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Thoughts and Impressions: CX New J (74A) and CX New Y (77A)

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  • Thoughts and Impressions: CX New J (74A) and CX New Y (77A)

    Note the sample size (n=1) so please discount appropriately . I had the chance to experience the new CX business and economy class this past weekend, and I wanted to share my impressions (and pictures) from this one trip with fellow SQTalkers.

    Summary:
    • The seats weren't as bad as I had expected; in fact, I thought they clearly improved upon the previous seats
    • Service -- even from the LHR-based crew (which I had read tended not to be up to usual CX standards) -- was excellent
    • CX needs to get a handle on its LHR ground ops


    Now the TR, with the promised pics ...
    Last edited by jjpb3; 6 November 2007, 11:32 PM.
    ‘Lean into the sharp points’

  • #2
    Pre-Flight

    I was running later than my usual standard of checking in 2-3 hours before boarding time, but the checkin process was very civilized indeed. The only hiccup was that the computer apparently didn't recognize that I had only upgraded the LHR-HKG sector, so the agent couldn't see my onward journey HKG-SIN. A few minutes and several apologies later (I have always found the CX ground agents at LHR very personable), my boarding passes were sorted. I would be travelling on the new CX J for LHR-HKG and the new CX Y for HKG-SIN .

    I decided to explore another lounge option for this trip and headed to the JL lounge. Bad news: it opens at 1300 and closes at 1900 -- not at all useful when you're taking CX 252 (dep LHR 1130) . Oh well, off to the CX lounge then.

    After checking and answering work voicemails, I headed to the gate. The boarding process was, frankly, a royal mess. CX decided to put two checkpoints in place: the first to screen that you're boarding in the proper sequence, and the second to process your BP and check your passport. The problem was, they only manned the second. So there was a buildup of passengers ("gate lice" is the term the UA board at TOF use to describe them) who shouldn't be expecting to board, but who nonetheless clog the first checkpoint. To their credit, the gate lice didn't try to go past this checkpoint, but much of the confusion could have been avoided by placing someone at the first checkpoint, and announcing a request not to head towards that checkpoint until the boarding group was called. It was a very unpleasant way to start a trip.
    Last edited by jjpb3; 6 November 2007, 05:22 PM.
    ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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    • #3
      The J Experience (The Cabin) -- Part 1

      Finally, I was able to squeeze myself through the throngs, and I was welcomed onboard. For this flight, I had requested the upper deck, and with my Marco Polo Club status, I was assigned 88A, one of the exit row seats.

      The general (biased) impression I had received from previous reviews was of a very cramped, claustrophobia-inducing cabin. I didn't think it was that bad. Actually, I didn't feel very hemmed in at all. Peeking over 88A, this was the view I got:



      Here's another view, this time of the FA having a laugh because two passengers switched seats, causing her roster to be wrong:



      I personally didn't find the cabin very stuffy.

      There was ample room in the overhead bins -- if you place your rollaboard sideways. Here's a shot of my Tumi G4 fitting into the bin:



      Yes, that's the overhead bin above the K seats. The passenger in 89A managed to board before me, and her stuff prevented me from fitting my rollaboard sideways into the bin above my seat. Putting the G4 wheels first wouldn't allow it to fit into the space.

      This is 88A itself (sorry for the blinding backlight, but it was a sunny day in London).



      It does look a bit coccooned, but shoulder-wise, I found it wider than the BA new generation Club World seat, and therefore quite comfortable. Sometimes, not having overly broad shoulders can be a blessing. Note: your opinion might be different if you are more prone to claustrophobia than I.

      I do understand why some travellers panned the seat for the view it gave. If there were someone in 88K, I might have been treated to the sight of his or her feet for the majority of the flight:



      Fortunately, the champagne would have taken the edge off the intrusive sight (yes, I do consider pre-flight champagne as one of the redeeming features of current air travel ):



      So, perhaps because my expectations were managed downwards so much by the reviews I had read, I found the new CX J seat not at all bad.

      The seat was far from perfect, however, so what follows will be a series of little quibbles from a passenger who tends to nitpick (ouais, c'est moi ).
      Last edited by jjpb3; 11 December 2007, 12:19 AM.
      ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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      • #4
        The J Experience (The Cabin) -- Part 2

        Here is a view of the controls at the new J seat:



        The seat controls are intuitive, and the IFE remote control has a simplified look that makes navigating simple. I liked the shortcut buttons that allow you to jump to the movie or TV option. It was also nice that you didn't need special adapters to use the inseat power.

        But note the slight forward tilt of the screen. This was a major weakness of the new CX J design: the screen fittings didn't seem to be particularly sturdy. The picture shows the latched position; I expected it to be more flush, and judging from the pushes the FAs gave the screen when the plane taxied, they expected the same.

        At least the leg space was perfectly acceptable to someone like me, who would be picked last for a pickup basketball game because I obvously lack the height to fight for rebounds. (My dribbling skills are similarly underdeveloped.)

        Here's my lame attempt at the requisite SQflyergirl shot (sans painted toenails, I'm sorry to say):



        and at a UMD-esque shot:

        .

        Plenty of legroom for a runt like me. Apologies to the aforementioned SQTalkers for the shadow of an imitation of their TR shots.

        The large screen was a definite improvement, and it enhanced the enjoyment of my usual pastime at the start of the meal service (sitcoms, in this case Will & Grace, of course).



        But note that the screen doesn't swivel up or down, so you're stuck with a fixed plane for viewing. This isn't particularly user-friendly if you're lying flat before sleeping. In addition, the distance from you isn't very adjustable: once a certain point is reached, the screen folds back to its latched position.

        Finally, the transition to the latched position (for the most part necessary if, for example, you want to get out of your seat to go to the toilet) isn't the smoothest process. In 88A, you have to push on the left side of the screen when stowing it to make sure that parts of it that roll it along the railing don't stick out and prevent the screen from sliding into position.

        In sleeping position (no pictures, unfortunately ), the seat is quite comfortable, much better than the previous NBC seat. But I did get the feeling that I was tilted too much, i.e., my head was lower than my body. It was nothing that a pillow couldn't fix, but given I haven't experienced this issue with BA, I was surprised by the difference. To get into a comfortable position (for me), I ended up going to the full recline position and then adjusting with a few button pushes (the right button next to the seatback image -- see the first picture in this post) to a more upright position.

        In sitting position, there are a number of features I didn't like. First, looking outside the window is pretty near impossible on the Upper Deck. Imagine yourself facing backward on a BA window seat (e.g., 84A). Now rotate forwards with your left shoulder fixed (as the axis of rotation). Once the plane of your back forms roughly 135 degrees from the original plane, you're in the CX new J seat position. You will risk a painful neck cramp if you attempt to look out the window to your left.

        In addition, the windows on the Upper Deck are, literally, an outstretched arm's length away. I know this, because I was asked to lower the blinds after mealtime.

        Finally, I wish there were more storage space for the small inflight items (e.g., lip balm, moisturizer, etc.) that I like to keep at hand, like in the side bins on SQ 744s. There's a really nicely positioned surface for use when you lie back to sleep and want to keep items (e.g., alarm clock, glasses, etc.) by your sleeping head -- it's sort of like a bedside table (only much smaller). However, this surface is close to useless when you're in the sitting position, because you'll have to twist hard (to the left if you're in 88A) to deposit or retrieve items from that surface.



        My summary, then: this is a seat that works relatively well, but it can definitely stand a few design improvements.
        Last edited by jjpb3; 6 November 2007, 05:29 PM.
        ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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        • #5
          The new Y class dont have a great seat pitch right? The seat doesnt reclines as far as SQ's new Y. T

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          • #6
            Originally posted by singaporeairlinesboi View Post
            The new Y class dont have a great seat pitch right? The seat doesnt reclines as far as SQ's new Y. T
            I haven't tried the new SQ Y so I can't compare. But I thought the pitch in the new CX Y on the 77A was quite decent. I'll post some pics later on.
            ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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            • #7
              Originally posted by jjpb3 View Post

              Here's my lame attempt at the requisite SQflyergirl shot (sans painted toenails, I'm sorry to say):


              Great report, but you really oughtta try the nail polish one day. I tell ya, it lifts one's spirits for sure

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              • #8
                An intriguing trip report jppb3. Kudos for sharing.

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                • #9
                  thanks for the report, jjpb3.

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                  • #10
                    Very good trip report...looking forward to the new Y since I will be travelling a lot on it

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                    • #11
                      Thanks for the TR, jjpb3! If you've tried BA's new CW seat, how did the CX J seat compare ?

                      Just going by the pictures alone for the moment (I'll get to try CX in Dec), I think I prefer BA's seat - the CX seat looks narrower (particularly as the arm rests on the BA seat drop down) ? More privacy with BA when seated by the window; no problem with access to the window boxes; can look out of the window; etc. The CX AVOD is of course better (although a big slug of BA miles each time the AVOD doesn't work isn't to be sniffed at!).

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                      • #12
                        Thanks for this nice and detailed TR !

                        The part where you said someone from the opposite seat will be staring at your legs and feet for the whole trip gives me the creeps.
                        J. my own dear wife J.

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                        • #13
                          Brilliant report, jjpb3.
                          All opinions shared are my own, and are not necessarily those of my employer or any other organisation of which I'm affiliated to.

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                          • #14
                            Excellent & informative trip report as usual, jjpb3.
                            Looking forward to trying the new J someday.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by jhm View Post
                              Thanks for the TR, jjpb3! If you've tried BA's new CW seat, how did the CX J seat compare ?
                              I thought the CX seat was actually wider at the shoulders, but it certainly looks narrower because of the canyon-wall partitions that enclose you on two sides. I've been in the middle seat of the middle section of a BA 777 and 747, and that felt pretty narrow when the partitions were up.

                              Advantages of new CX J:
                              • Seat width (my perception) -- but the difference was minor, IMHO
                              • Stable table (with the flexibility to be a half-table)
                              • Larger screen
                              • More user-friendly remote
                              • More lighting options (I love the lights that go on at the partition -- creates a special mood, and they aren't as obtrusive as the light above the pax) -- so you have the overhead light, the reading light (over your left shoulder in 88A) which has adjustable dimness, and the track lighting along the partition on the opposite wall from the screen
                              • Aisle access for everyone on the Upper Deck (but not window access -- see the last point below)
                              • More stable footstool, to the point where I could comfortably sit on it as I was moving things around in my carryon luggage


                              Advantages of BA NGCW:
                              • Lounging position: I personally like the pre-defined Z-position
                              • More comfortable bed (I slept better, and hated having to wake up more, on BA)
                              • The translucence of the partition (manages your perceptions of space much better)
                              • Possible to look out the windows on the Upper Deck (in the new CX J, you have to give up on looking out the window, unless you want to gaze through the window of your neighbor across the aisle) -- THIS WAS MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT WITH CX'S CHOICES; NEXT TIME I'M ON THE 74A, I'LL BE ON THE MAIN DECK


                              Time to find time for my SQ 77W Business experience so I can round out my experiences ...
                              Last edited by jjpb3; 6 November 2007, 04:06 PM.
                              ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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