Cathay Pacific First Class
9
/10
A great flight you will recommend to friends
Airport Experience
Cabin & Seat
Cuisine
Beverages
Service
Entertainment
Amenities & Facilities
Short & Medium Haul

Review of Cathay Pacific First Class

BusinessClass.com review by Edward Yang
Updated 19. Mar 2024

Not one to be outdone by its regional rivals, Cathay Pacific’s First Class is a product to be savoured. By the airline’s own admission, the First Class experience is designed to strike the perfect balance – from the inspiring menus, to the luxurious amenities, and Cathay Pacific’s warm, thoughtful service.

As the flag carrier for Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific connects continents near & far with an impressive route map. Acutely aware of its global audience, the airline seeks to blend Asian influences into its amenities and service while also catering to the needs of its worldly passengers. 

Cathay Pacific is a member of the oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Qantas, and Qatar Airways. The airline often coordinates schedules to facilitate onward connections while also selling many of its flights as a codeshare partnership. Members of Cathay Pacific's own Marco Polo Club, or any other oneworld frequent flyer program, can earn and redeem frequent flier miles when flying Cathay Pacific. 

Airport experience

9/10

Cathay Pacific’s main hub and its gateway to the world is Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) – known locally as Chek Lap Kok. It is an enormous yet fantastic airport. Prepare yourself for long walks to reach the gate once you pass through the priority check-in lane. Dedicated check-in for First Class passengers makes security lines less of a wait, and there is a train as well as numerous moving sidewalks to expedite your travel through the airport.

Cathay Pacific is known for its beautiful and generously stocked airport lounges. There are several around the airport meaning no matter what your gate, a lounge is always close at hand. While First Class passengers are eligible to enter all the lounges at the airport, though only The Wing and The Pier have dedicated space dedicated exclusively for its First Class passengers. The Wing boasts luxurious cabanas for rest and relaxation, as well as private spaces to get work done. The Haven – the Wing’s restaurant, offers à la carte service as well as a dim sum buffet with exclusive wine pairings. There is also a Champagne Bar. The First Class lounge at the Pier features eight private suites with daybeds, plus all of the comforts required to get a good nap. You also have access to massage services and private work spaces. 

Each lounge has its own character and distinctive amenities like a noodle and dim sum bar (try the Dan Dan noodles), a Chinese tea lounge, yoga room, showers, barista-prepared coffee, and napping areas. In addition, the lounges offers a variety of hot and cold food, bartender-crafted cocktails, self-serve beverages including wine, beer and soft drinks, Champagne (the brand can vary), and periodicals. In some lounges, the bartender can mix up a smoothie or the airline’s signature “Cathay Delight” non-alcoholic signature drink – blending milk, coconut milk, kiwi juice and mint. 

Outside of Hong Kong, there are Cathay Pacific lounges in other gateway cities including Bangkok, London, Shanghai, Singapore, and Vancouver – with most of these being Business Class lounges only - except for London – which has a dedicated First Class lounge. Otherwise, on the majority of destinations where Cathay Pacific offers First Class, its passengers are entitled to use the First Class lounges with the airline’s oneworld partners.

Cabin & Seat

9/10

Cathay Pacific’s First Class service is only available on a subset of its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs. A good way to (visually) tell if a Cathay Pacific B777-300ER has First Class, is if there are a set of 6 windows after the forward door, rather than a continuous stream of windows between the forward and second doors. 

The First Class cabin features six open suites with a seat width of 36 inches (79 centimetres) and a pitch of 81 inches (206 centimetres) arranged in a 1-1-1 configuration – one of the widest and most comfortable seats in the sky. The middle seats (1D & 2D) are open towards the right-hand side of the plane, with a wall on the left side. This in turn means that the seats on the left side (1A & 2A) have an aisle all to themselves – which in turn provides a great deal of privacy even when the suite is not fully enclosed. 

There is a personal closet and an ottoman for guest seating, so that you may dine with your companion at one seat at cruising altitude. When it is time for sleep, the seat transforms into one of the widest fully flat beds available, complemented by luxurious bedding from leading organic brand Bamford: a thick mattress, 600-thread-count bedlinen, a selection of soft pillows, and a calming pillow mist. The suite can also function as a private working area, complete with Wi-Fi and in-seat power. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft. Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested, before making your choice.

Cuisine

9/10

Even more so than its Business Class, dining in First Class is an absolute treat. You may order à la carte at any time during your flight. The menu features international and contemporary Asian dishes together with lighter meals and healthy options designed by celebrity chefs, with menus that is designed to look like newspapers. In it, an outline of the services on offer for the flight is listed, along with pictures and descriptions. 

The presentation is impeccable, and dining comes with white linen tablecloths and high-end cutlery and glassware.

A sample dinner menu on a long-haul flight includes Caviar with blinis, chives, crème fraiche and chopped eggs served with vintage Champagne; smoked duck with sweet and sour dressing cucumber and cantaloupe; boneless US pork ribs with strawberry sauce; Warmed Lebanese tabbouleh salad with bulghur and roasted eggplant; grilled beef tenderloin with thyme jus, French beans with sesame seeds, sweet potato puree; pan-fried black cod with edamame and gremolata, saffron risotto, ratatouille & roasted Roma tomatoes. 

Dishes branded ‘Hong Kong Flavour’ showcase popular local fare, for example, Braised abalone with flower shiitake and choy sum-layered bean curd or braised grouper with bean curd and shiitake mushrooms in ginger and scallion sauce. 

An assortment of cheeses, ranging from Brie to Arenberger, and a wide selection of Asian and Western desserts are provided to aptly round off the meal. 

First Class patrons embark on a culinary journey starting with a tantalising appetiser of crystal pork terrine with black vinegar, inspired by a Zhenjiang specialty in China’s Jiangsu province. This elegant dish features thinly sliced pork knuckle, cured, boiled, pressed, and adorned with a sweet and tangy sauce crafted from aged Chinese black vinegar.

Meanwhile, throughout 2024, Business Class and First Class passengers flying from Hong Kong on selected routes will enjoy Cantonese fine-dining thanks to a partnership with Michelin-starred institution – Duddell’s restaurant of Hong Kong.

For the main course, a selection of exquisite options awaits. A rendition of the sautéed abalone and chicken with Sichuan pepper and crispy greens pays homage to the traditional Chiu Chow cuisine. Succulent abalone and chicken are delicately sautéed with Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, and fish sauce, accompanied by steamed winter melon rolls and fragrant salted fish and vegetable rice. Alternatively, indulge in the steamed cod fillets with Chinese ham and shiitake mushrooms, featuring velvety steamed cod layered with slices of Chinese ham and mushrooms for a luxurious fusion of textures and flavours.

Cathay Pacific is partnering with Michelin-starred French restaurant Louise to bring a fresh twist to traditional French cuisine to the skies.

Expanding on the success of the airline’s recently introduced "Hong Kong Flavours" selection in collaboration with Hong Kong's renowned Cantonese fine-dining establishment Duddell’s, Cathay Pacific is working with Louise - home of master Chef Julien Roye. Together, they have unveiled an exclusive menu featuring 16 reimagined French classics. 

This menu is exclusively available to First Class and Business Class passengers on select long-haul flights departing from Hong Kong.

Passengers commence their epicurean voyage with an appetiser featuring Obsiblue prawns immersed in herb-infused consommé. Then they are presented with an array of exquisite main course options. The first, steamed Chilean sea bass with chorizo sauce. Alternatively, the chicken ballotine with sauce supreme pays homage to Louise's renowned Roasted Hong Kong yellow chicken. To conclude the meal on a sweet note, patrons are treated to a tantalising selection of desserts. The raspberry and pistachio financier, a French delicacy, delights the senses with its moist, tender cake base infused with the subtle flavors of pistachios.

Beverages

9/10

Cathay Pacific offers an award-winning wine selection designed to complement the onboard menus, with an onboard cellar that features top Champagne cuveés (Rare Champagne, France 2006), wines (Lamblin & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume, Burgundy, France, 2017; Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, 2008), spirits, tea and coffee. Special mention for Cathay Pacific’s signature Betsy beer – a specially-brewed pale ale commemorating the airline’s first aircraft, and promotional wines will be offered throughout the year for the airline’s premium passengers. 

A wide range of soft drinks, juices and still or sparkling waters is of course available and Cathay Pacific serves illy coffee and Jing teas. Passengers can request espresso, cappuccino and latte drinks, and a regular favourite is Hong Kong-style milk tea.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes, but feel free to let us know if there is something we missed.

Service

9/10

The service on Cathay Pacific is gracious and attentive, and one can expect an exclusive treatment throughout the flight. You will be addressed by name at every interaction, and the crew adds a touch of the personal with a charming hand-written note. As the suites are not fully enclosed, the crew is deliberate in making as little walk-by’s as possible, in order to not come off as a disturbance. However, should you need anything, a push of the call button will have a member of the crew at your service in the blink of an eye. 

The airline’s current crew uniform is its 10th iteration and was created by designer Eddie Lau – one of Hong Kong’s most successful fashion designers. The female cabin crew wear a rose jacket with a matte champagne brush-wing collar, a white short-sleeved brush-wing printed blouse with a rose red collar, and a rose red knee-length skirt. The Male cabin crew wear a dark ottoman fabric jacket with a Mandarin collar, a light olive Ottoman fabric vest with shiny olive jacquard back, black trousers, and a red jacquard base tie with champagne stripes. 

Entertainment

9/10

Cathay Pacific’s First Class inflight entertainment system sports an 18.5-inch (47 centimetres) high-definition screen, video handset and BOSE noise-cancelling headphones. Content includes Asian and Hollywood movies, complete television box sets, and the latest podcasts and music. HBO Max has recently been added to the library. 

Each suite has in-seat power and all First Class passengers receives complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the duration of the flight. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

Amenities & Facilities

9/10

Cathay Pacific’s First Class amenity kit is provided by Bamford, a British clothing and skincare brand. It comes in a zipped vegan leather bag and includes face mist, moisturiser, lip balm, mouthwash, toothbrush and toothpaste, foam ear plugs and a cotton eye shade.

Bamford’s luxurious bedding includes a thick mattress, 600-thread-count bed linen, a warm blanket, a selection of soft pillows (‘soft’, ‘medium’ or ‘firm’) and a calming pillow mist (a cocktail of frankincense, lavender and marjoram). High-quality organic cotton sleepsuits, soft slippers and eyeshades are also provided courtesy of PYE.

Short & Medium Haul

8/10

Cathay Pacific does not offer a First Class service on short and medium-haul routes, although the airline has offered First Class on destinations such as Tokyo and Taipei in the past. At present the highest service class on the airline’s short and-medium haul flights will be Business Class. Aircraft operating shorter flights do however often feature the regional Business Class seat, which dates back to 2012 and comes in a 2-2-2 (on A330) or 2-3-2 (on B777) configuration. While still comfortable, these seats do not match the quality of the ones used for long haul flights. Cathay Pacific is due to introduce the A321neo narrowbody jet to its regional fleet, which will feature a next-generation regional Business Class seat. On regional and medium-haul flights, Cathay Pacific delivers a multi-course meal presentation like the long-haul flights with a starter, salad, multiple main course options and a tasty dessert. The beverage menu is equally notable with wine, beer, cocktails, spirits, and Champagne.

Sustainability

In 2021, Cathay Pacific diverted 246 tonnes of food waste from landfill to energy recovery and donated 210 tonnes of surplus food to charities. By the end of 2022, it intends to have cut single-use plastic by 50% compared to 2018 figures. It plans to add more fuel-efficient aircraft to its fleet - including the Airbus A350 and A321neo, which are more than 20% more efficient than the aircraft they will replace. In May 2022, the airline committed to using 10% sustainable airline fuel (SAF) by 2030. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

  • Cabanas at The Wing, First – an excellent opportunity for some luxury R&R before take-off – but book early!
  • The First Class suite – one of the widest and most comfortable First Class seats in the sky.
  • Bamford Bedding and Amenity Kit – luxury bedding and soothing amenities to ensure a restful night of sleep.

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FAQs
Yes. The seats offer considerable intimate space, the soft product is among the best, and the personalised service is excellent.
Search & Book on BusinessClass.com and find the best possible prices.
The United Kingdom, France, the United States, Japan and China
Hong Kong to London Heathrow typically costs around HKD120,000 (£12,000) return or starts from around HKD 69,000 (£7000) one way. Hong Kong to Los Angeles LAX typically costs around HKD 137,000 (USD 17,500) one way or HKD 228,000 (USD 29,000) return at the time of writing. One of the best ways is to exclusively redeem frequent flyer reward points or combine them with a cash payment.
Hong Kong to Beijing, London Heathrow, Los Angeles LAX, Paris CDG and Tokyo Haneda.
While Business Class is widely available on Cathay Pacific’s itinerary, First Class is far more exclusive, offering just six seats on a select number of routes with first-class dining and more personalised service.
King’s Imperial Schrenckii X Dauricus Caviar
Meals are served on-demand, so when the passenger is ready to eat.
Three checked bags up to 32 Kilograms (70 pounds) each, plus one cabin bag plus a small item not exceeding 15 kilograms (33 pounds) combined.
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