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Flight Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class 777-300ER HKG-NRT

ByDW
The image shows the interior of an airplane's business class cabin. The seats are arranged in a staggered layout, providing privacy and space for each passenger. Overhead bins are open, with some luggage stored inside. Passengers are seen standing in the aisle, some placing their belongings in the overhead compartments, while others are preparing to take their seats. The cabin has a modern design with neutral colors and individual entertainment screens at each seat.

This past March I experienced Cathay Pacific Business Class for the first time on their 777-300ER for the quick 4ish-hour flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to (Tokyo).

A map of East Asia showing a flight path between two cities. The cities are labeled "HKG" (Hong Kong) and "HND" (Tokyo). The flight path is represented by a red line connecting these two points. The map includes parts of China, Japan, Korea, and surrounding regions.

This flight completed the tail end of a SWEET Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan redemption a 2-day stopover in Hong Kong. The more I think about it, the more I simply cannot understand how Alaska can offer such a valuable and flexible stopover policy…. But as long as they do I am going to keep taking advantage of it!

While the redemption began in First Class, the second half of the itinerary did not have any First Class availability, so Business Class it was!

Pre-Flight –

The whole pre-flight process got off to a smooth start with an easy check-in process and then we got to security.

I was wearing my standard travel outfit – I don’t know about you, but I wear the same thing on 95% of flights, both domestic and international – which sometimes includes lace up boots that take me forever to tie.

I was quite excited when I was not required to remove my shoes to go through security. No need for swanky lounges and tarmac transfers – just get me through security without taking my shoes off and I am all set!

The Cabin – Business Class Lounge –

While it was tough to choose between all the great Cathay Business Class lounges at HKG, we decided to keep it simple and go to the lounge in closest proximity to our departure gate – which happened to be The Cabin near Gate 23.

The image shows an entrance to "The Cabin," a lounge operated by Cathay Pacific at an airport. The entrance features a staircase leading down, with signage displaying the Cathay Pacific logo and the words "The Cabin" in both English and Chinese. Above the entrance, there is a large digital screen displaying an advertisement featuring a person. The airport terminal is visible in the background, with passengers and additional signage. The image shows a view from inside an airport terminal looking out through a large window. Outside, there is an airplane parked at a gate with a jet bridge connected to it. Another airplane is visible in the background on the tarmac. The sky appears overcast, and there are various airport ground service vehicles and equipment around the planes. A person in a green uniform is walking on the tarmac near the parked airplane.

I was still pretty stuffed from our breakfast at the JW Marriott Hong Kong Executive Lounge, so I just needed a place to sit, connect to some wi-fi, and a 9AM juice and cold brew…

The image shows a menu titled "Healthy Drinks" placed on a wooden board. The menu lists various drink options under different categories: 1. Fresh & Vegetable Juice: - Carrot, apple, and combination of fresh juices - Orange, pineapple, watermelon, and combination of fresh juices 2. Special Health Drink: - Liver Light: Beet, apple, carrot, spinach - Clean Sweep: Celery, carrot, apple 3. Vegetable Health Drink: - The Vitalizer: Beetroot, carrot, spinach The menu is placed on a counter with some glass jars containing drinks in the background. The image shows a display of several glass pitchers filled with different types of beverages, likely juices, arranged in a row on a marble countertop. Each pitcher has a label in front of it, indicating the type of beverage it contains. The display is well-lit, and there is a glass barrier above the pitchers. A menu or list is placed on top of the glass barrier.

A hand is holding a can of Kirin Ichiban beer. The can is white with gold and black text, featuring a dragon logo. The text on the can reads "Japan's Prime Brew," "Kirin Ichiban," "First Press," "100% Malt," and "Brewed for Good Times." There is also some Japanese text on the can. In the background, there is a couch and a part of a room visible.

We spent an hour or so in the lounge with a bit of plane spotting, and then it was time to make the short walk over to Gate 22.

The Business Class Cabin –

We made our our way down the aisle through the First Class cabin and my fond memories of just a few days prior all rushed through my mind… but onward we went! I will note, similar to my JFK-HKG flight, of the 6 seats in the First cabin, only 4 of them were occupied.

The image shows the interior of an airplane cabin, specifically the business class section. The seats are arranged in a staggered configuration, providing ample space and privacy for each passenger. Some passengers are seen settling into their seats or placing their belongings in the overhead compartments. The cabin is well-lit with overhead lighting, and the windows are covered with shades. The overall atmosphere appears calm and organized.
Empty now… but it filled up quick!

The classic reverse herringbone arranged Business Class cabin was stuffed to the brim with passengers – two of which were my wife and I!

The Seat – 18K –

Comfortable cloth seats and overall pretty spacious – plenty of room to store a small carry-on in the foothold, and any other smaller trinkets easily fit in the headphone cubby.

The image shows a business class airplane seat. The seat is spacious and upholstered in dark fabric, with a white pillow placed on it. There are various controls and a small storage compartment next to the seat. The seat is positioned next to a window, and the interior of the airplane is well-lit. The image shows a business class seat on an airplane. The seat is positioned next to a window, and there is a television screen in front of it. A backpack is placed on the seat, and a seatbelt is visible on the seat cushion. There is also a small table or surface area next to the seat, and the overall area appears to be compact and designed for comfort during a flight.

The image shows a business class seat on an airplane. The seat is upholstered in a dark green fabric with a white headrest cover. There is a pillow placed on the seat. To the left of the seat, there is a control panel with various buttons and a reading light. In the background, other passengers can be seen standing in the aisle.

I cannot state for sure how the seat might feel to sleep in during long-haul flights, but based on my 4-hour experience, I have no doubt that I could catch some ZzZz’s.

The Entertainment –

Consistent with our previous 777 flight – no Wi-Fi on the Cathay 777-300ER. I wish this was not the case…

IFE Monitor – Similar to First (though much smaller in size) the monitor seemed a bit grainy, but has the swivel function to adapt to the position/angle of your liking.

A person is sitting in an airplane seat with their legs stretched out, wearing brown leather shoes and blue pants. In front of them is an in-flight entertainment screen displaying a map. The image gives a sense of relaxation and comfort during a flight.

Headphones – Nothing Special. Not Bose or any other name brand, but they did the trick!

The image shows a pair of black headphones with a coiled cable, stored inside a small, open compartment with a reddish-brown interior. The compartment appears to be part of a larger piece of furniture or equipment, possibly a desk or a cabinet. The headphones are plugged into a socket inside the compartment. A man is sitting in an airplane seat, wearing a baseball cap with the letters "TB" on it, headphones, and a maroon and gray shirt. He is smiling and giving a thumbs-up gesture. The interior of the airplane, including the overhead compartments and seats, is visible in the background.

The Food and Drank –

For the record, I will state that I was NOT HUNGRY on this flight. With a departure time of 10:15AM I was still full from breakfast earlier that morning.

But did I let that stop me? NO, OF COURSE NOT! Hungry or not I had to experience what Cathay Business had to offer!

As per usual, to get the party started, we popped some Champagne!

A person is holding a glass of champagne while sitting in what appears to be an airplane seat. The person is wearing dark pants and a black wristband. The background shows part of the airplane interior, including a window and a screen.
My favorite way to kickoff a flight experience!

Then immediately after take-off the crew began the lunch service.

Lunch –

To start… Grilled Japanese scallop, Angel prawn, octopus and sea urchin wasabi mayonnaise, as well as Seasonal mixed salad and balsamic vinegar, and then Nameko mushroom soba noodles.

The image shows a scene inside an airplane. On a tray table, there is a glass of champagne, a glass of water, a small bowl of mixed nuts, and a blue baseball cap with the letters "TB" on it. The background includes part of an airplane window and a screen. A meal is served on a tray, featuring a variety of dishes. On the main plate, there is a piece of shrimp, a scallop, and a slice of fish garnished with a yellow sauce and small orange roe. To the left, there is a whole wheat roll. In the background, there are two small bowls, one containing a green salad with cherry tomatoes and the other containing soba noodles. Additionally, there is a small container of butter, a glass of water, and a packet of tea.

Solid start!

Then for the Main… I requested Stir fried halibut, sweet and spicy sauce, jade melon, baby corn and steamed jasmine rice. It was not my favorite, but I did end up eating most it, even though I wasn’t hungry… what’s wrong with me?

A close-up image of a meal served in white bowls. The main bowl contains pieces of cooked chicken, zucchini, and other vegetables. Another bowl contains white rice. In the background, there are additional condiments and a small bottle of sauce. A small white plate with slices of kiwi, dragon fruit, watermelon, and pineapple is placed next to a laptop. A fork and knife are on a napkin beside the plate.

Next, some fruit, and while I was offered some ice cream, I politely declined. Which is a very rare, but a good thing because remember, I was NOT hungry.

The Ride & Views from the Wing –

Overall a quick and smooth flight – no complaints.

The image shows a close-up view of an airplane engine in flight, with a backdrop of clouds and a clear sky. The engine is prominently visible on the right side of the image, while the horizon and layers of clouds can be seen extending into the distance.
Smooth sailing!

The staff was very efficient and seemed to work well as a unit! That was quite a meal with multiple courses, in a full Business Class cabin, and the flight attendants rocked it!

Arrival –

We arrived right on schedule around 2:05PM local Tokyo time.

The image shows an aerial view from an airplane window, with a close-up of the aircraft's engine in the foreground. Below, there is a coastline with a beach and ocean waves, and inland areas with fields and buildings. The sky is mostly clear with a few clouds.
Oh, hello Japanese coastline! Great to see you!

Final Thought

My Cathay Pacific Business Class experience on the 777-300ER was solid! It wasn’t First, but it was a relatively short flight and all those famed First Class frills probably couldn’t have been enjoyed anyway.

It was just a small part of a great adventure!

Have you ever flown in Cathay Business? If so, what was your experience like?

Happy Travels!

DW

The image shows a white outline of a paper airplane on a blue circular background.

4 Comments

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