With Hong Kong having now fully reopened to visitors, Cathay Pacific is restoring more of its schedule, and is progressively bringing back its famous first class product. The airline has just revealed when it will resume first class to the United States for the first time in years.
In this post:
Cathay Pacific resumes first class on some routes
At the start of the pandemic, Cathay Pacific grounded much of its fleet, and also stopped selling first class. This was for a couple of reasons:
- Cathay Pacific only has first class on its Boeing 777s, and the airline grounded most of its 777s, instead focusing on primarily flying Airbus A350s
- There just wasn’t much demand for paid first class, so the airline decided it was more economical to just stop selling the product altogether, to save on staffing, the onboard product, ground services, etc.
When Cathay Pacific first brought back four cabin Boeing 777-300ERs, the airline didn’t actually sell first class, but rather some lucky business class passengers were able to assign those seats at no extra cost, while still receiving business class service.
After a suspension of over 2.5 years, Cathay Pacific brought back first class as of late 2022. The airline has been ramping up its first class network since, and has now announced the resumption of first class to the United States. Specifically, here’s Cathay Pacific’s first class network:
- Since December 5, 2022, Cathay Pacific has offered first class on CX251/252 between Hong Kong (HKG) and London (LHR)
- Since January 18, 2023, Cathay Pacific will offer first class on CX261/260 between Hong Kong (HKG) and Paris (CDG)
- Since February 1, 2022, Cathay Pacific will offer first class on CX548/549 between Hong Kong (HKG) and Tokyo (HND)
- As of March 27, 2023, Cathay Pacific will offer first class on CX880/881 between Hong Kong (HKG) and Los Angeles (LAX)
It’s awesome to finally see the return of first class to the United States. However, don’t get too excited — unfortunately award availability on Cathay Pacific continues to be virtually non-existent, given how little transpacific capacity there is, with Chinese airlines having so greatly scaled back their networks.
Cathay Pacific first class is one of my favorite first class products in the world. While it’s not the most private seat out there, it’s such a well-rounded experience.
Funny enough for well over a year now, there has been one creative way to enjoy Cathay Pacific’s first class, sort of. Qatar Airways has started flying some former Cathay Pacific 777s with nearly identical interiors, and they offer the same first class hard product. Let’s call it Qatar Pacific first class.
When will first class return to more routes?
So far Cathay Pacific has only formally announced the return of first class on a total of four routes. Expect first class to continue to make a progressive comeback, but not to the same level as we saw pre-pandemic:
- There are economies of scale here, so now that the airline has brought back first class, it makes sense to resume it on more routes, as demand recovers
- The major catch is that Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet with first class isn’t as big as pre-pandemic, as several of these jets have left the fleet, limiting the potential first class footprint
- Cathay Pacific has almost exclusively been flying Airbus A350s to the United States for the past few years; some routes should be shifted back to 777s, and with that we’ll see more first class again
Cathay Pacific still hasn’t reopened its Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong, which I rank as one of the best in the world (and it has also historically been accessible by oneworld Emerald members). Fortunately this is expected to reopen by the fall of 2023 at the latest, so the reopening is imminent.
Bottom line
After a nearly three year suspension, Cathay Pacific is continuing to gradually reintroduce first class. It’s now available on flights from Hong Kong to London, Paris, and Tokyo, and as of late March, should also be available on flights to Los Angeles.
While it’s good to see more routes getting first class, unfortunately award availability is virtually impossible to come by. Furthermore, with Cathay Pacific having gotten rid of some of its four cabin 777s, don’t expect the first class network to be as big as pre-pandemic.
When do you make of Cathay Pacific’s first class return?
I found some phantom seat availability for F. Alaska says it's an ongoing problem that they hope Cathay will correct soon. Also, I did find some business class seats from LAX to various parts of Asia later this year, but they priced at 70k in J. Yikes, devaluation?
This is excellent news. Will be monitoring for F seats for next year.
Just got back from HK last week. Haven't been since 2019, didn't feel any different than pre-pandemic and pre-protest. We have family there and they tell us life is back to normal. Don't listen to only western media especially the US where we have a vested interest to discredit any country that challenges the #1 superpower nation.
Yes it was rough going...
This is excellent news. Will be monitoring for F seats for next year.
Just got back from HK last week. Haven't been since 2019, didn't feel any different than pre-pandemic and pre-protest. We have family there and they tell us life is back to normal. Don't listen to only western media especially the US where we have a vested interest to discredit any country that challenges the #1 superpower nation.
Yes it was rough going for a while in HK but no more than what was going on here with Dems v. Repubs, BLM, etc. We're not exactly the posterchild for a utopian society either.
I've just arrives in HKG today and the entry was breeze. No checking of RAT result and it was the usual HKG efficiently from deplaning to reaching arrival in less than 20 minutes, with the check in luggage (luckily the arrival gate wasn't too far from the immigration).
Masks mandate doesn't seem to be strictly enforced (is there any?), as many locals also don't seem to follow it. Basically things aren't too different from pre-pandemic, as stated above.
The mask mandate ended on March 1, 2023, so that's why you don't see many wearing masks any more. Also, you don't have to wear masks onboard CX flights anymore. Hong Kong is basically back to normal.
You were lucky - the (widely observed and at least sometimes actively enforced) mask mandate two weeks before you arrived, on March 1st.
Glad that things are getting (somewhat) back to normal! My last trip, in January, still felt somewhat like going back in time 2 years.
Also F starting to PEK later this month also!
Good news. Keep it up, CX.
My CX LAX-HKG flight was changed from A350 to 777-300ER but it's a business class only layout up front (10 rows total).
I don’t think anything would make me fly CX again…masks on board, plus the risk of encarceration at HKG. And that’s before the politics. Shame.
This is a stupid conversation and this medium should not be used to express political view points, there is plenty other social media available for that if you are so inclined.CX will have no problem in filling those first class seats, even if they double or treble planes with First Class seats, they fill up pretty fast because the CX experience is like no other.
So, what you decide to talk about is A ok, but what others choose to is not?
Thats not how it works mate, have a pleasant day.
Not going back to HK, I dont care of they give me FC for free. I used to go there 4x a year. They have destroyed HK. I dont trust the Chinese. Period.
Poor Cathay. Every where else is back to business as usual. Was in HKG last month. Upon disembarkation; they PCR swab you , then daily home RAT tests with 3x PCR tests, during the first week. A REAL palaver. Especially fiddling with the mandatory phone-app (LeaveHomeSafe), every time you visit a restaurant/cafe. Hopefully these restrictions will properly end soon. (The City check-in remains closed. Most shops at HKIA remain closed. The Pier is closed. The...
Poor Cathay. Every where else is back to business as usual. Was in HKG last month. Upon disembarkation; they PCR swab you , then daily home RAT tests with 3x PCR tests, during the first week. A REAL palaver. Especially fiddling with the mandatory phone-app (LeaveHomeSafe), every time you visit a restaurant/cafe. Hopefully these restrictions will properly end soon. (The City check-in remains closed. Most shops at HKIA remain closed. The Pier is closed. The Wing has the only FC section, which felt very odd and sad; without the usual hustle-bustle)
After flying Emirates F 3 times and Lufthansa F ; I’ve lost my appetite for CX. With AA miles I’d rather fly JAL F or give BA F another go simply because those are destinations I would like/need to get to.
HK is a long flight I’d prefer the comfort in AA J over luxury on CX. No sense of urgency.
Apparently, London (LHR, of course), Paris, and Tokyo are the most profitable markets to CX.
I would rather buy another damask table cloth and a carton of champagne for home than travel through HK. There are good alternatives.
I agree the Pier is an amazing, best-in-class lounge. I used to use my Exec P systemwide upgrades to fly LAX - HKG on AA every year because the economy fare was so cheap (sometimes <$400) and easy clearing. I was there when some early protests broke out in the city. I had suits made there every year! I won’t go back until hopefully things change. So sad.
Its almost comical if not a much needed lesson in how to properly handle a issue like the pandemic better to see all these airlines who raced to abandon the large A380/A340/B747 aircraft’s and higher end products like first class now racing to bring them back because of demand.
Who the heck is "racing" to bring back 747s or A340s?
Or really even A380s for that matter-- airlines like LH, QR, and EY have been reluctant on the latter, and even litigious; very publicly stating that they're only doing so until more modern aircraft are delivered.
Cathay is very cautiously increasing capacity. For instance FRA currently is only three flights per week, ZRH only one flight per week, both using the A350 (without F). Pre-pandemic, they were both served daily using the 777 with F. While I understand their caution, this approach also limits growth, because nobody wants to be limited to one or three flights weekly.
Hi Ben, apparently CX261 to CDG is scheduled to have F class service from Feb18th.
That would be the third First Class route to come back (after London and Tokyo).
How many armchair commentators have actually been to Hong Kong? Ever or in the last few years? Free yourself from the Western media propaganda and speak to some locals - who for the most part have no desire to be involved in politics, just want to get on with living their life, primarily and in no particular order: get a good job, have a roof over one's head, a stable economy, eat good food and...
How many armchair commentators have actually been to Hong Kong? Ever or in the last few years? Free yourself from the Western media propaganda and speak to some locals - who for the most part have no desire to be involved in politics, just want to get on with living their life, primarily and in no particular order: get a good job, have a roof over one's head, a stable economy, eat good food and be able to travel!
These kind of Western broad brush anti-China views are unhelpful and racist - particularly unwarranted by those who are supposed to be part of a travel community. Ben was just posting about F awards opening up - how these comments disintegrated in such a scale is humanity at its worst (OK maybe a bit dramatic).
All societies have their own unique issues (which, sidebar the coloniser of Hong Kong is now basically a real-time soap opera) but why do we need to drag this into a travel forum? You are visiting a place for new experiences, not to become the next Prime Minister/President/Chief Executive. If you don't like it, don't return, simple as that. Take your political views (both informed and uninformed) elsewhere.
Bugger off CCP Apologist. Yes, do speak to locals to see how bad it is now. Yes I am from Hong Kong.
Perhaps take your own advice, and if you don’t like comments here, don’t return. Why are you allowed to voice your pro-CCP opinion, but others are not allowed to voice their anti-CCP opinions?
For the record, I am a ex-HK local who left because of the CCP, the mass protest in 2019 isn’t a niche HKer opinion.
Politics notwithstanding, I will go back to HK only when the covid theater is dispensed with. It will always be one of my favorite cities in the world, but it's not worth wearing a face hijab to go back.
@Andrew
I’ve been to HK twice during the protests when the hotels were cheap and business class was half empty.
It’s a great city. For the most part it didn’t feel like I was in China however when I was in a neighborhood like North Point I did feel like I was in China as there were a lot of older people from mainland China in that part.
So Your opinion is worth of expression but others are not?
It is a pretty big reach to conflate political disagreement with racism.
Yes, the big catch is it requires you to go to/from HK or at least transfer there.
Qatar are they leasing the same planes and repainting or they are Cathay interiors and exteriors used by Qatar?
On the Qatar flight I took operated by a CX plane, it was a QR exterior with a CX interior.
The interior matches identically to a dream I had decades ago and never forgotten! The "hydro-train" is what I considered it to be this whole time.
Hong Kong use to be the most amazing city. Stunning, and now....no.
Most people I know are avoiding HK and China moving forward. Such a shame for both places. No more CX F for a long time to come.
Explain how Hong Kong has become not “the most amazing city” for visitors? (minus COVID bs)
I see you are the local CCP defender here. My guess would be that people do not like that HK was turned from a free, democratic city into just another unfree place under Xi's boot, with a lot of companies and people leaving the country as a consequence. And thus do not want to finance this regime.
Certainly my view! I’ve had a couple nice visits to Hong Kong in the past getting to and from in Cathay Pacific First (& enjoy The Wing and it’s Cabanas)
Been to the Sitting Buddha, the Peak (while enjoying the Conrad Club level on pre-devalued, at that time, points)
Enjoyed the InterContinental Club Jr. Suite with 270 degree views of the Harbor
I’ve used my Cathay Pacific (née Asia Miles) points to...
Certainly my view! I’ve had a couple nice visits to Hong Kong in the past getting to and from in Cathay Pacific First (& enjoy The Wing and it’s Cabanas)
Been to the Sitting Buddha, the Peak (while enjoying the Conrad Club level on pre-devalued, at that time, points)
Enjoyed the InterContinental Club Jr. Suite with 270 degree views of the Harbor
I’ve used my Cathay Pacific (née Asia Miles) points to fly Japan First to Tokyo next summer
I used to want to visit Shanghai to see the tall buildings. After screwing up the visa issue twice, I threw that idea in the dustbin
@ArnoldB,
from a tourist's perspective, it's not unfair to ask why HKG can't be "the most amazing city" anymore.
I mean, fuck Xi and all the political shit, but to the point:
harbor's still there, peak observatory, Intercontinental, amazing hotels like Peninsula or Island Shangri La, the Buddha, ducks hanging in the windows, etc etc are all presumably still there-- and as mentioned above, once some of the more ridiculous restrictions are lifted,...
@ArnoldB,
from a tourist's perspective, it's not unfair to ask why HKG can't be "the most amazing city" anymore.
I mean, fuck Xi and all the political shit, but to the point:
harbor's still there, peak observatory, Intercontinental, amazing hotels like Peninsula or Island Shangri La, the Buddha, ducks hanging in the windows, etc etc are all presumably still there-- and as mentioned above, once some of the more ridiculous restrictions are lifted, they'll still remain.
Yeah, it seems it's permanently lost the appointment as "Asia's World City" to a combo of Singapore+Tokyo, and the rights of locals many not be what they once were..... but for tourists, the least will have changed.
Hopefully Alaska doesn't destroy the CX redemption
Bringing back F just in time for AS Air mileage plan devaluation. I book using AS miles so not expecting this to hang around for long.
No mention at all of award availability. Even your well based speculation. ;-)
I know first things first but I want one/2 final flights in Cathay First and a layover in the Wing cabana.
my final flights and use of CX miles but COVID cancellation (JFK HKG HND). The 125000 miles would expire this month so they are taking me ORD HND in JAL 1st next June
then good bye.
Hello Singapore
Google flights is showing first class being available on their jfk-hkg flight starting Dec 4th.
Just checked CX website, 77W returns to LAX on Dec 1, and they have increased # of flights to daily. Also, 77W returns to SFO on Dec 5 (4 weekly), plus 2 weekly with the A350. BOS-HKG remained 1 weekly flights on A350 until late March 2023 when it'll increase to 2 weekly.
I just had my flight changed for the second time. I wouldn't mind but they could ask first about the date they change it to . Giving us a long stay over isn't acceptable.
I agree that moving passengers travel dates around like cargo is completely unacceptable.
Well, the "catch" is that you have to travel to HK to enjoy it. Once my favorite city but no longer.
I’ve been told many people fly Cathay Pacific and connect in Hong Kong to other destinations.
And for HK, what's changed for visitors? (once the COVID restrictions end)
You're asking the wrong question.
It should be, What's changed for nosy Westerners?
I don’t think that “westerners” are the sole “nosy” people in the world. Taking an interest in another person’s country is a great idea. That is what travel/tourism is about sir/miss.
Has anyone been able to book an award flight through Cathay's website? It constantly leads to an error page. Have tried different browsers and clearing cookies, but still the same result.
I've been getting the same issue about 70% of the time. Looking at the URL in my browser when I'm directed to the error page it appears that an API that pulls availability data from some other repository, some database, I'm sure, is poorly written or broken. I have a trip back from SEA next year that I'd like to return on CX, but their web presence is sub part between Asia Miles and Cathay...
I've been getting the same issue about 70% of the time. Looking at the URL in my browser when I'm directed to the error page it appears that an API that pulls availability data from some other repository, some database, I'm sure, is poorly written or broken. I have a trip back from SEA next year that I'd like to return on CX, but their web presence is sub part between Asia Miles and Cathay Pacific and logging in to one/both to accomplish the same mission. And whatever this API issue is doesn't help.
Who, in their right mind, would want to go to Hong Kong any longer?
Travel blog right?
Visitors? Tourists? Many business people?
Once the COVID restriction nonsense is finally over, HK will be unchanged for them.
The fact that for residents/citizens it’s become “Chairman Xi’s House of Horrors” doesn’t change visitor's experience.
Only if you’re indifferent to human suffering is the experience Unchanged
As long as China keeps their hands on HK as they have been, destroying democracy…HK will simply never recover.
I’ve been told many people fly Cathay Pacific and connect in Hong Kong to other destinations.
That's a great news! And hopefully they'll bring the 777-300ER back to North America soon! Last I check, it's still all A350 so far with up to 6x a week to LAX. I expect they will load the new schedule by the end of the year to add more frequencies to NA for 2023! The award availability on biz class is hard to find due to the lower frequencies.
While the west coast to HKG wouldn't be a problem, the 77Ws will struggle with ORD and points east because of the current geopolitical situation.
Very true! Just checked CX841 JFK-HKG departed on Oct 16 with A350-1000, took 15 hours 20 min flying over Alaska and Japan. For 77W, it'll probably have some weight restriction, especially when the headwind is strong.
I wonder at what point with Cathay pull back the 777's currently flying for Qatar? And, what is Qatar going to do without the lift those 777s provided?
CX is predicting it'll take 2 years (if not more) to return capacity back to 2019 level. I heard Qatar leased these planes for 3 years (til 2025?). In the meantime, CX is still taking delivery of new A350s, so they should be good til 2025 on long haul. And of course, the 777-9 should come in 2026.
Maybe I should look out for fall 2023 Trip on Qatar flight using CX planes.
Interestingly, I am booked in First with Qatar from Zurich to Doha in March 2023, using one of the leased CX 777s. BUT it looks like they have stopped rostering this aircraft on this route from Feb 1st (which is annoying and unclear what happens to my booking....!). So maybe they are sending them back to CX?