Cathay Pacific Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

Amar HussainUpdated: October 1, 2023, 12:26pm CDT

Cathay Pacific Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

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Cathay Pacific has a vast global network serving over 200 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

If you’re planning on flying this 5-star airline, then we’ve outlined all the info you need, including baggage and other extra fees, in-flight amenities, customer satisfaction, and more.

Basic Information

Airline: Cathay Pacific

Alliance: Oneworld

Category: International airline

Frequent Flyer Program: Cathay (formerly Asia Miles and Marco Polo Club)

Tagline: “Life Well Travelled”

Mission Statement: “Our vision is to be the world’s best airline. Being the best means that we always strive to excel in everything we do. Our dynamic team provides the highest quality service so that our customers are happy they chose Cathay Pacific.” (Source.)

Fleet: 201

Main Hub: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Destinations: Over 200 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa

Cathay Pacific route map. Image courtesy of Cathay Pacific.com.

Cathay Frequent Flyer Program

The Cathay frequent flyer program is a new program that combines Asia Miles and the Marco Polo Club. Members can earn Asia Miles that can be redeemed for flights with Cathay Pacific and Oneworld partners such as American Airlines and Status Points, which count toward elite status.

Ticketing Options

Cathay Pacific has ten fare options across its four cabin types. Below is information on the booking conditions and benefits, excluding in-flight amenities, which are covered later in this article. Fees can be found in our “Other Fees” section.

Economy Supersaver

This entry-level economy fare is the cheapest available but does come with its restrictions.

You’ll incur a fee to pre-book a seat, and for long and short-haul international routes, the fare cannot be canceled or changed (excluding routes from mainland China to Hong Kong where a fee would be incurred.) With this fare, it’s also not possible to upgrade using miles.

Economy Core

Economy Core allows you to select a seat for free, permits booking changes for a fee (lower than the Supersaver fee for mainland China to Hong Kong flight), and has a higher Asia Miles earning rate. As with the Supersaver fare, you aren’t permitted to upgrade using miles.

Economy Standard

This fare has the same benefits and restrictions as Economy Core but does permit you to upgrade using miles.

Economy Flex

This flexible fare allows you to select a seat for free, permits booking changes free of charge or for a smaller fee, has a higher earning rate for Asia Miles, and allows passengers to upgrade with miles.

Premium Economy Standard and Flex

Both fares allow you to select your seat for free and permits booking changes and cancellations for a fee. Passengers can collect Asia Miles points with a higher earning rate for Flex fares and are permitted to upgrade using miles on the Flex fare.

Passengers also benefit from dedicated check-in desks, increased baggage allowance, and priority boarding.

Business Save, Standard, and Flex

All of these fare types allow free seat selection and permit changes and cancellations for a fee (lower fee than for Standard and Flex). Business passengers can collect Asia Miles points on all fares, with a slightly higher earning rate for Flex fares, and can upgrade with miles.

Business passengers benefit from dedicated check-in desks, increased baggage allowance, priority boarding, and access to business class lounges.

First Standard and Flex

Both fare types allow free seat selection, permit changes, and cancellations (First Standard incurs a fee while Flex is free of charge). Both fares have the same earning rate for Asia Miles.

First Class passengers benefit from dedicated check-in areas, fast-track security at some airports, priority boarding, and access to first class lounges.

Hot Tip: If you’re interested in redeeming your miles for reward flights, you can read our article on redeem Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for max value.

Cathay Pacific Baggage, Other Fees, and Add-Ons

Cathay Pacific baggage claim. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Cathay Pacific Carry-On Allowance

All passengers are permitted to bring 1 personal item (such as a handbag or briefcase) and 1 standard carry-on bag.

The personal item must not exceed 6 x 12 x 16 inches and the standard carry-on must not be bigger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Weight allowances depend on the cabin type and apply to a combined weight for the personal item and carry-on:

Economy and premium economy: 15 pounds (7 kg)
Business: 22 pounds (10 kg)
First: 33 pounds (15 kg)

Marco Polo Silver and Gold members are allowed increased cabin baggage weight:

Economy and premium economy: up to 22 pounds (10 kg)

Marco Polo Diamond members are allowed increased cabin baggage weight:

Economy, premium economy, business, and first class: up to 33 pounds (15 kg)

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

Lap infants are permitted one piece of carry-on that must not exceed 45 inches. A stroller or car seat is also permitted up to the maximum weight allowance of the cabin weight for the adult ticket.

Cathay Pacific doesn’t disclose its policy on strollers in the checked compartment.

Cathay Pacific Checked Baggage Allowance

All checked bags must not exceed the maximum linear dimensions of 80 inches and the weight allowance is determined by the route.

On Most Flights (excluding the Americas and Auckland/Christchurch)

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	Weight	Number of pieces
Economy	30 kg / 66 lbs	2
Premium Economy	35 kg / 77 lbs	2
Business	40 kg / 88 lbs	2
First	50 kg / 110 lbs	3

Weight can be distributed across the maximum number of pieces, but a single piece should not exceed more than 32 kg or 70 pounds.

Flights to, from, or through the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America

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	Weight	Number of pieces
Economy	23 kg / 50 lbs each	2
Premium Economy	25 kg / 55 lbs each	2
Business	32 kg / 70 lbs each	2
First	32 kg / 70 lbs each	3

Hot Tip: For more information on baggage excess fees, waivers, and exemptions check out our Cathay Pacific baggage fees article.

Other Cathay Pacific Fees and Add-Ons

Change or Cancellation Fees (Cash Tickets)

Rebooking date and time change fee: $150 for promotional fares, Economy Saver, Premium Economy Standard, and Business Save. $50 for Standard Economy.

Rerouting: $150 plus the fare difference.

Cancellation for unused and partially used tickets: $150.

Cancellation for expired tickets: $200.

Name correction: Fees dependent on change required.

Tickets issued by Reservations Department: $39.

Extra legroom seat: $23 to $199.

Seat reservation fee (for Economy Supersaver tickets): $8 to $43.

Unaccompanied minor: $150 plus tax (per one-way route).

Transporting a pet: Animals aren’t permitted in the cabin or as checked baggage. They’re transported in the cargo hold and fees vary depending on the size and weight of the crate.

Hot Tip: We’ve also included information about Cathay Pacific in this article: Airline Cancellation & Change Fees For Award Flight Bookings.

How to Avoid Paying Excess Fees and Travel Expenses

There are many travel rewards cards that offer an annual “airline credit” allowance that you can put towards extra expenses such as baggage fees — and others where you can use your points balance to pay off some (or all of) your statement charges!

Here are some cards that we recommend:

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$395 annual fee
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates & fees)
Limited elite benefits

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome OfferEarn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$360

Annual Fee

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Ability to use transfer partners
Access to Capital One Dining

Cons

Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits

$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Each card allows you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days).

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Economy

Cathay Pacific economy class seats. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Amenities include:

Seat storage for valuables
Shelf for your cell phone or tablet
Ergonomically-designed, cushioned seating with adjustable headrest and generous legroom
11.6-inch personal touchscreen TV with films, music, and games
Complimentary meals, award-winning wines, and other beverages
Newspapers, magazines, and game packs for children

Premium Economy

Cathay Pacific premium economy class seats. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Amenities include:

Welcome drink on long-haul flights
Regular complimentary snacks and drinks
Spacious seating with generous recline and legroom (calf rest and leather footrest on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft)
Complimentary meals, award-winning wines, and other beverages
Larger tray table than economy and cocktail table for extra room for beverages
Amenity kit on long-haul flights
Personal touchscreen TV with films, music, and games
Noise-canceling headphones

Business Class

Cathay Pacific business class amenities. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Amenities include:

Dedicated cabin crew and a personalized service
An award-winning seat that converts into a lie-flat bed on long-haul flights
Ergonomically-designed, cushioned seating with adjustable headrest and generous legroom on short-haul flights
Privacy partitions, large table, and power outlets
Fine food with locally sourced ingredients, complimentary award-winning wines, and other beverages
Personal touchscreen TV with films, music, and games
Noise-canceling headphones
Amenity kit with Jurlique skincare items
Soft duvet cover, and pillow

First Class

Cathay Pacific first class seats and amenities. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Amenities include:

First Class Suite leather chair, with built-in massages settings, that converts to a lie-flat bed
500 thread count cotton duvet and pillows
Sleep suit
Aesop amenity kit with items such as hand balm, facial hydrating cream, and lip cream
Spacious work area with a power outlet and USB port
4.3-inch touchscreen and controller to control a range of services such as do not disturb and wake-up time notices for the crew
18.5-inch TV screen with on-demand entertainment
À la carte dining
Champagne and award-winning wines

Seat Specs

Cathay Pacific has 5 types of airplane in its fleet with varying seating configurations.

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Boeing 777-300 (two cabins)
	Seat Count	Seat pitch (inches)	Seat width (inches)
Business	42 reclining seats	45″	20″
Economy	356	32″	18.2″
Boeing 777-300ER 77G (three cabins)
Business	40 flatbeds	82″	21″
Premium Economy	32	38″	19″
Economy	268	32″	18.5″
Boeing 777-300ER 77H (four cabins)
First	6 suites	81″	36″
Business	53 flatbeds	81″	21″
Premium Economy	34	38″	19.5″
Economy	182	32″	18.5″

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Boeing 777-200
	Seat Count	Seat pitch	Seat width
Business	42 reclining seats	45″	21″
Economy	293	32″	17.5″

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Airbus A350-900
	Seat Count	Seat pitch	Seat width
Business	38 flatbeds	45″ seat /75″ bed	20″
Premium Economy	28	40″	20″
Economy	214	32″	18″

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Airbus A350-1000
	Seat Count	Seat pitch	Seat width
Business	46 flatbeds	45″/75″	20″
Premium Economy	32	40″	20″
Economy	256	32″	18″

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Airbus A330-300 33E/33P
	Seat Count	Seat pitch	Seat width
Business	39 (24 on 33P)	45″	21″
Economy	223 (293 on 33P)	32″	18.2″

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Airbus A330-300 33K
	Seat Count	Seat pitch	Seat width
Business	39 flatbeds	82″	20.2″
Premium Economy	21	38″	19.3″
Economy	191	32	18.45″

Cathay Pacific Customer Satisfaction

The general consensus for Cathay is pretty good, which is what you would expect for a 5-star airline. Many customer reviews state that it’s worth paying a bit extra to fly with them over another airline.

They’re noted frequently for their excellent, attentive service, and Cathay states that their cabin crew try to anticipate the needs of the customer in their first class cabin.

The few negative comments on their social media sites mostly reference poor call center customer experience, with long call wait times and occasionally no answer at all.

Cathay has some great reviews on TripAdvisor, with 72% of travelers rating them excellent or very good, 15% average, and 13% poor or terrible.

Negative reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor tend to cover flight delays with a lack of communication or compensation from ground staff during these events.

Most Common Complaints

No official statistics can be found on Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department website.

Consumer Rankings and Ratings

We’ve rounded-up the results for a few popular review sites so you can see how Cathay is rated.

Skytrax Ranking: 5 Star Airline (out of 5)

Skytrax Customer Rating: 7/10

Cathay Pacific Skytrax rating. Image courtesy of CathayPacific.com.

Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating: 4/5 (average from 13,293 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 8/10 (average from 5,613 reviews)

Safety and Performance

Cathay Pacific has a 7/7 safety record as awarded by AirlineRatings.com. This takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, combined with information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body, plus government and crash records.

Awards and Notable Mentions

IMA Italian Mission Award 2018: Best Economy Class

Ming Pao Weekly Elite Awards 2017: Airline Category

APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards: Best Entertainment (Asia and Australia region)

Cellars in the Sky 2017 Award by Business Traveller Magazine: Best First Class Sparkling

Charity Partnerships

As with many other airlines, Cathay collects spare change from its passengers, and the collection is donated to UNICEF who they’ve had a long-standing relationship with since 1991.

Cathay also participates in relief projects, holding fundraising events for donations and transporting relief supplies and rescue teams to required areas around the world.

In Hong Kong, Cathay has a volunteer team with over 1,500 staff participating in activities for local communities.

Final Thoughts

Many customers of Cathay Pacific tend to agree with the airline’s 5-star status, with its excellent service in the air, relatively young fleet of aircraft, generous seat width, and extensive legroom, it’s no wonder people love it.

Some disgruntled customers complain that Cathay isn’t as good as it used to be. Cost-saving is blamed for this with less cabin crew and quality of meals deteriorating.

However, these complaints are in the minority, and Cathay is mostly perceived as a high-quality airline with a real emphasis on service.

Featured Image Credit: Cathay Pacific

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the carry on baggage allowance for Cathay Pacific?

All passengers are permitted to bring 1 personal item (such as a handbag or briefcase) and 1 standard carry-on bag.

The personal item must not exceed 6 x 12 x 16 inches and the standard carry-on must not be bigger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Weight allowances depend on the cabin type and apply to a combined weight for the personal item and carry-on:

Economy and premium economy: 15 pounds (7 kg)
Business: 22 pounds (10 kg)
First: 33 pounds (15 kg)

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Cathay Pacific Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

Basic Information

Cathay Frequent Flyer Program

Ticketing Options

Cathay Pacific Baggage, Other Fees, and Add-Ons

Cathay Pacific Carry-On Allowance

Cathay Pacific Checked Baggage Allowance

Other Cathay Pacific Fees and Add-Ons

How to Avoid Paying Excess Fees and Travel Expenses

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Pros

Cons

Financial Snapshot

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Economy

Premium Economy

Business Class

First Class

Seat Specs

Cathay Pacific Customer Satisfaction

Most Common Complaints

Consumer Rankings and Ratings

Safety and Performance

Awards and Notable Mentions

Charity Partnerships

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the carry on baggage allowance for Cathay Pacific?

About Amar Hussain

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