Find cheap Cathay Pacific flights

Cathay Pacific is a Hong Kong-based international airline with a long-held reputation for excellent business and first-class products and luxurious airport lounges. The carrier flies to more than 100 destinations worldwide, including several cities in the U.S. Whether you’re planning a flight in economy or a premium cabin, here’s everything you need to know.

Routes

With a hub in the buzzy metropolis of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is geographically well-positioned for flights between the U.S. and most of Asia. However, Hong Kong is not only a great connecting airport for onward flights, it’s also a destination worthy of stopping by for a few days on its own.

In the US, Cathay flies nonstop between Hong Kong and New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The route network is strong, although not quite as robust as before the pandemic. These ultra-long-haul flights can last over 16 hours.

Cabin classes, seats, and space

For flights between the US and Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific offers four cabin classes: first, business, premium economy, and economy. The airline flies two aircraft types on these routes (Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777-300ER), with first class available exclusively on select 777-300ERs. Here’s a brief rundown of each class of service.

First class

Cathay Pacific’s first-class cabin on select Boeing 777-300ER routes (with service officially reinstated from JFK on March 31, 2024) features just six seats in a 1-1-1 configuration, each a full 36 inches wide. Having flown Cathay first class several times, I can attest to just how wide these seats are. There’s enough space for two full-size adults to sit side-by-side.

All this room means that when it’s time to sleep, the flight attendants will turn your seat into one of the plushest beds in the sky. That includes everything from a sumptuous mattress pad, comforter, and several pillows. This was easily the best sleep I've ever gotten on a plane.

Business class

Cathay offers several business class versions. For US routes, my favorite is the newest Aria Suite cabin recently introduced on retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, though the Airbus A350-1000 cabin also offers excellent comfort with slightly more legroom and extra-large windows. Regional flights within Asia have a less comfortable version where seats recline but don’t lie flat.

Business class seats for all flights between the US and Hong Kong are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. While they don’t have privacy doors like some airlines, they still feel private thanks to winged partitions between seats. There’s also plenty of storage space, and all seats angle slightly away from the aisle.

Premium economy

The premium economy cabin on Cathay is arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration and is on all flights between the US and Hong Kong. On the Boeing 777-300ER, the seat is 19.5 inches wide, which is slightly smaller than the A350’s 20-inch wide seat. The A350 offers up to nine inches of recline, while the 777 provides eight inches, making for a much more comfortable ride than standard economy.

Economy

By now, you know that Cathay flies two main planes between the US and Hong Kong. The Airbus A350-1000 is typically my preferred choice, and that extends to the economy cabin, too. That’s because seats are in a much more comfortable 3-3-3 arrangement. The Boeing 777-300ER has economy set up in a 3-4-3 lineup (and yes, that one extra seat in the middle really matters).

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you should know about the Cathay Pacific ground and pre-flight experience in Hong Kong and beyond.

Baggage policy and fees

Since Cathay flies exclusively international flights, the airline’s baggage policy is pretty generous. The airline’s checked baggage allowance depends on the specific flight route and class of travel. However, even economy passengers on most flights can check two bags free of charge (including those between the US and Hong Kong. However, passengers on Economy Light fares are restricted to one checked bag.

Check-in

In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has distinct check-in areas for economy, premium economy, business, and first-class passengers (and status holders). You’ll find plenty of self-service kiosks where you can print boarding passes and baggage tags, followed by self-service bag drop facilities, in addition to traditional check-in desks. Hong Kong’s international airport is open, airy, and easy to navigate. I’ve also never had to wait longer than a few minutes for security in my dozens of trips through.

Lounges

Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong lounges are some of my favorites in the world, thanks to their residential-inspired design that transports you away from the airport hustle. The amenities are top-notch, and the airline offers several distinct lounge experiences depending on your cabin and status.

For first-class passengers, Cathay Diamond members and those with top-tier Oneworld Emerald status, there’s “The Wing, First.” It features à la carte dining with both Asian and Western classics, but the real highlight is the five exclusive “cabana” rooms.

These private suites include a large soaking tub, day bed, waterfall shower, amenities from Bamford and complimentary pressing services.

Even the business class lounges are no slouch. “The Pier, Business,” a Hong Kong lounge with a homey, living room aesthetic, features the signature Noodle Bar, extensive seating areas and shower suites.

Outside of its hub, Cathay operates several other lounges in places like London Heathrow (with separate First and Business Class areas) and Tokyo Haneda (featuring a Noodle Bar and panoramic views).

At airports like JFK, Cathay customers use oneworld partner lounges such as the Soho and Greenwich lounges or American Airlines Admirals Club. The same applies at other U.S. airports like Dallas-Fort Worth, where passengers access the American Airlines Flagship Lounge.

Onboard experience

Here’s more of what you can expect when you’re on a Cathay Pacific flight.

Wi-Fi & entertainment

The airline offers a broad array of onboard entertainment, from movies and games to TV shows. Every seatback has a screen (my favorite is on the A350-1000, which also offers external cameras including a high-resolution tail camera and an underbelly camera). Wi-Fi connectivity is available on most long-haul flights, including Cathay’s Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, though availability can vary by route.

Amenities

In first class, the British wellness brand Bamford provides luxury amenity kits and bed linens. Long-haul business class passengers receive amenities including a soft mattress topper, a large plush pillow and a 400-thread-count cotton duvet cover and pillowcase, along with skincare products. Slippers and an adjustable eye mask are also available in business class, while sleepwear is provided for first-class passengers on long-haul flights.

Food and drink

Hong Kong is a unique blend of Asian and Western cultures, and the food onboard Cathay reflects that. Breakfast options typically feature both Western and Asian dishes, including the signature congee (rice porridge) and noodle dishes, or Western-style eggs with sausage. Premium cabin passengers might find more elaborate options throughout the day, while I think about Cathay’s excellent burger (available on select flights) often.

In economy, I’d recommend the Asian option. The current “Hong Kong Flavours” menu highlights include dishes such as sweet and sour pork with pineapple, braised duck with taro and baked chicken with aromatic ginger and aged mandarin peel. Travelers can also request cup noodles or ice cream at any point during the journey.

Drinks, including wines, spirits and beer, are complimentary onboard Cathay. First Class features champagne and caviar service, along with premium vintages from around the world. On select flights in premium cabins, Cathay Pacific also serves bottles of its own pale ale, named “Betsy” after the airline’s first aircraft. The beer is specially designed for consumption at 35,000 feet.

However, my favorite beverages on Cathay aren’t actually on the cocktail list. The non-alcoholic “Cathay Delight” is a refreshing and tasty medley of kiwi fruit, coconut milk, and fresh mint, primarily served in Business and First Class cabins and lounges. It’s delightful, especially during warmer months. There are also a variety of Chinese teas including jasmine, along with coffee service, while espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos are typically reserved for premium cabins.

The service

Cathay’s onboard service has long been considered among the industry’s best. Recently, due to a newer and more junior crew, I’ve had a mix of both excellent and lackluster experiences. Still, you can generally expect the standard of service to be higher than that of most US airlines.

Airline partners and loyalty

Cathay Pacific is part of the Oneworld alliance and partners with more than a dozen airlines, including American and Alaska in the U.S. The loyalty program is called “Cathay,” and members earn Asia Miles through flying, shopping, and more. You don’t even have to fly Cathay to earn miles.

There are several ways to book Cathay Pacific flights using miles, including that coveted first-class product. You can book through Cathay directly or through partners like Alaska and American.

Asia Miles can also be used for upgrades (subject to availability and fare rules), but keep in mind that miles within the program expire after 18 months of inactivity, though the expiry date is automatically extended by 18 months from the date of your last qualifying earning or redemption activity.