This was published 11 years ago
Flight Test: Cathay Pacific business class
By Lynne Whiley
Route Sydney to Hong Kong
Aircraft Airbus A330-300.
Class Business, seat 11A.
Flight time 9hr 30min.
On-time performance Excellent. No delay on departure or arrival.
Seat bed length 82 inches.
In-seat width 20.2 inches; width with bed extension, 26.4 inches; width with arm rest retracted, 27.6 inches.
Seat configuration Cathay's new business-class seats each have direct aisle access, so there's no disruption, no shuffling or saying "excuse me" when a passenger stands up.
Luggage allowance Business 30 kilograms, carry-on 10 kilograms; premium economy 25 kilograms, carry-on seven kilograms; economy 20 kilograms, carry-on seven kilograms.
Aircraft condition The plane looks good, smells good and feels spacious.
Comfort Rugby second-rowers and basketball champions rejoice: in full flat-bed mode, seats are roomy and an extension increases seat width for additional hip support. The wing-back headrest maximises privacy; there's storage for shoes; side table big enough for a book, drinks and various handheld devices; a bottles storage shelf; adjustable reading light; power outlet; and multi-port connectors. If you're travelling in a pair, book the centre seats — slide seats forward for eye contact and conversation, slide back for privacy.
Service Immediate and unobtrusive.
Food and beverage I've flown long-haul economy class with this airline several times and the wonton noodle soup snack served between main meals is delicious. Happily, the soup is served in business-class too, along with a menu that bridges Asian and Western passenger preferences. I lunch on smoked salmon and salad, followed by green chicken curry with steamed rice and stir-fry vegetables. The cheese menu includes a Jindi camembert and a King Island blue; there's a good selection of wines, and other snacks include fruit platters, chicken biryani, ice-cream and a tart.
Amenities Noise-cancelling headphones; toiletries bag with lotions, lip balm, toothbrush, paste, eye mask and socks; and a selection of newspapers and magazines.
Entertainment On individual seat screens passengers can plug in their own devices or browse a library of about 100 movies (new releases, recent releases, arthouse and classics), TV and radio, 888 CDs and about 70 video games.
Flight frequency Four times daily from Sydney; three times daily from Melbourne; daily from Brisbane. Business-class return fares are from $7806, including tax; economy-class return from $1260, including tax.
Online cathaypacific.com.au.
Lynne Whiley flew courtesy of Cathay Pacific.
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