I can confirm that CX is reviewing it's business class coffins... er...seats.

The new arrangement under testing is also a herringbone design, but the seats along the aircraft wall face outward instead of inward. This allows you to see out the windows, which is a nice change. The inner row of seats also face towards the aircraft walls, but are at less of an incline (more forward facing) than the current design.

There are many other improvements - much more storage space around the seat with numerous pockets and bins, the coffin walls have been reduced and redesigned so there is more elbow room, the screen no longer blocks the tables and the whole look and feel seems classier.

On the down side, if you are tall or have big feet you may find that the area where your legs go when the seat is flat to be restricting.

It appears that the debate is between seat privacy and seat space. The current seats were designed to provide maximum privacy but they sacrificed on space and storage. The new seats have less privacy, but much more space and storage.

Nice to see that CX is designing new Js, but they have lack of money+the new seats are only out for 2 years, I don't think CX is actually going to change their seats.Perhaps they are having arrangements for the seats which would be out 8 years later:D

Another thing about the "new arrangement seats " is that , I wouldn't want my heading to be sticking out into the aisle when sleeping.If sbd spilled sth, it may be spilled all over my head.

I have never tried CX new J but I think the best J designs still goes to BA's new club world/ traditional designs of QF A380 J, in which you can have either a lot of privacy or a long chat with friends without having to stand up.Actually all CX has to do is to make their old J flat in bed mode, and it would become the perfect seats, like QF A380 J.

"The coffins" lol. Yes, that and a feedlot for a cow. I almost feel like a bovine at feeding time as the farmer/FA walks past.

Moooo.

+1 for the new J. I'm 6"2" and 210 lbs. and find it fine. Yes, I'd like it a bit broader through the shoulder and would like to be able to see out the window easily. But IMHO it has great privacy, offers a great night's sleep and provides adequate storage space.

and another +1. flew HKG-SYD last night and had a great sleep with no pesky neighbour to bother me. now the food on the other hand.............

I was beginning to think that I was just easily pleased, but I too like the new J. I have done a several regional flights (HKG-MNL or TPE) along with a few long haul (HKG-JNB and HKG-SYD) in the herringbone seats and found it great for privacy, space and comfort. I especially love the upstairs on the 747.

Apart from not being able to see out the window, I am happy with everything else, but maybe that is because I just enjoy getting on a plane and putting on some headphones and relaxing alone. Unfortunately I have not flown in business on any other airline, so can't really compare.

(I also like the new Y)

The thing is, if you travel with someoen else u'd be stuck to the walls!

I was chatting with an ISM on a flight I took last week, and she says that CX will be changing the J cabin pretty soon.

If they are changing them, I really wonder how quickly they can do this. Apart from the whole consultation, design, prototype process, they also need to get HKCAD safety approval which can take a long time. So I'm guessing it's going to be at least 2 more years til we get to see something.

And this could be in the normal lifecycle of the seats. If you remember, the slopey seats came out at the end of 2001, then the first herringbone plane started flying in May 2007. So, if you add 5 years to that, we could get new seats in 2012, which is 3 years away, which would be about the amount of time they would need to design and finalise a design.

Finally I saw how the new J looks like !!!!!!!

I got a shock in my life , it is too narrow (shoulder) for a fat person to get into the seat.
I walked to the toilet which is infront of the 2 economy section and i sneaked into the last seat of J which was empty.
I tried seating down, of course its much better than the new Y which i did not have any sleep on it.

OMG.I hope you did not get caught :o

I flew in the CX herringbone seat on the UD of the 747 from ICN to HKG. It was a day flight and too short for sleep but I fit into the seat fine. My problem was the lack of individual air vents and the stifling feeling that creates, which was enhanced by the high walls of the seat. (Or were the vents there and I just couldn't find them?)

It was my first time on CX J and most aspects of the flight (especially the ICN lounge and professional, attentive service during the flight) were quite good. But the ventilation issue, combined with an entertainment system that didn't boot properly until about 1/3 into the flight, and the ICN lounge agent saying I'd have access to the arrival lounge in HKG (I didn't), left me a little underwhelmed. I return in a couple of days on the A340-300 which will be a good comparison.

I too am pleased with the herringbone layout. At the end of the day, you can't really please everyone. Take BA for example - yes they do have a great configuration, but not everyone gets direct aisle access. In the new SQ seats, one would have to sleep at an angle. I'm also curious to find out if the seats on 9W/AC/NZ/VS are the "flip-over" type? i.e. one would have to stand up and make their own bed manually...

NZ/VS are both flip-over seats (NZ licensed their seat from VS) and the flight attendant (Usually, but from my experience, YMMV) will come and make your bed for you.

I thought BA's J config also allows "direct aisle access" for all ? well, ok, not as "direct" as CX's where you're really right next to the aisle, but for me I think it's "direct" and easy enough.

for SQ, how's their "sleeping at an angle" different from the CX ones where the seats are at an angle already ? in a sense I think SQ's is a clever design in that you'll need to sleep in the same angle as the CX herringbone seat, but when you're not sleeping you actually get the much roomier feel.