Business Class on 777

[JohnK]

I have had the opportunity to fly business class on the 777-300 (Emirates BKK-HKG) and on the 777-200 (Cathay HKG-BKK).

Not very impressed. Has anyone had the pleasure? Or displeasure!

The seat pitch is more like an economy seat. I am not the biggest person in the world but the seats felt uncomfortable. And if you are like me and want to be sitting upright for the journey then do not sit behind a recliner on a 777-200 as they recline right into your lap.

I expected a little more from business class on the 777. Personally I think AY business class on the MD11 is better than the 777 from my experience. I certainly hope my AY flights next week are not delayed and I am stuck with another 777 flight.

P.S I wonder what economy is like on the 777! If anything like business then a waste of time.

 

[v8Statesman]

I flew SIN-PEN-SIN a few years ago in J on a SQ 777, I was in 1E? Aile seat on the left. I Must say it was fantastic. Comforable and service! WOW. And the Silk uniforms :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[Mal]

I have flown Cathay J several times on their 777's.

They have 2 different types of 777's. One with mechanical buttons for the seat features and one with an electronic control panel. I think the 200 series is mechanical, and the 300's electronic.

Havn't flown EK in Business yet, although I have been told their product is good.

I didn't love the seats, although I found them comfy enough for the short flights involved (no longer than the equivalent of BNE-MEL, or BNE-ADL).

Business class seating on the 777's @ Cathay is called "Regional Business Class seats" and really is similar to Qantas domestic / trans tasman seating wise. Most of the flights are also about the same time frames, with the longest being routes like (IIRC) HKG-DBX and HKG-BNE using those configs.

Economy really isn't too bad, but I think only some of the planes have winged headrests on seats. Can't really recall.

If you want a really bad J seat, I could mention some airlines that are much worse!!

Seating wise, I still think Qantas has a much better product that most other OW airlines. Service wise (and entire package wise) airlines like CX have clear advantages over Qantas IMHO.

 

[Reggie]

Seating wise, I still think Qantas has a much better product that most other OW airlines. Service wise (and entire package wise) airlines like CX have clear advantages over Qantas IMHO.

Definitley agree with you Mal. Flew PER-HKG-LAX return on CX. Service was impeccable, but seating was not made for taller people like myself. The skybed has definite advantages on the longhaul whilst the seats on the PER flights aren't as good as the seats QF use on their SIN and HKG flights

 

[thadocta]

I fail to see the relationship between the standard of service and the aircraft type. Surely it is what the airlines choose to put inside the aircraft - rather than the aircraft type itself - which determines comfort levels?

To knock the 777 just because some airlines have (in your opinion) sub-standard accommodation is not the fault of the aircraft, but of the airlines.

Look at the A330-300 - Qantas have a fantastic J cabin on that aircraft, whilst some other carriers have a pretty basic cabin.

Don't blame the aircraft, but the carrier.

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

The 777s of EK have their old business product and , where applicable, 1st class product in them. Nowhere near as nice as the A340-500 series offering.

BKK-HKG is only a short flight and a reasonable product for that distance, plus, ime, the service on EK is excellent

Dave

 

[NM]

The only relationship between the 777 and business class product is the fact that the width of the cabin is similar to a 747 lower deck and hence generally configured for 2x3x2 seating in business class. This is used as a marketing ploy by Airbus whose A340 is narrower and hence long-haul business class is generally configured as 2x2x2.

The business class config is dependent upon what the operator is trying to achieve. 777's configured for long-haul operations will by top-tier carriers have business class configurations basically the same as their 747 lower deck products (eg BA). CX use the 777s for regional services and hence have the same business class seating as their regionally configured A330s (just with 2x3x2 vs 2x2x2).

AA's 777-200 business class has 60" pitch. Air France is 55 inch. BA is the same New Club World seating as 747. EK is as little as 46" on some of their 777 and CX is down to 45", the same as their regional A330s.

 

[Yada Yada]

I've flown J on a BA 777 with the Club World seating and found it OK. Heaps of leg room. Width could have been better but it wasn't bad.

 

[serfty]

I've flown J on a BA 777 with the Club World seating and found it OK. Heaps of leg room. Width could have been better but it wasn't bad.

Flown a BA 777 once in Club World (last month) and the seat was a bit tired; maybe just that aircraft perhaps. I agree the ClubWorld beds need a bit more width for moi. Service was efficient BA.

Also flew CX777 in WHY and J last year and service in both cabin was really good. With the Seat in J being somewhat short for my 182cm. (Luv that belly Cam!)

 

[Reggie]

Don't blame the aircraft, but the carrier.

Dave

I think you have misunderstood my comments. What I was trying to say is that I have a choice. I can choose to have good service with CX and not such a comfortable seat in J. Or have a great seat in J and the not so good Qantas service.

Of course the aircraft doesn't dictate service, that is unless you are on a REX metroliner.

 

[NM]

Don't blame the aircraft, but the carrier.

Dave

I think you have misunderstood my comments. What I was trying to say is that I have a choice. I can choose to have good service with CX and not such a comfortable seat in J. Or have a great seat in J and the not so good Qantas service.

Of course the aircraft doesn't dictate service, that is unless you are on a REX metroliner.

Or better still, select a CX flight operated by the right type of aircraft . I have a choice for an up-coming flight KUL-HKG which is operated by 777-300, A330 (regional config) or A330 (long-haul config). The long-haul config is 3-class sold as two, so premium J pax get CX F seats. Guess which flight I would choose so long as the connections are good!

 

[straitman]

I have flown Cathay J several times on their 777's.

They have 2 different types of 777's. One with mechanical buttons for the seat features and one with an electronic control panel. I think the 200 series is mechanical, and the 300's electronic.

Business class seating on the 777's @ Cathay is called "Regional Business Class seats" and really is similar to Qantas domestic / trans tasman seating wise. Most of the flights are also about the same time frames, with the longest being routes like (IIRC) HKG-DBX and HKG-BNE using those configs.

Or better still, select a CX flight operated by the right type of aircraft Laughing . I have a choice for an up-coming flight KUL-HKG which is operated by 777-300, A330 (regional config) or A330 (long-haul config). The long-haul config is 3-class sold as two, so premium J pax get CX F seats. Guess which flight I would choose so long as the connections are good!

Agree entirely. The Cathay "Regional Business Class seats" are just that. They are however serviceable for their intended role which is short/medium haul work.

 

[jakeseven7]

Don't blame the aircraft, but the carrier.

Dave

I think you have misunderstood my comments. What I was trying to say is that I have a choice. I can choose to have good service with CX and not such a comfortable seat in J. Or have a great seat in J and the not so good Qantas service.

Of course the aircraft doesn't dictate service, that is unless you are on a REX metroliner.

Don't worry I understood you!

And I would choose great seat & standard service 9.9 times out of 10 over the reverse.

 

[cowombat]

Reasonably often I do the CX run from HKG to Mumbai, via Bangkok. They treat this as a regional service with the old J seats. Not particularly comfortable, and don't all have PC power. I think this 7 hour service is getting a bit long'ish to call "regional"...... I'll be back on it in late May for the second time this year.... fingers crossed one day I'll get the more modern metal!

 

[NM]

Reasonably often I do the CX run from HKG to Mumbai, via Bangkok. They treat this as a regional service with the old J seats. Not particularly comfortable, and don't all have PC power. I think this 7 hour service is getting a bit long'ish to call "regional"...... I'll be back on it in late May for the second time this year.... fingers crossed one day I'll get the more modern metal!

CX use their "regional" A330 config for BNE-HKG services. Its a shame they can retain daily ops (with a CNS stop one way on some days) while QF are still only 4 times a week with their A333 with Skybeds.