It’s been expected that Cathay Pacific will call its new first class on the Boeing 777-9 “Halo Suites.” We’ve only seen concepts they were playing with for it. It’s delayed, because the 777-9 is delayed now by at least six years, to 2026.
But the commitment Cathey has to the product is extreme, delaying retrofits of Boeing 777s to retain first class until the new product is available, and the airline’s chairman believes when they reveal what is next it will be unrivaled.
- Cathay’s plan has been to offer first class only on its 777-9 fleet
- And to retrofit its Boeing 777-300ERs, the only plane in the fleet that has first class today. That aircraft would lose first class (in favor of new Aria Suite business class)
- They’re putting off some of those retrofits to maintain a skeleton fleet with first class, pending delivery of these new planes.
Cathay promises that its new first class will be mind-blowing.
Patrick Healy, the Cathay Chairman, reinforced the airline’s commitment to first class. “If you aspire to be one of the best – or ultimately, hopefully, – the best premium airline in the world, then having a world-leading first class is part of that. I think it’s difficult to claim that you’re really up there without an outstanding first class product.”
…Chairman Patrick Healy said the new product is “mindblowing,” adding that it is “a really, really special product and very impressive.”
New first will be revealed in 2025 – or 2026 – depending on the schedule to finally receive 777-9 aircraft.
The truth is that even the aging first class product remains one of the best in the world. It is ‘open’ in that there are no doors, but with a spacious footprint, and fantastic soft product.
- There are just six seats in the cabin, in a 1-1-1 layout.
- Service and amenities are excellent. Food is good, I’m a sucker for their cooked on board rice, their made to order eggs, and their dim sum.
- It remains the seat that gives me probably the best sleep in the sky.
On the limited routes where it’s available there have been semi-frequent dumps of award availability, generally bookable only with Cathay’s own Asia Miles.
The current iteration of Cathay Pacific first class doesn’t compare to the new Emirates first class on the Boeing 777, and doesn’t offer onboard showers like the Emirates A380. It doesn’t have a seat and separate bed like Singapore and Etihad on their Airbus A380s. And the ground experience in Hong Kong isn’t on par with Air France in Paris or Lufthansa in Frankfurt. But it is still one of my top products and I’m glad to see them continue to invest even if Hong Kong as a destination is less significant than it was six years ago.
Wow! So timely. But update your photos of current CX First. No Orchids in seats. Sad! 🙁
Just Flew JFK HKG HND for 160,000 Asia Miles transferred from bank card. Long Haul was great short flight to HND seemed like business +. Snagged award when CX announced First Class return to JFK. Glad to enjoy CX again after years absence 🙂
Did get the Trifecta for Lounges. Wing Cabana, Pier foot massage, and Pier Day bed. While CX lounges closed overnight I had a Plaza Premium sleeper with toilet shower. View was up close to nose of CX A350.
Chase Sapphire lounge was open to Priority Pass, also Kieru (sp?) lounge, AmEx Centurion last two packed Plaza premium near the Y had line of dozen people waiting to get in.
Spending HND overnight at Villa Fontaine Premier using Citi credit and non transferable Thank you points. Price point close to DEN Westin but Super jr suite (Executive room)
Now headed to Onsen for sunrise
Safe travels
“Cathey”?
If we are talking about the legacy Cathay First class on their 777s, I have to say it is my favorite First class experience. Yes, I’ve done Emirates, had the shower, been there got the T-shirt. Never done Singapore or La Premiere . The latter is on my list.
I found Cathay’s First, incredible comfortable. But the most important thing to me is how we were treated. Best cabin experience ever, and I did it more than once. I remember ordering a hamburger and fries in flight — it took about 20 mins but was one of the best in-flight meals I’ve ever had. Go figure.
At LHR now the AA guests don’t automatically overflow to the First lounge the experience is OK+, but the HKG experience is excellent.
Well I’ll be the one to say it. 10 years from now if nobody’s managed to see it one on a revenue flight then we need to remember that it’s not a case of them “Pulling a Lufthansa”.
It’s only that delayed as the 77X still hasn’t managed to obtain it’s flight certification & although Airbus recently revealed their new 100% emissions free A670 triple body the seat was primarily designed for the ‘Will It Fly XXX’