Cathay Pacific unveils new ‘Aria Suite’ business class – The Points Guy

Cathay Pacific unveiled its new business class seat today, showcasing its new Aria Suite at a preview event at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

The airline first revealed plans for the new Aria Suite back in March 2024, though the carrier has been tight-lipped about it so far, only saying the new suites will appear later this year on Cathay’s Boeing 777 aircraft. -300ER. It looks like the first flight with the new suits is about to take off later this week – and TPG got a sneak peek at the flight event.

Here’s what we saw at the Cathay Pacific event and what you need to know about the airline’s new business class seat.

What is a Cathay Pacific Aria Suite?

Cathay Pacific has been flying the same version of its current business class (with some upgrades as new aircraft such as the Airbus A350 have come into service) for over a decade now, therefore the introduction of the Aria Suite represents a major step in the future. the plane.

That said, it’s a bigger change than a complete departure for the airline. Like Cathay’s current business class, Aria Suites are laid out in a rear herringbone-style 1-2-1, so every seat has direct access to the aisle.

The ones on the sides of the cabin face out the window and are suitable for solo travelers, while the ones in the middle face each other, so it may be better for travelers traveling with companions.

Each Aria Suite still has plenty of privacy, however, thanks to the high seat shells, adjustable dividers between the center seats and closing doors that protect them. on the road. Doors are an increasingly common feature of next-generation business class seats, although this is the first time Cathay Pacific has offered them.

Unlike other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Starlux which have converted some seats in the first rows of their latest business class cabins into luxury products, Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites will be uniform throughout.

Aria Suites are decorated in neutral taupe, cream, sand and brown tones rather than the airline’s signature green, creating a calm environment on board.

They also include a variety of surface and storage areas, including a wide, wood-and-marble area on one side of the seat with a top panel that opens to reveal a cubby. shallow designed to store valuables. Another convenient cubby (with an inner fabric that gives off the signature green glow) is also integrated into the seat shell under a stylish lamp placed on the seat.

Among the technological advances, Aria Suites will feature new 24-inch 4K high-definition screens that are among the largest offered in business class by any airline. filter. They have Bluetooth audio connectivity, so passengers can use their own headphones. The airline promises that passengers will soon be able to coordinate their entertainment choices with their travel companions thanks to the new system functionality.

Another very interesting new feature is the “functionality” of the chair. Passengers can choose from “movie,” “work,” “relax,” “wake” and “sleep” modes, and with the push of a button, the suite has seat positions and lighting to suit the occasion. In addition, a guide on the inflight entertainment screen will advise passengers if there are additional and free toilets for use.

The seats also feature universal power plugs and USB-A and USB-C charging ports for personal devices, as well as wireless charging pads so you don’t have to tie a Gordian knot when boarding or disembarking. Passengers can take advantage of free Wi-Fi, too.

The double seat tray table slides out from under the entertainment system and has an accessory holder for tablets integrated into its design.

The tray table also has a unique feature that allows it to be easily placed at any height in its position by pulling or pushing it into place.

As you’d expect, every seat reclines into a flat bed, and passengers can expect the comfortable amenities now available in Cathay Pacific’s business class, including premium beds, Bamford comfort amenities and opportunities created in partnership with the famous Hong Kong. restaurants.

Don’t forget to keep your eye on the front of the cabin, where each air-conditioned Aria Suites will display a unique piece of art inspired by Hong Kong’s urban landscapes and natural surroundings. The piece will be created by artists with a connection to the destination as part of the airline’s self-described “gallery in the skies”.

Which airlines will have Cathay Pacific Aria Suites?

Cathay Pacific will install Aria Suites in its fleet of 30 Boeing 777-300ERs at the rate of one flight per month, which means that the entire repayment must be completed by the end of 2027.

The airline is phasing out the first batch of these jets, although it has revealed plans to add the new first-class product to its future fleet of Boeing 777-9s, of which the airline has ordered 21 and expects to enter service sometime soon. said. in 2026 (pending any delays from the jet manufacturer). Boeing 777-9s will also have Aria Suite business class cabins on board.

Want to know if a particular airline has the new Aria Suites? The first point will be whether the Boeing 777 has a first class cabin or not. If it does, it has not been repaired yet.

If your flight is in a three cabin (business, first economy and economy) Cathay Pacific Boeing 777, the next thing you should look at is the number of seats. The airline’s current Boeing 777 has 368 seats: 40 in business class, 32 in premium economy and 296 in economy.

The Boeing 777-300ER with the new Aria Suite will have 45 business class seats, 48 ​​premium class seats and 268 economy seats. So, the airline gains five business class seats and 16 seats in premium economy (which will also be the improved product we saw in April) but loses 28 economy seats. Economy seats are also an updated version of an existing product.

The business class cabin on the redesigned flights will be divided into two sections. The first, at the front of the plane, will have six rows of four seats each, plus one side seat in the last row. The smaller section, which will be behind the area with the galley and lavatory, will have five rows of four seats. All business class cabins will have a total of three toilets: two in the front near the cabin and one between the two compartments in business class.

If in doubt, check your flight’s seat map against the seat positions on the Cathay Pacific website. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with Aria Suites on board will be shown in 77J.

What routes will Cathay Pacific Aria Suites have?

We don’t yet know for sure which routes will have Aria Suites in the long term, but it is expected that once the airline takes delivery of the three jets returned in January, it will begin flying long-haul routes.

Currently, the first Cathay Pacific jet to play them will operate daily between HKG and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) from Oct. 18-31. Specifically, the jet will fly the following frequencies:

• Cathay Pacific flight CX 332: will depart Hong Kong at noon and arrive in Beijing at 3:30 pm local time.
• Cathay Pacific flight CX 331: will depart Beijing at 4:50 pm and arrive in Hong Kong at 8:35 pm local time.

These flights are subject to change, however, so always double-check your seat before departure in case there are any last-minute changes.

At press time, business class seats appeared to be sold in both directions on most days, but that could be for a number of reasons. If you intend to be in the area and can take one of these flights (remember to check visa requirements!), you may have better luck when you are close.

How to move Cathay Pacific Aria Suites

Due to the limited number of flights that may have Aria Suites in the near future and the launch time of one flight per month, it is unlikely that we will see the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER with the new suites on board flying to the US regularly any time soon. However, that may not matter much, as Cathay Pacific business class awards have become almost impossible to use American Airlines AAdvantage or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles in recent years.

Hopefully, that will change, and if it does, at current prices, you’ll need 110,000 American miles or 75,000 to 85,000 Alaska miles from destinations in the US, including Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago’s O’Hare. International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) beginning in April 2025, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco International (SFO).

In the meantime, your best bet for booking award flights on a carrier may be to redeem miles from Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program. Asia Miles is a transfer partner for American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards. Tickets between Hong Kong and various US airline gateways will range from 84,000 to 110,000 Asia Miles one way in business class.