.

The way CX has been changing equipment on 872/873 so far this year, they may as well say EQV anyway. I have not been flying much since the beginning of the year. However, out of two SFO-HKG round trips, I have already been on 744, 74A and even 74J!! I had seat assignments and lost them, and found that the equipment was changed.