Flying Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy Class

After a few disappointing experiences flying Air Canada Premium Economy, I was curious about the Premium Economy experience on other airlines. So, I booked Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy from Vancouver to Hong Kong. With close to fifteen hours of flying time, I was hopeful.

Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Experience at the Airport

Cathay Pacific Premium Economy passengers can access a dedicated check-in counter and priority boarding. An increased baggage allowance is also available. You can read more about the baggage allowance here.

Pre-Flight Beverage Service

Shortly after boarding the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777, cabin crew offered Premium Economy passengers Champagne in a proper glass—the best way to begin a flight.

InFlight Dining and Drinks

Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy passengers select food and beverages from a multi-page, multi-lingual menu. Choice is part of a premium travel experience. Cathay Pacific achieves this by offering Premium Economy passengers a selection of entrees, snacks, wine, and other beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).

Food Quality

I ordered a vegetarian meal a few days before departure but didn’t need to. Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy passengers can select a vegetarian option from the in-flight dining menu. The food was decent, and the service was excellent. After the pre-flight Champagne service, the crew served beverages in plastic glasses.

Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy Cabin

For entertainment, Premium Economy passengers can access StudioCX inflight entertainment system on a 10.6-inch screen along with noise-cancelling headphones.

The separate Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy cabin has four rows with seats in a 2x4x2 configuration. The bulkhead seats (row 30) have extra legroom and full leg rest – I sat in seat 30 A. With a generous pillow and cozy blanket, I slept for a few hours on the flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Opportunities for Improvement

Overall, the Cathay Pacific (Boeing 777) Premium Economy experience was excellent. I would fly Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific again.

One opportunity for improvement would be to upgrade the Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Amenity Kit. Consider partnering with a sustainable organization to provide passengers with a reusable amenity kit (preferably natural fabric). At a minimum, a Premium Economy amenity kit should include comfortable eyeshades, socks, earplugs, and a tooth care kit. I didn’t use the uncomfortable eyeshades in the Cathay Pacific amenity kit – I always travel with ultra-plush eyeshades from the Lufthansa First Class cabin. And I left my Cathay Pacific Premium Economy amenity kit on the airplane – it smelt like chemicals.

Another consideration is the use of glassware in the Premium Economy cabin. I recognize the benefits of plastic, but the Premium Economy cabin is relatively small, and serving beverages in glass throughout the trip would elevate the inflight experience.

Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Travel Tips

• Asia Miles members can use points to upgrade from Cathay Pacific Premium Economy to Business. Cathay Pacific passengers can use Asia Miles to upgrade from Economy Class to Premium Economy, Premium to Business, and Business Class to First Class.
• Select bulkhead seats in the Cathy Pacific Boeing 777 Premium Economy cabin for more legroom.
• Premium Economy passengers can access Cathay Pacific Lounges through Marco Polo or Oneworld status.

You might be interested in reading about the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 Business Class experience and the incredible Cathay Pacific First Class.