CX 251 Hong Kong - London Heathrow
5 May 2024
Business Class
While I'm a regular in Business Class flying the transpacific, I can't remember when was the last time I flew up front between Hong Kong and Europe on Cathay Pacific. I had flown with Swiss from Zurich in Business Class over the Christmas break so it would be good to compare their products, as well as whether Cathay's offering has improved.
Cathay's London frequencies have pretty much returned to pre-pandemic levels with up to 5 flights a day to Heathrow. They had flown to Gatwick before which hasn't returned still.
After a few experiences so far this year encountering incredible crowds at security, I was surprised it was fairly quiet during the late evening as the European flights get ready to depart. There are 5 flights to London within a 35 minute period from 10:40pm with 3 on Cathay and 2 on BA.
As I briskly walked to gate 28, I noticed a line snaking out and the premium classes were already boarding. My Business Class seat was in the front mini-section with only 2 rows. But the 777 is starting to show its age, and with so many new and improved Business Class cabins on competitor airlines, this cabin is starting to look dated.
I had a throne seat on Swiss' Business Class earlier, which felt a bit more private than this one although horizontally, both were about the same width and a bit too narrow.
They had Cathay Delight on offer as a welcome drink. This kiwi, mint, and coconut milk beverage is by far my favourite on board any plane.
The mattress cover is new to me and along with the blanket, are already bundled into a cloth bag at the end of the seat. The disposable slippers on the side pocket are also a new feature, while the amenity kit and a bottle of water are already placed inside the headphone cabinet off to my left.
The slanted seat offers direct aisle access but it's a narrow passage into the sitting position. There is no door for additional privacy and no partition to the next seat, so I could see my neighbour fully when he leans forward from his seat.
The monitor is a large touch-screen but doesn't respond quickly to the touch. There is also a remote control that I used every now instead of leaning out to the monitor.
There were a few announcements to locate missing passengers and we ended up delayed because of 1 that never showed up and luggage needed to be offloaded. We pushed back 20 minutes late at 11pm for the 13.5 hour journey.
Having eaten dinner earlier, I wasn't interested in having dinner again at such a late hour, which would make me too full to sleep. A staff had come by to take my order and also to distribute a breakfast card. I told her I'd skip the main but can take the appetizers, but perhaps it was lost in translation as the tray never arrived.
The dinner main selection looked decent with a few local delights. The mid-flight snack menu also had egg tarts, a nice touch to add some Hong Kong cuisine to the menu.
I wasn't too keen to eat and opted to rest, sleeping on and off for about 3 hours after the meal service. While the seat is long enough to lie totally flat, it is quite narrow especially by the feet so it feels quite confined. Since my head is close to the aisle and there is no door, the space doesn't feel so private unless I put on ear plugs and the eye mask, both of which are included in the Bamford amenity kit.
The lights dimmed and it was a mostly smooth flight with the occasional bumps and seat belt sign on. During my awake hours, I took advantage of my direct aisle access to stretch and walk around regularly. The bathroom was kept clean and well-stocked. Behind in the galley, I helped myself to some snacks, including caramel popcorn, which is also new to the menu.
Despite the huge Business Class spread cross 2 cabins, I never had to wait long for the bathroom.
The tray table stretches out well and can be pulled aside when I need to step out. With a little recline, I could get some work done on my laptop and also watch some shows at the same time in good comfort.
2 hours before landing, breakfast was served and I was happy to receive my Chinese edition with dim sum, congee, and fresh fruit. Breakfast is never an exceptional meal no matter which class but this one tasted nice, especially with a piping hot tea from Jing.
Browsing through the menu, I noticed they started featuring Ningxia wines. These Made in China products are relatively unknown on the international market, so I thought it's quite a gamble to feature them in a premium cabin. I don't tend to drink alcohol on planes except port wines and I was happy to try a few teas.
The IFE is well-stocked with lots to choose from and plenty of local Hong Kong content.
Wifi is available on board but only First Class passengers can use for free, which I thought was a bit stringy as other airlines are starting to offer them to Economy Class for free. A flight pass costs USD $19 otherwise for the entire flight, which would be a reasonable deal back in the old days.
At roughly 5:30am, the pilot announced we would start descending shortly, landing from the west at 5:54am. It was a quick taxi into Terminal 3, which was empty at that hour. Despite a very long walk to immigration, processing was quick given we were the first off the plane. There was no line for an officer and the premium bags started coming out shortly after, an amazing feat.
I was out the exit and back land-side in the arrivals hall within 30 minutes of the doors opening. Contrast that to recent news reports of hours waiting because the e-gates were down. I'm having a lucky morning.
Cathay's hard product is starting to look dated and needs a refresh. They've got that on the cards so perhaps the next time I fly them, it'll be on a retrofitted plane with a newer and better product. This old Business Class seat is nice but feels a bit narrow and not too private in today's standard. In the meantime, I'll look for flights on their newer A350s instead.
