Cathay Pacific just announced the return of first class service to New York starting March 31, 2024, with their flights CX830 and CX831 offering the Boeing 777-300ER forward cabin.
- New York JFK – Hong Kong, 2:55 p.m. – 6:55 p.m.+1, Cathay Pacific flight 831
Hong Kong – New York JFK, 9:05 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Cathay Pacific flight 830
What’s more, first class award space is available using Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program – which is a transfer partner of American Express, Citibank, Capital One and Bilt. I’ve tried booking the space through American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and Qantas – and as of now it appears to be space restricted to Cathay’s own members (however that could change).
Space is broadly available in April and May from New York to Hong Kong, and also in June flying back from Hong Kong to New York.
However, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles charges a whopping 160,000 miles each way per person.
Growing up in the frequent flyer space, Cathay Pacific first class was a unicorn. Things opened up a lot with the Great Recession, and for several years thereafter I practically lived in the cabin. I was mostly redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles for the privilege.
Although it’s somewhat dated, and there aren’t any doors, it remains one of my most favorite first class products.
- 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.
My biggest beef about Cathay used to be that there was no wifi. Now they offer wifi free to first class passengers. I haven’t tried their new Bamford bedding.
It’s a ton of miles through Cathay’s program, but if you’ve been dying to get to Asia on points and to experience what’s once again a rare product on points, the return of first class to JFK seems like your opportunity.
Thanks for update. Great product and service even though it’s outdated.
Editing suggesting: eliminate this type of hyperbole in your writing “…for several years thereafter I practically lived in the cabin…” . You discredit yourself with these silly statements.
My questions would be how their F service has held up, after all the changes the airlines has gone through during and post-COVID. Have been hearing middling reviews of their current J service.
Just wondering how the airline is doing post pandemic? Has full service returned or are there cuts in service to help manage the company’s finances?
Cathay Pacific has a fantastic first class service. It doesn’t need over the top amenities like Singapore Air and ANA does. Closing doors and extra storage is nice but I don’t want to sacrifice seat width or leg room. CP seats are wide and comfortable. Very easy to fall asleep in. They don’t turn up the heat and then have to ask to turn it down like ANA and Japan Airlines does. They have a good steak option for western meals and hamburger and chips for anytime snacks. I don’t care for foie gras or caviar or multicourse meals. It is easy to add a connection to somewhere else in Southeast Asia when using Alaska Mileageplan miles without needing more miles. Though I wouldn’t be surprised it this gets raised next year. I have flown their first class 7 times now and look forward to it again. Glad they are bringing it back to JFK.
Delta, a for profit company, provides a far superior product. It outperformes all competitors and leads the industry in everything it does.
Cathay doesn’t matter. Hong Kong is soooo over. No one will ever transit there. Seoul is the new Hong Kong. Delta rules.
I I don’t understand why anyone would waste time flying CP when they can just fly Delta who is vastly superior. I dream of the day that Ed Bastian is on one of my flights, so I can kindly ask him if I can smell his feet. He’ll give me 10,000 SkyRubbles for my trouble, which would be worth around $3.