Among its many accolades, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific is known for having some of the best premium economy seats in the sky. But is it actually worth springing for that upgrade, or even giving up your airline miles for?
Over the past five years, I’ve gained a considerable understanding of long-haul travel, having made the 17+ hour schlep from London to my hometown of Jakarta, Indonesia and back more times than I can remember. So I was curious to see if Cathay Pacific’s premium economy seats lived up to its name, and how it compares to business class.
Premium economy
Cathay Pacific introduced its premium economy class in 2012, and quickly gained a reputation for hitting the sweet spot between affordability and enhanced comfort—the type you can’t quite get in coach. We’re talking more space, elevated menus, ample storage, and even amenity kits. While these features alone may be worthy of an upgrade, especially on a long-haul, what instantly won me over on my five-hour journey from Jakarta to Hong Kong began at the airport.
I appreciated the dedicated check-in counter, which made luggage drop off quick and easy—a perk I was extremely grateful for when I was running late. Speaking of baggage, there is a generous 100 pound weight limit across two suitcases. For context, business class passengers on Singapore Airlines are only given 88 pounds. And the cherry on top? There’s priority boarding at the gate, too.
Stepping on board and past business class (more on that later) sits the premium economy cabin, which is only available on Cathay Pacific’s A350s and B777s. Outfitted with the carrier’s iconic teal-green color, seats are laid out in a two-four-two configuration. On my quiet flight, there were 32 seats available but luckily less than half were taken, making for a very intimate and cozy journey.
