VeroFlyer

pro's and cons for both please...?!!

A Scaler

You're saying it like you will have a choice...

Not many more SO courses for the 400 these days. But to answer your question.
Pro 747: Good rest to EU with mostly based crews and everyone working on their body clocks.
Cons 747: The oldschool longsleevers are still here.

Pro 777: Fleet of choice (at the moment) good choice of destinations/layovers
Con 777: The oldschool longsleevers from the 400 are 'ticking the 777 box' before retirement.
Con 777 (all fleets): Terrible crew hotels.

BuzzBox

747 - A great aircraft but now getting quite old with more and more problems appearing as time goes by. CX will start phasing out the 747 over the next few years, so the destinations will become more limited and when it comes time for upgrade you'll probably end up on the 777 anyway. Positives - can't really think of any,

777- an even better aircraft, a real pilot's machine with newer technology. The 777 will become the backbone of CX's long haul fleet as the 747 is phased out of service. Ultimately there will be a lot more variety in terms of destinations (if there isn't already). Negatives - can't think of any!

crwjerk

Comparing aircraft is irrelevant to S/O's as you wont touch them for at least 4 years until you possibly upgrade to F/O. The rest is correct regarding hotels, rest, destinations, old long-sleevers!!

Gravox

The best thing about the 747, It has it's own toilet in the flight deck.
The worse thing, they're being phased out, so very limited destinations.

VeroFlyer

Thanks guys for your insights. I guess the 777 is the more popular. Do SO's operate on freighter flights as well?

Silberfuchs

On the contrary the BEST thing about the -400 is that they are being phased out AND there are very limited destinations.

The 777 fleet is working their ar$e off, many hitting the 900hrs 12mth limit.

The Jumbo fleet is working less and less (650hrs in the last 12mths for me)

Definitely less variety for -400 SO's but current layovers are:

Johannesburg (currently a 104hr layover...the best in the company)
London (28hrs)
Paris (38hrs)
Frankfurt (30hrs)
Amsterdam (28-54hrs)
Vancouver (50hrs)*
Anchorage (18-28hrs for SOs)
Auckland (28hrs...Oct-Mar only)
San Francisco (50hrs)

*YVR will be 777 only by December

PS: Yes, SO's operate Freighter flights too. Currently only to Anchorage, and the odd Sydney trip.

The only thing constant in CX is change.
The 777 is currently the best fleet to be on (IMO) but with the 777F and the A350 slated to arrive over the next 4yrs, things, routes, bases and rosters will change significantly.

The Jumbo is fantastic but she is dying (although we will still have the 747-400ERF & the 747-8F well into the future).

pands777

talk to any flying a CX Airbus and with the way they are currently getting worked I think you will quikly have your answer!

SloppyJoe

Joining now I think the airbus could be the best fleet to get onto. With the 350s on the way and the 777Fs arriving shortly by the time a new SO is an FO things could be very different. The best fleets swing from one to the other over a period of 5-10 years. Was the 400 then the Airbus and now the 777 has the best rosters.

cxorcist

Hmm, I disagree. CX only has 8 777F on order vs. over 60 total pax 777 with 50 300ERs for long haul. A350 will likely be quite delayed, and there are heaps of 330s flying short haul for a long time. Stay away from the 747.

Iver

Completely agree with Silburfuchs. Why not get the rating and time in the Whale before it is phased out on the pax side? You can always fly and enjoy the 777 for the rest of your career if you wish.

Who cares about the limited layovers on the 400/800 - again, you will get to most of those destinations in time on the other fleets. Regardless, I would absolutely want flight time in the 800F - but that is just me. Plus, as an SO, you won't get much actual flying anyway - you will either sit on the 777 or on the 747. But having that experience on the 747 will always be valued and memorable IMHO. Every 747 pilot I know valued that experience and that aircraft. You can always reflect back on that experience on the 747 as you skipper a 777 or A350 later in life.

I certainly don't fly for Cathay, but if I were in your position and if I had a choice, I'd personally would go with the Whale and enjoy that experience while it lasted...