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    Home » Recipes » Blog

    Flight Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class CX101, Hong Kong to Sydney

    July 13, 2015 By Sara McCleary Updated March 13, 2020 - This post may contain affiliate links

    Life well travelled is Cathay Pacific’s current catch phrase, and I’m not one to disagree with them. I love to travel and if an airline is going to make the journey a more comfortable one, then I thank them very much. I had the pleasure of experiencing Cathay Pacific’s business class on a recent flight from Hong Kong to Sydney.

    When travelling Cathay Pacific business class the journey starts before you leave the ground. There are dedicated business class check in counters, which make checking in and dropping your bags quick and painless.

    Once you have cleared immigration and screening, and completed the mandatory duty free shop, it is then on to one of the Cathay Pacific business class lounges at Hong Kong airport. There are five lounges located in various parts of the airport, The Wing (gates 1-4), The Cabin (gate 23), The Pier (gates 62-66), The Bridge (gate 35) and The Arrival (arrivals hall) for those wanting to freshen up on arriving into Hong Kong.

    Business Class on the Ground: The Pier

    What I love about airline lounges are that they give you a space to just relax before your flight. They are comfortable, you aren’t forever watching your bags, you have access to free Wi-Fi, you can grab something to drink and eat and of course you are looked after like a silk worm.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com

    The Pier offers a variety of food areas, including a Noodle Bar where dishes are freshly prepared to order.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com

    There is ample seating and power points dotted around so you can charge your devices.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong | www.bellyrumbles.com

    The Pier first class lounge has just opened after a full renovation. Sadly I didn’t get to experience this, but you can head over here to find out more about it.

    Business Class in the Air

    Flight:  CX101 HKG-SYD
    Loyalty Scheme: Marco Polo Club, Oneworld
    Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
    Cabin: Business (J)
    Seat: 19A

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    I head down the dedicated business/first class air walk to the plane and am greeted with smiles like a long lost friend. There are two sections of the Airbus A330-300 business class cabin. The main business class cabin consists of 28 seats where I embarked, and then a smaller 11 seat cabin is located directly behind. I am in the more cosy 11 seat cabin, which when in the air I prefer. The down side is that you get to watch all the premium economy and economy passengers file past you as they board the plane and head to their seats. If you like people watching then this isn’t such a down side.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    Once seated I am asked if I would like something to drink and I happily say yes to a glass of Champagne Deutz. A warm lightly scented face cloth also arrives so I can freshen myself up.

    Seat 19A is located at the front of the cabin, left hand side next to the window. The 208cm pitch, 51cm wide seat will be my home for the next nine hours and ten minutes on this over night flight to Sydney.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    The Cathay Pacific business class seating configuration, 1-2-1, means that all seats have direct access to the aisle and you don’t have to clamber over a fellow passenger to get up. The centre seats have a privacy screen so you can ignore your neighbour if you wish.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    Beside overhead storage there are plenty storage areas around your seat. There is a dedicated storage space for your shoes and ample area in front of you under where your pillow and blanket are stored.

    Entertainment

    You will find your noise cancelling headphones stowed away in a compartment next to the seat controls. One push and a door will pop open to reveal your already plugged in headphones.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    A nice large screen pulls out from the wall in front of me on which I can watch a vast selection of movies and TV shows. You do feel like you are in a mini theatre, and I wonder how much sleep I will actually get on this flight with the viewing temptations on offer.

    Dinner

    As our flight departed Hong Kong just before midnight dinner is served pretty quickly.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    I have heard that Cathay Pacific’s business class signature cocktail is a must to try. The Pacific Sunrise cocktail isn’t available on our flight, and instead I opt for a martini extra dry. To say I am a martini snob is an understatement, and even though it came with ice, my extra dry martini was well received and satisfying.

    To start there are a couple of dips served with grissini.

    For the main event there is a choice of braised pork “lion head” with steamed jasmine rice and braised baby Chinese cabbage; or pan fried sea bream with lemon parsley butter, celeriac puree, green beans and carrot. I decide on the sea bream, and unfortunately both the bream and celeriac puree are slightly dried out by the time it is served. Beside that, flavour wise it is good, but I secretly wish I had asked for the pork.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    There is quite a range of alcoholic beverages on offer to enjoy during your flight. I decide on a glass of The Olive Grove Chardonnay from McLaren Vale/Adelaide Hills (2012) to enjoy with my bream.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    Dessert is a selection of seasonal berries laced with rose syrup. The strawberries and blueberries are light and refreshing. A box of pralines is then offered around and we are encouraged to take as many as we like.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    After dishes have been cleared away and I have settled into watching a movie I decide to give the optional cheese plate a try. The plate has a selection of cheeses, Bleu d’Auvergne, Red Leicester and Taleggio, plus crackers and cabernet paste. I have a glass of Chateau Cap L’Ousteau, Haut-Medoc (2010) to wash it all down.

    Sleeping & Amenities Kit

    The amenities kit bag is designed by Seventy Eight Percent. It contains lip balm hand cream and day cream by Jurlique. You will also find a toothbrush, small tube of Colgate toothpaste, socks, eye mask and earplugs.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    My seat converts into a flat bed for sleeping. There is ample room to toss and turn, and if you are tall the bed is just under 2m in length. I find once I put my earplugs in, eye mask on, and snuggle into my blanket and pillow I am sleeping like a baby. Before I know it the smell of breakfast rouses me from my sleep.

    Breakfast

    Again there are a few options on offer for breakfast. All breakfasts are served with a choice of orange or apple juice, passionfruit and strawberry smoothie, fresh seasonal fruit, Bircher muesli with blueberries and a selection of breakfast breads.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    For the main component of breakfast there is a choice of smoked applewood cheddar cheese omelette with Dingley Dell pork sausage, back bacon, tomato and mushrooms. Or one of two Asian options, dim sum or seafood congee served with baked barbecue pork pie.

    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com
    Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney CX101 | www.bellyrumbles.com

    I decide on dim sum, which consists of pork siu mai with crab roe, preserved vegetable crystal dumpling, shrimp dumpling and mini chicken glutinous rice wrapped lotus leaf.

    Back on the ground

    Cathay hand fast track passes to all business class passengers before getting off the plane. This means that once I am back on the ground at Sydney airport I can join the express queue at immigration. And once I have collected my luggage, if I have noting to declare, I head to the express exit and leave.

    Cathay Pacific Australia operates over 70 non-stop flights a week from Australia to Hong Kong, including four daily flights from Sydney, three flights a day from Melbourne, daily flights from Brisbane, 10 flights a week from Perth and four flights a week in both Cairns and Adelaide. The airline offers Business, Premium Economy and Economy on all flights aboard Airbus A330s and Boeing 333s (in Sydney only).

    Sara xxx

    Sara flew from Hong Kong to Sydney with thanks to Taiwan Tourism Bureau and was upgraded to Business Class with thanks to Cathay Pacific.

    Other Airline Reviews

    Best Qantas business class seats Sydney to Tokyo
    Qantas Business Class Sydney to Singapore
    Fiji Airways Business Class Sydney to Nadi Return
    Catch up on all our airline reviews!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christina

      March 31, 2016 at 5:02 pm

      It's such a nice surprise when you get upgraded isn't in Sara? Wish I had a formula for that to happen more often. Nice review!

      Reply
    2. Jean | DelightfulRepast.com

      July 20, 2015 at 2:15 pm

      Sara, I've just about sworn off air travel as the discomforts of coach/economy have become more and more unbearable. If I could travel like Cathay Pacific business class, I'd happily go anywhere!

      Reply
      • Sara

        July 21, 2015 at 2:30 am

        Economy travel has really taken a dive with airlines trying to cram in more seats etc. Some are starting to bring in some new elements to seating to make cattle class more attractive, like Cathay Pacific's family couches. I believe Air New Zealand has done something too so you can stretch out a bit more length wise. But, I would be happy to fly business always if I could.

        Reply
    3. Helen | Grab Your Fork

      July 19, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Dimsum for breakfast would have to be the best inflight meal you could ask for!

      Reply
      • Sara

        July 21, 2015 at 2:28 am

        I just had to order it, the other options couldn't stand up to my dim sum fetish.

        Reply
    4. [email protected] Peas and Peonies

      July 13, 2015 at 4:15 pm

      I would travel like that on a weekly basis, the food and the seats look amazing!

      Reply
      • Sara

        July 21, 2015 at 2:27 am

        LOL Katalina, I would love to travel like this on a weekly basis too, a girl can dream 🙂

        Reply

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    photo of Sara McCleary, Founder, Belly Rumbles culinary travel blog

    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food photographer, creative recipe developer, and avid traveller (when the World isn’t in a pandemic).

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