Flying the new Cathay Pacific business-class Aria Suite between London and Hong Kong

How much does it cost to book Cathay Pacific business class?

The cost of a Cathay Pacific business-class ticket will depend on both where and when you are flying. For my route from London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), one-way fares are currently around $4,500, with round-trip fares costing about $6,200. (Airfare pricing is downright mind-boggling, isn’t it?)

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Checking into and boarding Cathay Pacific business class

Cathay Pacific business-class passengers can enjoy the following priority services at the airport.

Cathay Pacific operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport. The airline has dedicated check-in counters for first- and business-class passengers, and no one was in line when I got there, so I checked in quickly and then made my way through security.

The lounges in this terminal are all clustered close to the main concourse, where you’ll also find restaurants and shopping.

Cathay Pacific operates lounge “C,” which you must access via elevators. The space comprises a first-class section, a separate section for business class and a shared set of shower facilities available on a first-come, first-served basis.

I had access to the business-class lounge, which overlooked part of the tarmac. The first section of the lounge is a dining area with plenty of booth-style seating and a counter where you can order various types of noodles, soups and dim sum.

Past this is a small self-serve buffet area with various hot and cold dishes, plus some fresh fruit and salads, pastries, a coffee machine and a selection of Jing teas.

Beyond this is the main living room-style lounge area, which has a row of chairs and ottomans facing the windows and a variety of other seating vignettes. There is also a staffed bar where you can order complimentary wine, beer, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.

Despite visiting the smaller space during a busy time of day — Cathay flights to Hong Kong depart at both 4:50 and 5:50 p.m. daily — the lounge did not feel crowded.

After eating a bowl of wonton soup and sending a few last emails via the complimentary Wi-Fi, I made my way to the gate, which was a five-minute walk away. There were two lines — one for economy and premium economy passengers and another for business- and first-class passengers. After having my boarding pass scanned, I was admitted to the gate area.

Boarding commenced 50 minutes before departure time and was completed in just over 30 minutes, so we pushed back right on time.

How comfortable is Cathay Pacific business class?

The Boeing 777-300ERs that have been reconfigured with Aria Suites have 45 seats in business class and no first-class cabin. The airline’s other 777-300ER configuration has between 40 and 53 seats, so this falls squarely in the middle.

Here’s a snapshot of the business-class cabin and seat stats:

The business-class cabin aboard the reconfigured Boeing 777-300ERs consists of two sections.

The forward, larger section has 25 seats in six rows of four seats each plus a single seat — 18K — off on its own in the back on the right-hand side. I’d avoid that one, as it’s practically in the galley.

The smaller aft section where I sat has five rows of four seats each. All rows are laid out in a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone configuration; those on the sides face out toward the window while the two-seat sections running down the middle are angled toward one another.

That makes the side seats — A and K — better for solo travelers and the center seats — D and G — better for couples. Don’t worry, those center seats still have substantial sliding privacy dividers in case you want some alone time.

Amenities in Cathay Pacific Aria Suites

I found the Bamford pillow and bedding, the food and drink menus, and the Bamford amenity kits (which came in four colors) waiting at my seat when I boarded.

The kits contained mouthwash, a dental kit, an eye mask, ear plugs and Bamford-branded cooling body gel, body balm and herb-scented pillow mist.

Aria Suites have 24-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems. Although the airline provides basic noise-canceling headphones, you can connect your own Bluetooth headphones to the system for an even better viewing experience (and I would suggest doing so).

The system was ultra-crisp and provided hundreds of viewing and listening options, including new movies such as “Moana 2,” “Gladiator II” and “Heretic,” along with plenty of options from China, the rest of Asia and a special section devoted to K-dramas from Korea. As for TV options, there were recent episodes of “High Potential” and “The Day of the Jackal,” among other choices, plus hundreds of musical albums to choose from, including Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Among the games were “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” and “Angry Birds.” There was even an option for duty-free shopping, which offered spirits, electronics and high-end beauty products.

Passengers who wanted to rest could use the “do not disturb” function. If they wished to be roused, they could customize the function with “wake-up service” options before the first and second meal services.

The airline offers free Wi-Fi for first- and business-class passengers. Otherwise, it’s $9.95 for a one-hour pass and $21.95 for the full-flight option with no data caps. I was able to switch Wi-Fi access back and forth between my phone and computer easily, and the speeds were very good, allowing me to get a lot of work done while surfing online.

How was the food in Cathay Pacific business class?

Business-class passengers are invited to preorder their main meal from 10 days up to 24 hours before departure, though in reality, the options were available when I was logged into my reservation more than two weeks in advance.

Among the nondietary-specific choices were:

• Noodle soup with fish and shrimp balls, preserved cabbage and choy sum
• Roasted chicken breast in jus and bread sauce with baby carrots and green beans
• Shanghainese braised pork belly with pak choy, shiitake mushrooms and steamed jasmine rice
• Roasted cauliflower in chickpea stew with mint raita
• Spice-crusted cod with roasted cherry tomato sauce, sauteed spinach and coconut lentils
• Classic beef hamburger with Gruyere cheese, coleslaw and pickles on a brioche bun with fries

These were the same choices presented on the inflight menus, so the advantage of ordering ahead is mainly to ensure you get the entree of your choice.

The appetizers included pea soup with ricotta and micro greens, as well as poached prawns with horseradish and tomato sauce, baby gem lettuce, avocado and sieved egg.

I selected the shrimp, followed by the pork. The shrimp tasted quite fresh, though the pork was a little chewy.

There was also a cheese course of brie, cheddar and Roquefort, or a choice of desserts, including:

• Green tea tiramisu
• Glazed lemon tart with raspberry
• Various Haagen-Dazs ice cream flavors
• Pralines
• Seasonal fruit

The drinks menu included Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne, which flight attendants also served as a predeparture beverage, along with water and juice.

The other wines included:

• A 2020 Domaine de la Bressande rully from Burgundy in France
• A 2023 Framingham sauvignon blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand
• Echo de Lynch-Bages from Bordeaux in France
• A 2020 Grant Burge Filsell shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia
• A 2018 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage port from the Duoro Valley in Portugal

There was also a selection of spirits, juices, Illy coffees, Jing teas, Hong Kong-style milk tea, classic cocktails and a signature cocktail and mocktail.

The main meal service commenced about 80 minutes into the flight and concluded within 2 1/2 hours. Except for dessert, the flight attendants brought drinks and dishes individually to each passenger rather than via a trolley — an upscale touch, but one that causes the service to take longer. Given the length of this flight, that’s not a major issue, though.

The second meal menu, which flight attendants asked passengers to fill out ahead of time, was more like a breakfast or brunch. It featured fruit plates and pastries, plus a choice of main dishes, including:

• Cacao-chia pudding with coconut yogurt and blackberries
• A twice-baked souffle omelet with sauteed kale and cherry tomatoes
• Salted chicken and mushroom congee with pan-fried turnip cake and XO sauce
• Poached eggs with grilled bacon, sauteed mushrooms, vine tomatoes and potato rosti
• Express breakfast with a pastry and hot drink

The first meal was large and I was anticipating a big dinner with friends upon landing in Hong Kong, so I chose the healthiest option: the pudding with berries. It was tangy and refreshing, just what I needed before hitting the ground. Along with it, I enjoyed a cappuccino to perk me up.

Would you recommend Cathay Pacific Aria Suites?

Cathay Pacific business-class Aria Suites represent a sophisticated evolution from the airline’s other business-class seats. Not only do they feel more spacious and thoughtfully designed, but the entertainment system is excellent, with all kinds of innovative features.

The closing door works as well as, if not better than, any other I have experienced while flying and lends these seats a high degree of privacy that makes flights even more relaxing.

While it can be downright impossible to redeem partner miles for Cathay Pacific business class, availability is fairly widespread when redeeming the airline’s own Asia Miles, making this a treat within reach for many flyers.

To get an even better idea of what the Cathay Pacific experience is like, check out our video review:

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