Honestly... how "bad" is the old J?
 

I've done a bit of searching, but couldn't find really strong descriptions of the old long haul J that is now being updated by the "controversial" new J.

I've flown the new J on a recent flight from NRT-HKG, and the short haul "old old school" J many times on short haul flights (TPE-HKG, etc...). I didn't mind the new J at all. I thought it was pretty good. I was in row 88 on the upper deck of a 747, would that be the 74A? - I'm still learning all the equipment codes for CX.

If I fly on the SFO-HKG or other west coast flights to HKG, I know the chances are getting better for the new J, but if I get the old J, how bad is it? Is it bad at all?

Am I correct in assuming it's basically an angled, almost lie flat product? That is what I've flown many times on Eva and it was fine for me.

Thanks for your help and apologies if it is a redundant question.

If you all you want to do is sleep and you are average size or smaller then the new J is better. In all other cases (IMO) the old J is better.

if you have no problem with an angled product, I actually don't think it's bad at all. I actually like it better since I sleep quite well in it (don't need a horizontal bed) + I'm quite big and so find the new J a bit too narrow - except the new J has the new IFE which has better screen and also supposedly better IFE system.

Yup. That's it. In all honesty it's a fine product especially if you don't mind not being totally flat. Even the IFE is virtually the same, it's AVOD (granted screen res. a bit worse than new CX product, but still better than BA) with a bunch of movies and shows.

I'm due to fly LHR-HKG this week and I was totally gutted to see that the equipment has been changed from the 744 to the 74A (i.e. the angled to the lie flat seats)

I'm not a large person at all and I feel so confined in the seat all the time.. not to mention the slow meal service and everything... the new seat is such a disaster and I wish they would just stop rolling it out!!

I couldnt change to the later flights due to connections and my flight cannot be endorsed to another airline (booked into I class) ... Obviously the new F is great and I loved it when I was on it a month or two ago but I dont understand how horribly wrong they can go with a seat, the width is comparable to Economy class! :td:

Old long haul J's downside is the table. Everytime I have to readjust my seat to upright to have my meals. Besides this,everything is cool especially those seats on row 86 (744 UD emergency exit seats). I used to sleep on row 86 better than in F!

On the other hand,the new J product is getting old again. B-HKT's 16A and 17A's armrests were out of order in Apr,hope they would be fixed during new Y installation.

I am ok with both seats if I am alone,however I would avoid 74A if there is any companion.

B-HKT was a bit of a special case - I'm assuming they will completely rip out the new J prototype and refit it properly. It is quite different from the later fit-outs: a lot of the materials were temporary, the power sockets were wrong (didn't take HK/UK plugs - the later ones do), and so on. Moreover the partitions on HKT are a little higher than those on the later ones. I don't think it's "fixable" - I suspect it will simply be redone from scratch.