Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class A330 Hong Kong To Kuala Lumpur

"last business business class seat in front of premium economy"

I guess first business class, business business class and economy business class is a new thing...? What would economy economy look like then?

Ben, how do you know which flights have the long-haul J config on regional flights? I have tried a number of times to book on these planes, and CX always changes them to the regional config. Thanks!

@Lucky - What camera do you use to take photos from the plane? I have tried window shots with my Galaxy phone and they never turn out well. I always forget to take my camera out of luggage before take-off. Just curious, thanks!

@ julian - As a Hong Kong traveler I can answer that. 😀

First of all, you'll only get a dilemma on the A330s (333). The Boeing 777-300ERs (77W) all feature the new product while the Boeing 777-300s (773) and the Boeing 777-200s (772) feature the regional product exclusively. The Airbus A340s (343) and the Boeing 747s (747) have the older herringbone seat.

When making a fake revenue booking, get to the confirm stage, then it'll tell you to enter your details. They don't ask for a payment, so create a fake name, a fake email (e.g. [email protected]), and click Submit (or whatever the button is). Get through the confirmation stage (the thing that pops up). Finally, there'll be a confirmation where you'll be able to select your seat. If the seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration, it's what Lucky got in this review. If the seats are in a 2-2-2 configuration, they're the regional product you end up flying.

Thanks for that Alvin.

Like Julian, I would still be interested to know how Benjamin found out in advance as it may be another method. I always get lumbered with 2-2-2 on my regional sectors (all A330s).

@ Alvin But sometimes CX changes aircraft ~3 hours from deprature. What should I do then?

@Alvin | Young Travelers of Hong Kong

Thank you Alvin. I am actually aware of the seat configuration but CX usually swap planes up until the last days and many of these routes end up with the regional config.

For instance, this past July I flew HKG-BKK on CX 713 I believe, and during the previous 15 days the flight was operated with a combination of A343, A333 (old and new), 772, 777, and if I recall maybe even a 747 (got A333 regional in the end). In 2016 I am booked on HKG-SIN return and at this time looks like a 1-2-1 config but am sure it will change....

julian

@ Joe @ julian - In that case you're kind of stuck with it - which is why under the option booking a 777-300ER operating regionally is the best. The aircraft operating premium economy are most reliable as premium economy is only on aircraft with this configuration (there are a few aircraft with the new business, new economy and no premium economy, but as far as I know those are usually far and few and often subbed). If your 777-300ER gets subbed by a regional 777-300, it's REALLY tough luck though it's not likely given how many 777-300ERs Cathay has in their fleet.

@ Rob - Lucky may have used ExpertFlyer, which is more efficient but only if you have an account. Signing up is like signing up for a North Korean visa.

@ Alvin Thanks for your help!

"Signing up is like signing up for a North Korean visa." - How so? Doesn't seem particularly bad to me...

I'm quite like the trolley service on Cathay, you get to peruse the choices on display. One downside of the combination of reverse herringbone and trolleys is the unerring ability of the cabin crew to bash the side of the seat when you are trying to sleep through breakfast.

@ Ed -- I agree that I like it for the mains, where you can look at the options, but that's not really the case for drinks or appetizers, where they simply remove the items from the cart's "storage."

Lucky, by my first comment, I meant you had a typo - you typed "the last business business class seat" as opposed to "the last business class seat".

@ Rob - Maybe just me, but it tends to reload a lot and I have to start again every time. Managed to get through though.

@ Joe - No problem.

A free account with Expert Flyer will let you do (a small number of) seat map searches.

I'm guessing that's not the first time you've been sprayed by a crew member but then again I could be wrong.

@Alvin: booked premium econ before but there was equipment change and all premium econ passengers were upgraded to business (not that I was complaining :)). So planes with premium econ classes may not be the best bet - they get switched last minute too!

Which one do you prefer then when talking about the business class? The one of Qatar or that of Cathay Pacific?

@ Edwin -- If it's Qatar's new business class, then I'd say I prefer that. Otherwise I prefer Cathay Pacific business class.

I could never understand the sprays. Every flight I've taken on CX from HKG to KUL (>10x), they do this. It's the only airline that I know that does it when you fly into KUL

I've always done CX for all my KUL-HKG/HKG-KUL flights. Amazing product

@Lucky Hello, I am going to buy a ticket in F/J on CA/CX from PEK-KUL. My 2 options are an 8 AM flight that gets in around 11 and the KUL flight leaves at 4 PM and gets in at 8 PM or leaving PEK at 1230 PM getting at 4 and leaving HKG at 830 PM and getting into KUL at 1230 AM.

Here is what I am debating, I'm keen to try the food CA F food but would rather have lunch on the plane as I don't like breakfast food which I assume is on the 8 AM flight. However, it looks like the 4 PM HKG-KUL flight has 1-2-1 business class seating and the late flight is regional class and obviously the late flight gets in at 1230 AM which is pretty late.