While I usually use SQ for my travel between Australia and India, I'm considering flying CX via HKG on my upcoming trip. I'm actually keen to try out the new Y Class Shell seats. Having looked at the flight schedules 3 of the 4 flights in this round trip will be 33B's (which I understand are equipped with the new Y class).

Can any CX regulars tell me whether the IFE in Y class on these birds is AVOD? (Say similar to what SQ has in their Y med/long haul Y class?)

Mods, I did search for this but the threads I found were rather old and thought it prudent to start a new thread than to bump one of the old ones.

Did you try reading the sticky FAQ thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...xperience.html

It's pretty clear that aircraft type 33B has the new AVOD in all 3 classes.

Yes. The FAQ does clearly state there is AVOD in the 33B's.
Read the FAQ next time.

Many thanks for directing me to the FAQ, however I raised the question mainly because of the seemingly conflicting information available on FT and CX Website. And while I'm prepared to accept that FT FAQ's are more current than the CX Website I was hoping someone who's recently traveled in the 33B can confirm that the IFE is in fact completely "On Demand".

If you get a 33B, it should be completely on demand in Y class. The last SQ Business Class flight I had on a 777-200, the IFE broke down so often I had to move to three different seats. CX's AVOD in Y is superior to the SQ model I experienced.

Simple equation: any CX aircraft type ending in A or B always has new style AVOD in Y class no matter what. Any aircraft type not ending in A or B never has AVOD of any type in Y class and channels are on fixed cycle.

However, this doesn't mean that if the schedule shows an 74A/77A/34B/33B that you will get this aircraft for sure. While on longer hauls it is pretty accurate on short haul or regional last minute aircraft swap is very common.

I am not trying to defend SQ here, but to say that CX's AVOD in Y is more superior to the SQ model is not exactly a fair statement. Both CX and SQ are using the IFE equipment produced by Panasonic.

I think you are comparing apples to oranges here. The model that you have experience on SQ B777-200 is either Panasonic System 2000E (broadcast in all classes) or System 3000 (AVOD in all classes), which is the previous generation of IFE system. Whereas the CX's AVOD in Y that you have experience, it is the eX2 system on CX's 74A, 77A, 33B and 34B fleet. The same system is installed on SQ's 77W, 380 and 333 fleet. If you have been on SQ's Y in 77W, 380 and 333, you would notice that the monitor in SQ Y is larger than CX Y (10.6" vs 9"). Do bear in mind that most of the Y in CX fleet are still without AVOD, i.e. on the 772, 773, 333, 330, 34C and 34D fleet.

come on doing a search of the sticky or even a real search is way too much trouble despite the fact they always claim to have searched