Find cheap Cathay Pacific flights

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is a global airline flying to nearly 100 destinations nonstop, including several cities in the U.S. The carrier has a long-held reputation for an excellent business- and first-class product and luxurious airport lounges. Whether you’re planning a flight in economy or a premium cabin, here’s everything that you need to know about Cathay Pacific.

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, but it’s also a destination worthy of stopping by for a few days on its own.

Cathay has a strong route network, although it’s not quite as robust as it used to be before the pandemic. In the US, the airline flies nonstop between Hong Kong and New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. These are considered ultra-long-haul flights, with a duration that can last well over 16 hours of total flying time.

Cabin classes, seats, and space

Cathay Pacific flies several different types of aircraft, but for flights between the US and Hong Kong, the focus is on two plane models: the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777. On some 777s, Cathay offers an exclusive six-seat first-class cabin. Meanwhile, all flights to the US have business, premium economy, and economy. Here’s a brief rundown of each class of service.

First class

You'll find Cathay Pacific first class on select Boeing 777-operated routes from the U.S., like from JFK and LAX. The airline’s first-class cabin is intimate and features only six seats laid out in a 1-1-1 configuration. Seats are a full 36 inches wide. Having flown Cathay first class several times, I can attest to just how wide these seats are; there is enough space for two full-size adults to sit side-by-side.

All of this room in first class means that when it's time to sleep, the flight attendants will turn your three-foot-wide 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 flight.

Business class

There are several flavors of business class on Cathay, from a less comfortable regional version (these seats recline but don’t lie flat) for flights solely within Asia to a much more spacious business seat for longer journeys, like those to the US. My favorite business cabin is on the Airbus A350 since these seats are the newest, offering slightly more room for your legs and extra-large windows.

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

Premium economy

The premium economy cabin on Cathay, arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, is found on all flights that fly between the US and Hong Kong. On the Boeing 777, the premium economy seat is 19.5 inches wide This is slightly smaller than the A350, with each seat measuring 20 inches wide. All offer up to nine inches of recline which makes for a significantly more comfortable experience than standard economy.

Economy

By now, you know that Cathay flies two aircraft options between the US and Hong Kong. The Airbus A350 is typically my preferred choice of plane, and that extends to the economy cabin, too. That’s because seats are arranged in a much more comfortable 3-3-3 arrangement. The Boeing 777 has economy set up in a 3-4-3 lineup (yes, that one extra seat makes all the difference).

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).

Check-in

In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has several distinct areas for checking in separated by economy, premium economy, business, and first-class passengers (and relevant status holders). There are numerous self-service kiosks 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 experiences passing through.

Lounges

In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has several distinct lounge experiences (and they are some of my favorite lounges in the world). Not only are the amenities top-notch, but the residential-inspired design is soothing and transports you away from the hustle and bustle of an airport.

For first-class passengers (and those with top-tier Oneworld Emerald status), there’s “The Wing,” for instance. Not only is there à la carte dining with both Asian and Western classics but the first-class section of this lounge houses five exclusive “cabana” rooms. These first-come, first-served 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, either. “The Pier”, a Hong Kong lounge with a homey, living room aesthetic, features a noodle bar, nap pods, shower suites, and much more. Outside of its hub, Cathay operates several other lounges like in London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda. At airports like JFK and LAX, expect to use premium lounges from oneworld partners, like American Airlines.

Onboard experience

Here's more of what you can expect when onboard 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 which also offers a high-resolution tail camera). Wi-Fi is available for purchase on most long-haul flights, including Cathay’s Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

Amenities

In business and first class, the British wellness brand Bamford provides amenity kits and bed linens. Passengers in the long haul business class cabin get luxuries like 400 thread count duvet, a mattress pad, and pillows along with skincare products. Slippers and eye masks are also available, but pajamas are exclusively for first-class passengers.

Food and drink

Hong Kong is a unique blend of both Asian and Western cultures, and the food onboard Cathay matches that. Breakfasts include congee and dim sum, a favorite in Hong Kong and Cantonese cuisine. However, there are also Western classics like a burger and fries (I think about Cathay’s incredible burger often) or a full English breakfast.

In economy, I’d recommend going with the Asian option; you might find dishes like stir-fried chicken in black bean sauce with mixed vegetables and steamed jasmine rice. Travelers can also request cup noodles or a small carton of ice cream at any point during the journey as a mid-flight snack.

Drinks, including alcohol, are complimentary onboard Cathay. Premium cabin passengers, however, enjoy a higher quality liquor list, French Champagne, plus vintages from all over the world. On select flights, Cathay Pacific also serves bottles of its own pale ale, named “Betsy” after the airline’s first aircraft. The beer is designed for consumption at 35,000 feet.

However, my favorite beverages on Cathay are actually not on the cocktail list. The non-alcoholic “Cathay Delight” is a refreshing and tasty medley of Kiwi fruit, coconut milk, and fresh mint; it’s delightful, especially during the warmer months. There are a variety of Chinese teas, coffees, and cappuccinos, too.

The service

Cathay’s onboard service has long been second to none, but recently, due to a newer and more junior crew, I’ve had a mix of both excellent and lackluster experiences. Still, you can expect the standard of service to be higher than that of US airlines.

Airline partners and loyalty

Cathay Pacific is a part of the Oneworld airline alliance, meaning you don’t even have to set foot on the airline to earn miles by flying. Cathay partners with more than a dozen other airlines, like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines in the U.S. “Cathay” is the official name of the carrier’s loyalty program. Members can earn points, known as Asia Miles, through flying, shopping, and more.

There are several ways to book Cathay Pacific flights, including the coveted first-class product, using miles. That includes booking through Cathay directly or through partners like Alaska and American. Asia Miles can also be used for upgrades but keep in mind that miles within the program expire after 18 months of inactivity.