Cathay Pacific business class review: Comfort, space and connectivity at 35,000 feet

Travelling for work can be a balancing act between staying productive and finding time to relax — and Cathay Pacific’s business class handles it well. From a recent trip spanning Sydney to Boston — with a cheeky stopover in Hong Kong — I found myself impressed by the free Wi-Fi, well-thought-out meals, and a comfortable flatbed. While it’s not the most luxurious cabin in the skies, it gets a lot of things right for business travellers.

I experienced Cathay Pacific’s business class on the Airbus A350, with a mixture of long-haul (Hong Kong to Boston) and slightly shorter long-haul flights (Hong Kong to Sydney).

These flights gave me ample opportunity to experience what Cathay has to offer. While it may not have the latest bells and whistles yet, it delivers where it matters – especially for those needing to stay productive mid-air.

A comfortable seat with plenty of storage space

The reverse herringbone layout of the Cathay Pacific business seat provides plenty of privacy and space to work or rest, and the full flatbed is comfortable for long-haul flights.

On my legs between Boston and Hong Kong, I got two solid nights of sleep, thanks in part to the thick, cozy blanket that helped make up for the slightly thinner mattress pad.

The amount of storage is also ideal for business travellers. From the side cupboard, seat storage, and overhead storage for bigger items – there’s plenty of space.

As a carry-on bag queen, I took full advantage of this by putting my business backpack in the overhead for the entirety of the flights, while I was able to keep a smaller bag with my essentials in the storage bin built into the seat.

The side table and tray table setup also allow for plenty of room to pull out your laptop and work, while keeping your other devices or documents organised on the side.

It’s easy to stay connected

For business travellers and general tech nerds like myself, power is essential on flights, and Cathay delivers well on this front.

The business class seat offers both a USB-A port for your phone and a regular power plug, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once.

This was particularly helpful during the flight, as I could keep my laptop charged while also powering my phone.

I really took this to the next level with my universal charger, which has additional USB-A and USB-C ports. I may or may not have been charging my phone, AirPods and Kindle simultaneously at one point.

That said, I did experience a power issue on my Boston to Hong Kong flight, but thankfully, I had my power bank as a backup. Aside from that, the power setup is well-suited for travellers who need to stay connected.

What really stood out to me—and to many of my fellow passengers—was the free Wi-Fi for business class. This is a game-changer. It worked smoothly across all legs, and I was able to catch up on emails and even get some work done without a hitch.

This is the most I have ever seen a business-class cabin actually working during flights, so it is obviously a huge win.

Inflight entertainment had lots to offer, but clunky UX

Cathay’s inflight entertainment system is solid but has a few quirks. The selection of movies and TV shows is a great mix of Western and Asian content, but the user interface could use some improvement.

I found myself having to navigate back to my place in a show after each episode. There were also a lot of ads before every new episode, but thankfully, they were skippable. It’s not a deal-breaker, and the system itself worked fine, but it did push me towards watching content on my iPad more.

Cathay Pacific business class offers a lovely dining experience

Cathay Pacific really shines when it comes to dining, especially if you like variety. The menu consistently offers a large range of both Eastern and Western options.

I went for the ‘Chinese breakfast’ on all flights, which included abalone, congee and dim sum. It was delicious, not too heavy, and overall a great start to the day.

For those preferring something else, the omelette and pastry choices seem quite solid, and there are also lighter, wellness-focused meals.

Lunch and dinner were just as impressive. On the Sydney to Hong Kong leg, I started with chilled abalone and cucumber followed by braised pork ribs with hawthorn sauce. The flavours were spot on, and the portions were just right.

The “anytime dining” option is perfect for overnight flights. I took advantage of this on my way to the US as I wasn’t in the mood for dinner after gorging myself at The Pier first class lounge.

But by the time I woke up breakfast was still a while off, so I ordered a bowl of wonton noodle soup. It was comforting and exactly what I needed to keep me going.

There was just one small hiccup on my return from Boston, where I ordered the roast duck and BBQ pork but ended up with the steamed black cod. For context, this flight left at 1.45am, which was brutal for guests and crew alike.

So the dinner service was a touch more rushed than my other flights. I’m also a pretty easy-going gal and despite the mix-up, the cod was delicious. And considering it was 3am and I was exhausted, I didn’t particularly care.

A wide range of beverages, including non-alcoholic

The drink selection on Cathay is excellent, with a good range of wines, teas and non-alcoholic options.

The Planeta Rosé 2022 was a standout, and the champagne served in business class, Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, was a nice touch.

But the surprise star of the show was the signature non-alcoholic drink, the Cathay Delight. This was a refreshing mix of kiwi juice, coconut milk and fresh mint.

I wouldn’t have chosen it from the menu, but after being offered it pre-takeoff, I was hooked and made sure to order it with breakfast for every subsequent flight.

A thoughtful amenities bag and great service

Cathay Pacific’s business class amenities kit strikes a nice balance between practicality and comfort.

The inclusion of a face mist was a highlight for me—it’s a thoughtful addition that kept me feeling refreshed between face masques during the long flights.

The rest of the kit includes essentials such as a toothbrush, generously sized toothpaste, mouthwash (a welcome surprise), lip balm, hand cream, earplugs and a sleep mask. It’s a well-rounded kit that has everything you need to freshen up mid-flight or before landing.

The service throughout was efficient and friendly. On the Boston to Hong Kong leg, things felt a bit rushed, but that was likely due to the 1.45am departure time. Even with the small meal mix-up, the crew on all legs were attentive, kind and professional.

I was also sure to bring treats along for them for the long-haul flights. It is a small thing I always like to do while flying overseas – these are long shifts and the crew work hard.

Cathay Pacific business class review: Final verdict

Cathay Pacific’s A350 business class is a great choice for business travellers who want a balance of comfort, functionality and inflight connectivity.

While it’s not as flashy as Emirates’ business class (at least the one I remember from the start of Covid), it’s comparable to Qantas and perfect for those who need to stay productive on long flights.

That being said, Cathay will soon be rolling out its new Aria business class seats on some aircrafts, which are a significant upgrade in terms of style, comfort and in-flight entertainment. It will be interesting to see how these fare against the current crop of business seats, as well as those of competitor airlines

Still, the free Wi-Fi, ample storage, comfortable bed, and excellent food and drink options make the current business offering a strong contender for anyone travelling for work.

The introduction of the Aria Suite is also something to look forward to, and if you’re passing through Hong Kong, access to lounges like The Pier dials the experience up a thousandfold.

Cathay Pacific upgraded the author to business class for the purpose of this review.

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