Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Bali

I love how many of your TR include a bit about your being too full to finish your main course, and yet you seem to always find room for dessert. 🙂

Love that about you.

Your mother sounds just like mine, in a good way 🙂

I do have to say that I don't like waste--I think it's a function of being a parent--either, whether in the air or on the ground. I've noticed that FA's are always surprised to encounter that type of attitude.

Nice report, CX is my favorite.

What other regional routes do they fly the 747? It seems like you can't count on the HKG-SIN to have F seats,either as 3 or 2 class.

@ Despina -- Dessert doesn't count when it comes to being "full." 😀

@ Beachfan -- This is the only one I know of where they don't sell first class. Other routes (like Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Manila, etc.) have first class on some frequencies, but they actually sell those seats.

I heard that they often swap out the 747 to SIN, so it's hard to count on. Have you experienced that?

@ Beachfan -- For the flights where they do sell first class? I've never had that issue, and I assume if it happened you'd be entitled to some compensation, so I wouldn't mind that too much for a short intra-Asia flight. 🙂

Another awesome TR, Ben! 🙂

Do they let you select the F seats ahead of time, or is it done at the airport?

Ben, CX denied access to the Wing First Class lounge when I was there with the same flight (LAX-HKG first, HKG-DPS Business). How did you get the First Class Lounge invitation vouchers?

@ John777 -- Only at the airport and only at the airport from which that flight is departing (meaning if you were doing Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Bali you could only get that seat in Hong Kong and not Los Angeles.

It seems a bit wasteful to order a main course when you're already a bit full from eating in the lounge...

@ KN -- Did you show your first class boarding pass rather than the lounge invitation? In my experience if you're connecting to business class the lounge invitation will be for business class, though you can ask them to reprint one for first class since you're connecting from a first class flight.

@ wwk5d -- Not sure I buy that argument on airplanes. The food would be thrown out at the end of the flight anyway, so it would go to waste either way. But the issue wasn't that I was full, it was that the meat was really bad quality. Even in a restaurant I don't think it's 'wasteful' if you're sending back a bad steak that you paid for, no?

Then why bother mentioning you were full anyway? 😉 Plus, you don't go to a restaurant and order food if you've already eaten at another establishment 😉

@ wwk5d -- Why mention I was full? Because if I were still hungry I would've ordered one of the other entrees, but since I was full figured there was no need to order a replacement.

Sorry, not trying to be snarky, just seems weird to order something even if you've already paid for the seat but don't have room for it...

Now now ladies lets retract our claws.

Any methodology for determining which product you'll get? I'm currently booked on a Tuesday HKG-DPS flight next May following the exact same outbound routing you are.

@ BenIvey -- Cathay Pacific has only one 747 configuration, so if your flight is scheduled to be operated by a 747 it'll be this plane. If it's a 777 you'll want to look at the seatmap. If it's 2-3-2 in business class then it's the regional product.

I've never seen so many pictures of diet coke in my life before coming to this website! I've made the switch from Coke to Diet Coke now, thanks Ben! 🙂

@ John -- One of the many public services I try to provide. Thanks for reading! 😉

Why does it say business class when those seats are first?

@Gerald: Because even though the 744 they use has a first class cabin, Cathay doesn't provide first class service on this route. This was stated in the previous entry.

So how come they don't sit you in the business class section of this plane.

How does one choose who gets first class seats or business class seats?

@ Gerald -- Well they don't automatically seat anyone there, but on request they'll seat OneWorld Emerald members and connecting first class passengers in the first class cabin, in my experience.

Bookmark this video for the next time you go on a video jag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPbh6Ru7VVM (Galcos Soda Pop Stop in LA).

Now that I think about it, the premium cabins should offer a selection of "Gourmet" sodas - to make the drink menu more fun for those that don't alcohol on planes....

I am crossing my fingers for a swap to something with first class and get the upgrade... flying out in 11 hours!

It seems like you always order beef but always say it is terrible. maybe try to order something else??

@ MS -- Don't think that's the case at all -- I've had plenty of great beef dishes on planes.

Hilary
I am planning a birthday trip to celebrate my partners 50th in April 2013 or June 2013 for my family of 3 - 2 adults and 1 child. I have about 450k AA miles and 400k UA miles and 250k us miles. Departing from Dc metro to Bali and Hong Kong. Any suggestions for award flights is much appreciated?
Many thanks

Lucky - Not Hilary Oops!

Lucky,

I am booked on a CX F award with AA miles next week - PVG-HKG-SFO. CX does not sell F on the PVG-HKG segment. They have switched equipment to a 3-class 777-300. Is there a way I can get a F seat before the day of departure, even though my seat right now is in J?

@ Jose -- If they're not selling it then there's no way you can get it before the day of departure. Best I can recommend is to ask when you check-in.

[…] http://boardingarea.com/onemileatati...ong-kong-bali/ […]

Hi! How is it that CX marketed this as a business class service but used first class hard product? Was the actual business class hard product completely sold out or unavailable? If there was no difference in airfares/money then score!

@ eminere -- They operate a 747 on the route but choose not to sell first class, since I guess they don't think there's a market for it. As a result they'll simply "upgrade" elite members to the first class seats day of departure, though still provide the same business class service.

wish I'd have read this before. Just flew in yesterday to Denpasar from HKG (after flying in from SFO). I had no idea the first class cabin was not actually 'first class' - I would have asked. It appeared half empty, but business was full downstairs and they asked me if I would move upstairs for some reason or another, which I did. I don't usually 'tout' my emerald status (QF platinum), but in this case, had I known, I would have asked to be moved to the first class cabin. Meanwhile after a few DPS/HKG/DPS flights, this is my first time with new regional business class product. I found the seat very comfortable and private although was wondering why some airlines don't do this type of seating for premium economy longhaul. It appeared to be a good use of space, though I do prefer to have a window but with this configuration my back is to the window. If two people were traveling together, there is no opportunity for them to 'be' together in business class regional. I am definitely going to try to get the first class seats next time. 🙂

What's the best way to search for award availability for flights to Bali from LAX? I'm assuming CX is the best airline for that route?

@ Luis -- Cathay Pacific is definitely a great option. If you want to fly them you're best off searching award space through the British Airways or Qantas websites.

So we're booked from lax-hkg-dps. The lax-hkg is in F while the hkg-dps is in "business", but it looks like you have an F cabin. Online seat selection only shows 2-3-2. How do we know we'll get it?

@ E -- That's the regional configuration. It doesn't have a first class cabin.