Cathay Pacific Business Class Review A330 CX 777

Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class Airbus A330-300 [TPE - HKG]

FROM:
HKG

TO:
CGK

CABIN:
Business

DATE:
October 2026

Cathay Pacific Business class on their A330-300 from HKG to TPE offers an solid international regional short haul experience. An excellent lounge experience leads into a solid in flight experience on an older A330 airframe, though a bit lacking in the catering department.

Overall Rating:

This is the second leg of a 2 leg Taipei to Jakarta flight. Cathay Pacific offers a couple of regional business class products on their A330-300s. This flight will be on their more modern older 1-2-1 configuration, featuring direct aisle access style business class seats. The first leg was in a somewhat disappointing old 2-2-2 seat.

I have higher expectations for this flight, as it sits in a longer mid-range flight time and distance where service and comfort matter more than the brief 1.5 hour hop

In This Post:

How I Booked Cathay Pacific Business Class

This was the second leg of a 2 leg flight from Taipei to Jakarta booked through Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. This cost 32,000 miles and 1128 HKD. Cash fare is right around 600 one way for this flight, bringing this redemption to right around 2CPP. With taxes, kind of below my minimum for a redemption, but my cup runneth over with points.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Lounge

My ticket today comes with access to all four(!?) Cathay lounges. The Pier, near gate 65; The Deck, near gate 6; and The Bridge, near gate 35; and The Wing, near gate 2.

The Hong Kong airport is essentially one massive terminal interconnected by a central underground train. The flight today will be departing from Gate 27, closer to the ‘start’ of the terminal. However, I want to check out ‘The Pier’ lounge near Gate 65, which is supposed to be Cathay’s flagship for Business Class.

Cathay Pacific Lounge | The Pier - Hong Kong International Airport

The Pier is allegedly Cathay’s Flagship lounge at Hong Kong International. If their impressive satellite lounge at Taipei is anything to go by, this should be a bit of a treat.

The Pier is located down an escallator near gate 65, a bit of a hoof (though there is a train) from immigration/security.

Cozy vibes with nice wood tones. Not too busy yet this morning, but I imagine this will change.

Directly from reception are several ‘rooms’ decorated very much in the style of a living room with views of the gates. Once again, big fan of this style.

Second further room, this is across the bar area to the left.

Similarly designed pockets of seating, this one in the bar area.

Central seating area with a large staffed bar towards the back/side.

More window view seating.

Noodle bar, centerpiece of the restaurant area.

Large dining room space

Continuing on, further back towards the showers is a tea room with an extensive tea menu.

Furthest back is a ‘quiet area’ rest zone with some lounge recliners in the back.

Aside from the western options in the front, scattered snacks, and noodle bar, there are only a couple of hot food options in the restaurant area.

Back towards the front is a diner style space serving more western adjacent breakfast items

Sausage, bacon etc.

Pastries

There are several fridges in the lounges stocked with drinks. This specific one also has an espresso machine.

There is also a staffed barista station that serves up some great coffee.

Taiwanese dan dan noodles from the noodle bar – very good.

Showers had an approximately 30 minute wait at 6am. I was given a buzzer that would let me know when one is open.

The shower room is a bit small, but more than sufficient.

Restroom options were limited due to some remodels/renovations on the main restroom.

Paid a visit to the tea bar before leaving. Lovely.

All in all a fantastic lounge. I’d even go as far as to say it has been my favorite lounge, from a visual and style point anyway. The design from color choices, to the furniture variety and space segmentation really made it feel like a number of connected living rooms, and I really liked that.

The segmentation layout as well I think despite filling up it never really felt too crowded outside of the restaurant area.

Overall, well done Cathay. Lets hope the in flight can match.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Boarding

Boarding from gate 27 today – 10-15 ish minutes from the lounge with the train.

Boarding began on time. Upon sitting, FAs are around with Orange, Apple juice and Water. A hot (hot spots) towel was handed out as well.

Shortly after the FA was around to introduce herself and take the food and drink order.

Pushback was a bit late, at 922. And then 3 and a half hours of driving around the tarmac later liftoff was 947 – almost 40 minutes late.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Cabin

This is the same old cabin as the A330-300 I was just on from Taipei. But with the newer (relatively) 1-2-1 configured Safran Cirrus seats.

Much better than Cathay’s older regional 2-2-2 business class, it still has an ‘old’ feeling enunciated by an aging airplane.

Low center bins make the cabin feel a bit tight. But just a part of life with these older planes.

Nice wall art though – not sure I noticed that on the prior flight?

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Seat

This is (I believe) the same seat as EVA Air uses on their 777s. Though perhaps a bit of an older model of it? Plenty comfortable with good width and leg room as you would expect for this style of seat.

Deep footwell and storage to the right. Good space out to the right too when in lounge/bed. Not as narrow at the feet as it appears.

Seat controls, IFE remote and light.

Can get some pretty comfortable lounging positions with the manual seat adjustments.

Deep but narrow cubby for the headphones. Couldn’t squeeze the water bottle in there with the headphones.

Narrow space on the right for the armrest. Bit of a miss here. Hard to place your arm, especially if using the USB port.

Not terribly private if you’re in the middle rows.

Quite comfortable in lounge

Full flat bed. Would be comfortable even without a mattress pad.

Overall, a seat that was probably excellent 5-10 years ago but has since become outdated. Cathy has recently retrofitted a number of 777s with their new ‘Aria Suite’ so I’ll have to look forward to experiencing those.

Good enough seat though for this regional flight. On par with EVA’s 777s, but behind Singapore and Starlux regional.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class In Flight Entertainment and WiFi

Same so so slection of western and asian films as the prior flight. Good enoguh, but some airlines have impressive libraries and I’d like to see Cathay get involved with that.

Smallish screen, but that does come with age. But plenty bright. I do like the flip out/away screen style.

Seemingly good quality Cathay branded headphones – comfortable enough anyway.

Solid wifi speeds. Free for business class passengers.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Lavatories

Lavatories were clean as expected. Though a somewhat repulsive blue/green color that is much worse in person than the image shows.

Lotion and face mist provided.

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Meals

4 options for breakfast this morning. All look ‘just ok’

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Cathay Pacific Business Class A330-300 CX 777 HKG to CGK [October 13 2026]51

Cathay Pacific Business Class A330-300 CX 777 HKG to CGK [October 13 2026]52

Cathay Pacific Business Class A330-300 CX 777 HKG to CGK [October 13 2026]53

Cathay Pacific Business Class A330-300 CX 777 HKG to CGK [October 13 2026]54

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Meal

Table was set shortly after cruising. Tray with drinks and fresh fruit brought out as the starter.

Fruit was ok.

Warm bread brought as well along with the meal. Croissant again the standout, warm flaky and soft.

Will say it was a bit slow between fruit and mains for some reason. I am further back than normal, so perhaps that is why.

The main was so-so. Sausage better than the first leg, but breakfast is always a bit disappointing on flights and I have not been able to put a finger on why. Maybe just start serving steaks?

Post meal tea to wash down the champagne.

Cathay Pacific Business Class In Flight Service

Friendly and speedy as you can expect. No problems here. I did notice the back of their in flight magazine notes their crew won a Skytrax award for 2026. Deserved – service was great.

Bottom Line

For a 5 hour flight I’d like to see a more impressive in-air product. I felt the seat was fine, if dated, but was let down by catering. Ill have to find this flight in the afternoon to give their air chefs another chance, but thats 2 for 2 strikeouts for breakfast.

The groundside lounge, and in flight service were great, however. And I am encouraged that with a better in air product (or maybe just flying at lunchtime) it will all come together.

But for now I will continue to look for other options (Singapore Airlines 787) for regional Asia flights.

Cathay Pacific Business Class Review A330 CX 777

Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class Airbus A330-300 [TPE - HKG]

In This Post:

How I Booked Cathay Pacific Business Class

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Lounge

Cathay Pacific Lounge | The Pier - Hong Kong International Airport

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Boarding

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Cabin

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Seat

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class In Flight Entertainment and WiFi

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Lavatories

Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Meals

Meal

Cathay Pacific Business Class In Flight Service

Bottom Line

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