Like Emirates and Qatar whose joint orders for the now massively delayed Boeing 777X aircraft amount to over 50% of total orders, Cathay Pacific and others have been forced into an expensive retrofit of older 777 models with their planned new 777X cabins. Returning from London to Hong Kong at the week-end I was pleasantly surprised to find the 777 had Cathay's new Aria suites in biz class. These have a few modifications from the carrier's earlier long haul biz seats even after including the door. Frankly, I found the seat the most comfortable of any I have sat and reclined in. Even in Qatar's Q Suite I find when the seat is in the bed position with a thin matress over it I can still feel the metal join between upper and lower half of the seat. I then have to incline the seat slightly. A minor issue but one I hope QR addresses. With the new CX seat, the recline is seamless and very comfortable. And the linen-covered duvet is wonderfully large. The TV moniter is also larger, in a fixed position with a sharper picture and a large selection of movies and TV programmes.

CX is still economising in small ways, though. Meals come without salt and pepper. Whereas the poached eggs for breakfast were superbly cooked, having to ask for condiments seems an unnecessary saving the more so when cabin staff are busy and these can take a minute or two to arrive. There were also no hot towels prior to landing. Still, that's basically nitpicking. In terms of the overall flight, I'd definitely take CX if given a choice.

Re the 777X, the criticism of the huge delay in getting this aricraft into service is mounting almost daily. Due to enter service in 2020, Boeing is now saying this will happen next year. Sir Tim Clark, the Chairman of Emirates with the largest order, doubts even this is possible. Sources within Emirates suggest 2028. 

We flew Cathay Pacific on our last trip to Bangkok and found the business class seats were the most comfortable we had yet experienced. I don't know if they were Aria seats though. Probably not as there were no suites.

8 hours ago, Lucky said:

We flew Cathay Pacific on our last trip to Bangkok and found the business class seats were the most comfortable we had yet experienced. I don't know if they were Aria seats though. Probably not as there were no suites.

The new BA Club suites are annoying for me, as you can't raise the foot area, without  the back reclining.  I just want to put my feet up, without having to slide back! If you want to eat, you have to raise the whole seat. They are comfortable for sleeping.  

I for one,  like  economy seats in the last row of Air Arabia. Flew with them to BKK in November

Duplicate - sorry!

14 hours ago, Lucky said:

We flew Cathay Pacific on our last trip to Bangkok and found the business class seats were the most comfortable we had yet experienced. I don't know if they were Aria seats though. Probably not as there were no suites.

On the 14-hour flight to London I was on the CX A350 with the 'old' biz class cabin. Like @Lucky I found the seating remarkably comfortable. I also had the cutest flight attendant looking after me. I wished more than once there was a door!! 🙄

On my recent trip I took 4 CX flights and 2 BA flights. Every single one was totally full. No doubt one reason for the usual Qatar special offers which usually start in October for the following Spring not happening last year. I have usually got a 20% or 25% discount through these offers.

20 hours ago, vinapu said:

I for one,  like  economy seats in the last row of Air Arabia. Flew with them to BKK in November

I thought you preferred to stand?

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I thought you preferred to stand?

if price was right, I would

5 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I thought you preferred to stand?

Prototypes of semi-standing seats are already being considered! These are said to be rather like sitting on a bicycle.

Photo: CNN

55 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

Prototypes of semi-standing seats are already being considered! These are said to be rather like sitting on a bicycle.

Photo: CNN

The awful O'Leary of Ryanair threatened  standing for pax. 

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

if price was right, I would

Perhaps you could be suspended from the ceiling?

I'm a great fan of Cathay Pacific - their lie-flat beds are supremely comfortable.

Staff are wonderful, too.

I'll be off to Japan on Cathay in May.

Last trip over Christmas /New Year was on ANA. They were also great, and the food was outstanding. But there wasn't a lot of  choice  - 1 Western and 1 Japanese. The presentation was what you'd expect in a 5 star restaurant.

But I prefer to fly during the day, which is why I've chosen Cathay again. I always look forward to spending time in their lounge in Hong Kong. It's amazing!

I flew to Kuala Lumpur this time on Malaysian. I flew economy class with am extra legroom seat.

You have to choose your flight carefully with Malaysian because some flights out of Perth have a business class seat which is not even what I'd call premium economy. You have someone sitting next to you, the seats do not lie-flat and there is not even an entertainment screen!. And they charge 3 times the price for economy!

The long haul flight to and from Japan, however, is true business class. 

1 hour ago, Keithambrose said:

Perhaps you could be suspended from the ceiling?

Maybe but suspending from floor was not well received.

What caught my eye on the frightul "standing seats" (what an oxymoron!) was the logo on the headrest. It looked like an invitation to insert something (with a distinct head) into a snug sleeve.

3 hours ago, vinapu said:

if price was right, I would

I heard that on a per-kilometre basis, cargo had the best rates. But I gave it a miss because I also heard there were no toilets in cargo.

The seats illustrated in my post above are not the only ones being "considered". Someone has come up with a new double decker economy seat with flat bed available as part of it -

Another has a real double decker ordinary seat -

 

6 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I heard that on a per-kilometre basis, cargo had the best rates. But I gave it a miss because I also heard there were no toilets in cargo.

Depending on area, it can be a touch cold, minus 30 etc! Need thermal underwear.

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

The seats illustrated in my post above are not the only ones being "considered". Someone has come up with a new double decker economy seat with flat bed available as part of it -

Another has a real double decker ordinary seat -

 

Not sure there is any room for luggage there?

14 hours ago, a-447 said:

. But there wasn't a lot of  choice  - 1 Western and 1 Japanese.

still much better than ' yes' or ' no ' choice ( old  KLM joke, stewardess is asking passenger ' will you have meal ?"  , he answers  ' do I have a choice ?" , ' yes , yes or no " said she

13 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

What caught my eye on the frightul "standing seats" (what an oxymoron!) was the logo on the headrest. It looked like an invitation to insert something (with a distinct head) into a snug sleeve.

you dirty mind !

13 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I heard that on a per-kilometre basis, cargo had the best rates. But I gave it a miss because I also heard there were no toilets in cargo.

and no heating , often luggage is very cold when retrieved from the belt

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

and no heating , often luggage is very cold when retrieved from the belt

I can do you an excellent line of thermal mountaineering underwear! LOL

18 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

I can do you an excellent line of thermal mountaineering underwear! LOL

you have a good heart !