Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Review
I have just completed a roundtrip between JFK and Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific’s heavily promoted premium economy class. Unfortunately I am traveling with my cousin and her family including my nieces (two baby girls and one 2 years old girl), which mean that my hands are tied and I could not take as many cabin photos as I like. However, traveling with children gives me an interesting perspective on how Cathay Pacific handles young families, and these two flights give me very different perspectives, and some crew care, while some really considered you annoyance. I also finally know what infant and child meals look like. About the new PE class, my verdict remains the same – Cathay Pacific Premium Economy is an upgraded economy class product, rather than a downgraded business class product. Most of the amenities are basically upgraded from economy class and some will argue those are amenities that CX has cut previously. My experience with PE is limited to British Airways and I find the seat and the product surpass British Airways but BA seems to treat their World Traveler Plus more as a separate cabin, rather a sub-class of economy class. Before continuing, I will apologize for the lack of information about flight information and plane spotting, since I am really busy with the kids.
Check-in:
There is a separate premium economy check-in line at JFK and here is a picture of it. It is located next to the regular economy class lane, not the premium (first and business class) check-in area. I definitely see it as a big plus, and one thing that most passengers will value. However, your bags are not tagged with priority tags. You get a slightly larger allowance but a big no on priority tag, unless you are elite passengers.
Cabin:
All the JFK flights with PE are flown with these four class Boeing 777-300ERs with first, business, premium economy and economy class cabin. There are 34 seats and here are a few pictures of the cabin.
In terms of good seats, 31A and C are the bulkhead row in front of the emergency exit, but those seats have no windows, which is a big no-no. 30DEFG are the middle rows, which are also bulkhead seats. They have lots of legroom, as CX needs to maintain a clear path of exit. However there will be lot of foot traffic throughout the flight, as there is only one dedicated bathroom in PE, which is in front of 32H and 32K, and people have to cross in front of your seats to get to the bathroom, not to mention the overflow from economy class. They can get annoying and invade your space. 32H and K are the other bulkhead seats, which are also where the bassinet seats are. Those seats are surely blocked till the last minute. I sat there for obvious reason and here are pictures of the bassinets.
The legroom is not as good as Row 30 and 31, but at least you get windows and have little bit more legroom than other seats. Since the bathroom is located in front of you, you hear those annoying flush noises, but the noise-canceling headsets should do its jobs. Moreover, all those bulkhead seats have extra legroom but there are less storage rooms, since they don’t have those additional seatback storages.
Seat:
Cathay Pacific’s premium economy is on par with most of its competitions, except Turkish Airlines’ Comfort Class. The seat pitch is 37-38 inches and its eight abreast seating on its 777s is on par with most of the PE cabin, except TK again. In some way, I am glad that CX has gone with a real premium economy product, rather than an economy plus product with just more legroom. However, its seats show really little innovation except the storage spaces for personal electronic devices. I am surprised that it goes against on real attached leg rest on non-bulkhead seats. In terms of power outlets, USD ports, and connectors for apple devices, CX is definitely on top of its game and I give CX credits. The seat recline is pretty nice and on par with some of the domestic first class seats on domestic USA flights. The seats are definitely more comfortable than regular economy class. Here are the close up of seat 32K:
I have just completed a roundtrip between JFK and Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific’s heavily promoted premium economy class. Unfortunately I am traveling with my cousin and her family including my nieces (two baby girls and one 2 years old girl), which mean that my hands are tied and I could not take as many cabin photos as I like. However, traveling with children gives me an interesting perspective on how Cathay Pacific handles young families, and these two flights give me very different perspectives, and some crew care, while some really considered you annoyance. I also finally know what infant and child meals look like. About the new PE class, my verdict remains the same – Cathay Pacific Premium Economy is an upgraded economy class product, rather than a downgraded business class product. Most of the amenities are basically upgraded from economy class and some will argue those are amenities that CX has cut previously. My experience with PE is limited to British Airways and I find the seat and the product surpass British Airways but BA seems to treat their World Traveler Plus more as a separate cabin, rather a sub-class of economy class. Before continuing, I will apologize for the lack of information about flight information and plane spotting, since I am really busy with the kids.
Check-in:
There is a separate premium economy check-in line at JFK and here is a picture of it. It is located next to the regular economy class lane, not the premium (first and business class) check-in area. I definitely see it as a big plus, and one thing that most passengers will value. However, your bags are not tagged with priority tags. You get a slightly larger allowance but a big no on priority tag, unless you are elite passengers.
Cabin:
All the JFK flights with PE are flown with these four class Boeing 777-300ERs with first, business, premium economy and economy class cabin. There are 34 seats and here are a few pictures of the cabin.
In terms of good seats, 31A and C are the bulkhead row in front of the emergency exit, but those seats have no windows, which is a big no-no. 30DEFG are the middle rows, which are also bulkhead seats. They have lots of legroom, as CX needs to maintain a clear path of exit. However there will be lot of foot traffic throughout the flight, as there is only one dedicated bathroom in PE, which is in front of 32H and 32K, and people have to cross in front of your seats to get to the bathroom, not to mention the overflow from economy class. They can get annoying and invade your space. 32H and K are the other bulkhead seats, which are also where the bassinet seats are. Those seats are surely blocked till the last minute. I sat there for obvious reason and here are pictures of the bassinets.
The legroom is not as good as Row 30 and 31, but at least you get windows and have little bit more legroom than other seats. Since the bathroom is located in front of you, you hear those annoying flush noises, but the noise-canceling headsets should do its jobs. Moreover, all those bulkhead seats have extra legroom but there are less storage rooms, since they don’t have those additional seatback storages.
Seat:
Cathay Pacific’s premium economy is on par with most of its competitions, except Turkish Airlines’ Comfort Class. The seat pitch is 37-38 inches and its eight abreast seating on its 777s is on par with most of the PE cabin, except TK again. In some way, I am glad that CX has gone with a real premium economy product, rather than an economy plus product with just more legroom. However, its seats show really little innovation except the storage spaces for personal electronic devices. I am surprised that it goes against on real attached leg rest on non-bulkhead seats. In terms of power outlets, USD ports, and connectors for apple devices, CX is definitely on top of its game and I give CX credits. The seat recline is pretty nice and on par with some of the domestic first class seats on domestic USA flights. The seats are definitely more comfortable than regular economy class. Here are the close up of seat 32K:
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