Cathay Pacific Business Class Review: My Ultimate Guide in 2026

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I’ve flown Cathay Pacific business class on some of its longest routes, including Boston to Hong Kong and down to Bali. It’s become one of my favorite airlines to fly to Asia, not just for the comfort, but for the consistency and the little details that actually matter on long haul flights.

In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about flying Cathay business class in 2026. I’ll cover what the seats are like on different aircraft, how the food stacks up, what you’ll experience in the lounges, and how to book it without paying full fare.

One thing to know upfront: Cathay has a lot of different aircraft types, and the experience varies quite a bit depending on which plane you’re on. I’ll help you figure out which is which.

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Overview of Cathay Pacific business class

Cathay Pacific is a great choice for flying to Hong Kong in business class. It’s a 5-star Skytrax airline, and the product is fantastic when you get the right aircraft. Below is a quick summary of what you’ll find, and I’ll go into more detail throughout this guide.

Seats and space

• Lie-flat beds with direct aisle access on most long haul planes
• Newer Aria Suite with closing doors on select 777s (this is the one you want)
• Older reverse herringbone seats on A350s and some 777s (still very good)
• Large 4K entertainment screens on the Aria Suite, decent screens on older aircraft

Sleep and bedding

• Proper bedding from Bamford with cotton linens on long haul
• I’ve had some of my best sleep in the sky on Cathay!

Food and service

• Strong food departing Hong Kong with Cantonese and Western options
• New “Chinese Classics” menu rotating through regional Chinese cuisines
• Food departing the US is less impressive but improving
• Free flowing champagne, decent wine list, and their own pale ale called “Betsy”

Lounges

• Excellent lounges in Hong Kong: The Wing, The Pier, and The Deck
• Famous noodle bars (worth the hype!)
• Currently undergoing renovations, so some temporary changes

My take: If you’re flying to Asia and can get Cathay on the newer Aria Suite aircraft, it’s an easy yes. The older cabins are still very comfortable and the service is consistently good. Just check your aircraft type before you book.

What’s new with Cathay Pacific business class in 2026?

Cathay is in the middle of a massive overhaul right now, and it’s about time. They’re pouring over HK$100 billion into new planes, cabins, and lounges. Here’s what matters if you’re flying them in 2026.

New Aria Suite seats are rolling out

If you haven’t seen the new Aria Suite yet, you’re in for a treat. These are fully enclosed pods with sliding doors. The entertainment screen is a massive 24 inches in crisp 4K, and there’s wireless charging built right into the suite. I’ve flown it twice already and the difference from the old product is night and day.

The thing is, it’s only on select 777-300ERs for now. They’re rolling it out gradually and should finish the whole 777 fleet by late 2027. Right now you can find it on flights to London, Sydney, Beijing, and Vancouver.

My top tip: Always check your aircraft type when booking. If you end up on an older 777 or any A350, you’ll still get lie-flat seats and solid service, but you’ll miss out on the doors and that huge screen. It’s worth switching flights if you can.

Seattle, Munich, and Brussels are back on the map

Cathay is bringing back direct flights from Seattle to Hong Kong starting in March 2026. They’ll fly this route five times a week on the A350-900. That’s great news if you’re on the West Coast and don’t want to connect through LA or San Francisco every time.

Over in Europe, they added direct flights from Munich and Brussels to Hong Kong in summer 2025. Both routes are still pretty new. And if you’re in Texas, the Dallas to Hong Kong route is going daily in October 2025, up from four times a week.

Regional routes are finally getting lie-flat beds

This is huge if you fly to Australia or New Zealand. Cathay’s regional business class has been stuck in 2012 with ancient recliner seats that don’t lie flat. In 2026, they’re finally rolling out proper lie-flat beds on some A330s.

The Hong Kong lounge situation is temporarily chaotic

I’ll be honest, the lounge situation in Hong Kong is chaotic right now. The Wing First closed in May 2025 for renovations and won’t reopen until sometime in 2026. They’ve turned The Deck into a temporary first class lounge and reopened The Bridge to handle the overflow.

It’s not ideal if you love The Wing like I do, but The Pier First is still open and it’s still one of the best lounges in the world. Plan extra time if you’re connecting because you might need to walk further than usual. Elsewhere, the Beijing lounge just got completely redone and it looks fantastic. And they’re opening their first ever New York lounge at JFK’s new Terminal 6 in 2026, which should be excellent.

Inflight entertainment keeps winning awards

Cathay just won the Skytrax award for best inflight entertainment again, and it’s deserved. They were the first airline to offer 4K content, they’ve got the biggest entertainment library in Asia-Pacific, and every seat has Wi-Fi now. Their system is intuitive, the content gets updated regularly with fresh movies and shows, and you can use Bluetooth with your own headphones on the newer planes.

The dining options are expanding

Cathay have introduced a “Chinese Classics” menu in business class that rotates through regional Chinese cuisines. You’ll find dishes from Sichuan, Fujian, and Jiangsu provinces, which is a nice change from the usual Hong Kong style dishes.

How to book Cathay Pacific business class for less

Cathay business class doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you’re flexible with dates and know where to look, there are plenty of ways to bring the price down. Here’s what I recommend.

1. Use Asia Miles (Cathay’s own program)

Asia Miles is Cathay’s loyalty program and it’s one of the best ways to book Cathay business class. Award availability is generally better through Asia Miles than partner programs, though the pricing increased slightly in April 2025. As of now, you’ll pay 88,000 Asia Miles for business class from the West Coast to Hong Kong, or 95,000 from the East Coast. That’s about 5% more than it used to be, but still reasonable compared to other programs.

You can transfer points from major credit card programs like Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers are usually instant, so you can search for a flight first, then move points over only when you’re ready to book.

2. Book through Alaska Mileage Plan (if you can find availability)

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is technically an excellent option for booking Cathay, with business class from anywhere in the US to Asia priced at just 50,000 miles one way. That’s a fantastic rate, and Alaska also allows a free stopover in Hong Kong, even on one way awards.

The catch is that Alaska has persistent availability issues with Cathay. You’ll often see space on British Airways or American’s websites that doesn’t show up on Alaska. It’s been a problem for years and hasn’t been fully resolved. That said, when it works, it’s one of the best deals out there. You can earn Alaska miles through their credit cards or by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.

3. Check other Oneworld partners

Cathay is part of the Oneworld alliance, which means you can also book their flights using miles from American AAdvantage, British Airways Avios, Qantas, and others. Each program prices awards differently, so it’s worth checking a few if you have points spread across multiple accounts. British Airways Avios can be particularly good for shorter Cathay flights within Asia. American AAdvantage sometimes has decent availability too, though you’ll pay more miles than Alaska.

4. Watch for Promo Rewards on Asia Miles

Asia Miles runs monthly “Promo Rewards” with discounted award tickets on select routes. These can cut 25% or more off the usual mileage cost and sometimes include business class. If you’re planning a trip a few months out, check the Promo Rewards page before you book.

5. Use flight deal alerts

For cash tickets, I let Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) do the heavy lifting. You set your home airports and they email you when they find deals. I’ve seen business class to Hong Kong drop to under $2,000 roundtrip during sales, which is a steal compared to the usual $5,000+ fares. If you want to try the paid version, use my code JON25 for 25% off.

Best and worst Cathay planes for business class

Not all Cathay business class seats are created equal. The experience varies significantly depending on which aircraft you’re on, so it’s worth knowing what to look for when you book.

Best option: Boeing 777-300ER with Aria Suite

This is the one you want. The new Aria Suite has fully enclosed pods with sliding doors, a massive 24-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth audio, and plenty of storage. The seat is a reverse herringbone design in a 1-2-1 layout, so everyone has direct aisle access.

Right now you’ll find this on select routes to London, Sydney, Beijing, and Vancouver. They’re rolling it out gradually across the 777 fleet and should be done by late 2027. The difference between this and the older product is massive, so it’s worth checking your aircraft type before you book.

How to spot it: look for flight numbers operated by specific tail numbers (B-KPO, B-KPF, B-KQH and growing), or check FlyerTalk and airline forums for route updates.

Very good: Airbus A350-900 and older 777-300ER

If you don’t get the Aria Suite, you’ll likely end up on an A350 or an older 777 with the previous generation business class. These still have reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 layout with full flat beds and direct aisle access. The privacy is good, the seats are comfortable, and you’ll sleep fine.

The screens are smaller than the Aria Suite and there are no doors, but this is still a solid product. I’ve flown it many times and have zero complaints for an overnight flight. It’s just not quite as impressive as the new stuff.

Regional aircraft: A330 and A321neo

For shorter regional flights within Asia, Cathay uses A330s and A321neos. Some of the older A330s still have ancient recliner seats in a 2-2-2 layout that don’t lie flat. These are being phased out and replaced with proper lie-flat beds in 2026, but you might still encounter them.

The A321neo has a 2-2 layout with recliner seats. They’re fine for a few hours but not ideal for longer daytime flights to Australia or New Zealand. If you’re flying regional and want to sleep, try to confirm you’re on one of the newer A330s with lie-flat beds, not the old recliners.

Ground experience: check-in and lounges

One of the things I genuinely like about flying Cathay is that the premium experience starts before you even board the plane, especially if you’re connecting through Hong Kong.

Check-in and priority services

With a business class ticket, you get priority check-in, priority security, and priority boarding. At Hong Kong the dedicated business class check-in area in Terminal 1 is well organized and moves quickly. You also get two checked bags up to 70 pounds each, which is more generous than a lot of competitors.

The Hong Kong lounges

Cathay has some of the best airport lounges in the world in Hong Kong, but they’re in the middle of major renovations. The Wing First closed in May 2025 and won’t reopen until sometime in 2026. In the meantime, The Deck has been converted into a temporary first class lounge, and The Bridge reopened to handle overflow.

If you’re in business class, you’ll use either The Pier Business or The Bridge. Both are good, but The Pier is the one you want to visit if you have time. It’s spacious, calm, has excellent food including the famous noodle bar, good champagne and wine, showers, and even Clarins spa treatments. Trust me on this: the noodle bars are worth the hype.

What to expect in the lounges

Aside from the noodle bar, the food is closer to a restaurant than typical airport lounge buffet food. There are hot dishes, salads, cheese, desserts, and proper coffee. The champagne and wine selection is exactly what you’d hope for from a premium Asian carrier. If you have a long layover, you can shower, get a short complimentary Clarins facial treatment, or find a quiet corner to work or nap. The lounges have plenty of power outlets and comfortable seating areas spread across different zones.

Cathay Pacific lounges outside Hong Kong

Outside of Hong Kong, Cathay operates its own lounges at select airports like London, Vancouver, and a few others. These are generally good with decent food, drinks, and showers. Where Cathay doesn’t have its own lounge, you’ll use a Oneworld partner lounge or a contract lounge, which can be more hit or miss. The new Beijing lounge just got completely redesigned and looks excellent. Plus, they’re opening their first ever New York lounge at JFK Terminal 6 in 2026.

Onboard comfort: seats, sleep, amenities

Once you’re on board, Cathay business class feels calm and well thought through, especially on the newer aircraft. It’s easily one of my favorite airlines to fly to Hong Kong.

Seats and layout

On most long haul routes, you’re in a 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds and direct aisle access. On the A350 and refurbished 777 with Aria Suite, you get private suites with doors that give you your own space. Even on the older cabins without doors, you can still lie fully flat and stretch out properly. The reverse herringbone design means you’re angled slightly away from the aisle, which gives you a decent sense of privacy even without a door.

Sleep and bedding

Cathay Pacific’s bedding is from Bamford with 400 thread count cotton linens, a mattress pad, duvet, and pillows. On overnight flights, the crew will help set up your bed if you want, or you can do it yourself. The mattress pad makes a real difference compared to just sleeping directly on the seat. The cabins dim properly for sleep, and the crew are good about moving through service quickly if you just want to eat and crash. I’ve consistently had some of my best sleep in the air on Cathay.

Entertainment and Wi-Fi

On the Aria Suite, you get a 24-inch 4K screen, which is huge for a plane. On the older aircraft, the screens are smaller but still perfectly good. The content library is solid with a good mix of Hollywood, Asian cinema, TV series, and music. They update it regularly so you’re not watching the same stuff every time.

Cathay won the Skytrax award for best inflight entertainment in 2025, and it’s deserved. The system is intuitive and everything loads fast. You can use Bluetooth with your own headphones on newer planes.

In-flight Wi-Fi is free for business class passengers. You just log in with your Flying Blue account, or sign up on board if you don’t have one. The speed is decent enough for email, browsing, and light work. It’s not fast enough for smooth video calls, but it’s better than what a lot of airlines offer.

Amenity kits and toiletries

You’ll get a Bamford amenity kit waiting at your seat with basics like eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush, lip balm, and skincare products. There are also slippers for the flight. In the bathrooms, you’ll find additional Bamford products to freshen up mid flight. The kits change occasionally but they’re always nicely put together.

Storage and charging

There’s plenty of storage in the newer Aria Suites for your laptop, phone, headphones, and personal items. The older cabins have decent storage too, though not quite as much. Every seat has multiple charging options including USB-A, USB-C, and standard power outlets. The Aria Suite also has wireless charging built into the side console.

Food and drinks in Cathay Pacific business class

Food and wine are one of the highlights of flying Cathay The food out of Hong Kong is excellent, with a good mix of Cantonese dishes and Western options. You can pre-select your meal online anywhere from 10 days to 24 hours before your flight.

After takeoff, you’ll get a full multi-course service with appetizers, choice of five mains, cheese, dessert, and drinks. The congee and dim sum for breakfast are particularly good if you want something traditional. They’ve also added a “Chinese Classics” menu that rotates through regional Chinese cuisines like Sichuan, Fujian, and Jiangsu.

I’ll be honest, the food departing the US is noticeably less impressive. It’s still better than average for business class, but it doesn’t have the same quality or variety as what you get ex-Hong Kong. Cathay has partnered with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud for US departures, which has helped, but it’s still not at the same level.

The drinks service is great. Free-flowing champagne, a decent wine list, and their own pale ale called “Betsy.” The crew are good about keeping your glass topped up without being pushy. Between main services, there’s a galley with snacks you can help yourself to.

Best routes for Cathay business class

Not all Cathay routes are created equal. To get the most out of their flagship business class with the Aria Suite, modern cabins, and best lounge access, here are the routes you want to target.

Routes with the Aria Suite:

• London Heathrow to Hong Kong – daily service, this is where the Aria Suite first launched on long haul
• Sydney to Hong Kong – five times weekly, going daily from April 2026
• Vancouver to Hong Kong – daily service from mid-June 2025, the only North American route with Aria Suite
• Beijing to Hong Kong – daily service
• Frankfurt to Hong Kong – daily service
• Melbourne to Hong Kong – launching winter 2025/26 season
• Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong – starting January 2026 on select flights
• Sapporo to Hong Kong – select frequencies

If you’re flying from the US, routes like New York JFK, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas don’t have the Aria Suite yet. You’ll get the older reverse herringbone seats on A350s or older 777s, which are still comfortable with lie-flat beds and direct aisle access. They just don’t have doors or the massive 24-inch screens.

My pro tip: If you’re in North America and want the Aria Suite, fly through Vancouver. If you’re coming from the US, you’ll get the older product which is still great, just not as impressive. European travelers have the best access to the new suites via London or Frankfurt.

Cathay Pacific business class vs other airlines

Everyone wants to know how Cathay actually stacks up against the competition. Here’s my honest take on the airlines you’re probably choosing between.

Cathay Pacific vs British Airways

British Airways Club Suite is excellent when you get it. The product features private doors, direct aisle access, and decent privacy. The problem is inconsistency. Some routes still have the awful old business class in a 2-4-2 layout that feels cramped and outdated.

Cathay is more consistent on their key routes. The food and wine out of Hong Kong are better, the lounges blow anything at Heathrow out of the water, and the crew feel warmer and less robotic. BA can feel very corporate and impersonal. If you can guarantee Club Suite, it’s competitive with Cathay’s older product. But the Aria Suite is better than Club Suite, and Cathay’s overall experience feels more premium.

Cathay Pacific vs Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is still the benchmark for Asian carriers. Their crew are impeccably trained, the Book the Cook program is unmatched, and everything feels refined. The new A380 suites are also spectacular.

Cathay is very good but not quite at that level. The Aria Suite is a better seat than Singapore’s older business class, but Singapore’s service has more polish. The food on Singapore is more interesting, and their lounges feel more luxurious. That said, Cathay feels more relaxed and natural. Singapore can be almost too formal. If you want to feel pampered, fly Singapore. If you want to feel comfortable, fly Cathay.

Cathay Pacific vs Qatar Airways

Qatar’s Qsuite is one of the best business class products in the world. The doors, the privacy, the ability to create a double bed with your travel partner. It’s genuinely impressive and Doha is a good connecting hub.

Cathay’s Aria Suite is competitive with Qsuite on the hard product. Both have doors, both are private, both are comfortable. Qatar probably edges it on the food and the overall wow factor. Their lounges in Doha are also excellent.

The downside with Qatar is the routing. If you’re going to Asia, connecting through Doha adds hours. Hong Kong is far more convenient. Qatar also has inconsistent availability and can be difficult to book with miles.

Is Cathay Pacific business class worth it?

For me, yes, but it depends on which aircraft you’re on and how much you’re paying. If you’re on the Aria Suite, it’s absolutely worth it. The doors, the massive screen, the privacy, the bedding – it’s one of the best business class products flying right now. I’d happily pay with miles or jump on a good cash deal for that experience.

If you’re on the older A350 or 777 without the Aria Suite, it’s still a great choice. You get a proper lie-flat bed, good food departing Hong Kong, excellent lounges, and consistently good service. In this case, I’d want to be paying with miles or catching it on sale rather than paying full fare.

The difference between getting the Aria Suite and getting an older cabin is massive. If you’re locked into the older product and paying big money, I’d probably look at alternatives like Singapore or even waiting for a better deal.

But overall, Cathay business class is a smart choice for Asia travel in 2026. The service is warm without being over the top, the hard product is very good to excellent depending on aircraft, and Hong Kong is a convenient hub with world class lounges. Just book smart, check your aircraft type, and aim for the Aria Suite if you can.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cathay Pacific business class

Here are some popular questions (and answers) I get that will help decide whether Cathay Pacific business class is the right option for you.

Do you get pajamas on Cathay Pacific business class?

No, Cathay Pacific doesn’t typically provide pajamas in business class. You’ll want to pack your own comfy clothes for sleeping on those long flights.

Does Cathay Pacific business class have flat beds?

Yes, Cathay Pacific business class does offer flat beds. It’s one of the best parts of flying with them, ensuring you get some solid rest.

Is Cathay Pacific a luxury airline?

Absolutely, Cathay Pacific is considered a luxury airline. From their attentive service to the high-quality amenities and comfortable seating, they make sure your travel experience feels premium.

Does Cathay Pacific serve free alcohol?

Yes, Cathay Pacific serves free alcohol in business class. You can enjoy a range of beverages. This includes some fantastic wines and their signature Betsy Beer, designed especially for high-altitude sipping.

• Looking to find Cathay business class deals for under $2,000 roundtrip? You’ll want to sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights (Going.com). While the free version is great for economy deals, the Elite version is what you’ll need to find cheap business and first class deals.