Cathay business class HK-Toronto

[PDLM]

Cathay has "lie flat", but that doesn't mean horizontal, it means slightly angled, on all long-haul flights (Europe, Northa America, Sydney/Melbourne). From early next year they will begin to roll out fully flat as they re-equip their fleet, but that won't be complete until late 2008 I believe.

For truly flat on CX you need First.

Note that VS tends to discount somewhat less than CX so you can probably get business class on CX for less than VS (although this depends on any corporate discounts you have access to).

Both CX and VS offer limo service to and from LHR on J and F fares.

[HKFella]

Thanks for info, guys. Decided - it's going to be AC, yet again. On a long route, non-stop and a 6-30pm arrival in TO vs one stop and 8-50pm make a big difference, esp when hotel's downtown and there's a lot of work to be done the next few days.

Cash-strappedness of AC shows up here and there. Last Oct I flew back via Vancouver as direct was sold out. All the papers at Toronto (11am dep) and Vancouver (even 3-30pm dep) were previous day's. Maybe unsold overnight stock gets donated to AC for free!! Lesson - next time take your own along from the hotel.

On outward leg (non-stop) last Oct, music tracks seemed to have a moment's pause every 90 sec or so - so irritating (CX music does malfunction often enough too on Asian routes - great CXFM lineup by the late Tommy Vance, and now Richard Skinner - laid to waste by the equipment). But on AC in J class, one can count on at least one good offbeat movie, and usually at least one solid old rock album and a few good young offbeat bands (not last Oct though). Two summers ago must have listened to Steppenwolf's Monster album at least 4 times on the way home to TO for vacation. Hadn't heard it from my college days but what a brilliant choice. Queen, Hendrix have all had featured albums. And I discovered the young band Cast some years ago and bought their CD in TO (not available in HK) ...etc etc.

But despite areas where their airline lets them down, I find AC cabin staff in J on HK/YYZ/YVR sectors usually deserve A for Effort, specially in recent years. And now and then you find a sense of humour, or a performer, you'll never get on CX - like this French-accented male-voice announcement at Vancouver before take off for HKG: "We do apologize for the delay. Unfortunately, there's been quite a bit of seat duplication in economy. We are doing our best to sort things out but will take a little more time. Meanwhile if any of you affected passengers would prefer not to be seated next to your spouse, partner, relatives, or business colleagues please come up and have a word with us and we will only be too glad to help fulfil your wishes. Thank you for your understanding."

[HKFella]

Just did it on AC BC - HKG-YYZ return. Outward leg - had a defective seat with weaker legrest support than the others, saved by bulkhead wall as footrest. Also needed to work on the laptop. Return leg - no real problem (except dep from infield terminal this time, ML lounge is makeshift and sucks, and too many newbies among cabin staff)

The saving grace? Kickass onboard entertainment (CX - you're good but still pls note, Asian airlines like SQ, TG, etc - getouttahere -too safe/mainstream and just not in the same league):
Besides 'This Rocks' on their 'FM radio' channel, the personal unit had featured albums - Modern Times (Bob Dylan - backed by a tight blues band this time), Continuum (John Mayer), Byrds - Collection (didn't listen after Turn Turn Turn, only ever liked them on Easy Rider in the movie theatre) and on video: A Headbanger's Journey (an anthropologist metalhead's documentary on the "misunderstood" genre) and "I'm Your Man", an awesome though flawed live tribute to the genius of Leonard Cohen by the likes of Bono, The Edge and other U2ers, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Nick Cave, Beth Orton & Jarvis Cocker (on "Death of a Ladies Man"), Antony Hegarty ("If It Be Your Will"), etc. I'll say this for AC - their technology may not be that slick (at times it malfunctions, but then so does Cathay's), but they always have hidden in there something different that's worth occupying one's time with.

[canuckinhk]

we also just completed a round trip on AC business class. 2 of our family members seats were broken (no tv, or power socket) on the way there, and ALL of our seats had the same problem on the way back. The light on one didn't even work, so reading was out! Thank god they reclined. They gave us a form to fill in to get some 'compensation'... CAD$100 voucher or 1000 points. Not nearly enough for how much the seats cost (around $50K a piece).
Its really a shame... I'll think twice about going with them again. Between that and the infield BS, I'm not sure its worth the direct route. Even some of the flight attendants were saying that the seats are defective.
Its too bad... their service is pretty good, the food is pretty darn good (for airplane food), they just need to get these seats sorted and get some FLATBEDS and they could be a real contender. Surely the HK to T.O route is a big one for them.

[animalmom]

I just did the NYC - HK route on Cathay - the seats are IMO terrible and suffer badly in comparison to BA and Virgin but they are getting seats identical to Virgin soon.

Cathay short haul BC is nice - im going to korea tuesday.