Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
I recently took a trip to Hong Kong. You can read my trip reports here:
- Review: Cathay Pacific new Aria Suites Business Class on the Boeing 777 FRA-HKG (today)
- Review: 5-star Upper House Hong Kong Hotel
Review: Cathay Pacific Aria Suites Business Class (Frankfurt to Hong Kong)
This flight marked my first experience with Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suites Business Class, and expectations were understandably high. Long known for its understated premium experience, Cathay is positioning itself firmly at the top end of modern long-haul Business Class with the introduction of Aria Suites on its flagship Boeing 777 fleet.
I flew from Frankfurt to Hong Kong, one of the long-haul routes currently served by Cathay Pacific’s newly refurbished Boeing 777s featuring Aria Suites. The airline is in the midst of a broader Boeing 777 upgrade program, with the new Business Class cabin being rolled out gradually across the fleet. At the time of my flight, just 11 aircraft had been reconfigured out of a fleet of more than 50 Boeing 777s, making these jets relatively rare. For now, Aria Suites are primarily found on select long-haul services connecting Hong Kong with Frankfurt, Sydney, Melbourne and Vancouver.
In this review of Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites, I’ll cover the full journey — from the pre-departure experience in Frankfurt to the onboard product itself — looking in detail at the cabin layout, suite design, seat comfort, dining, amenities, inflight entertainment and Business class service. I’ll also explain how I booked this flight using miles and whether Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites live up to the growing hype as one of the most elegant Business Class products currently flying.
Have you ever flown in Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suites Business Class on the Boeing 777? Please share your experience in the comments below.
Flight details:
- Trip: Frankfurt (FRA) to Hong Kong (HKG)
- Airline: Cathay Pacific
- Aircraft type: Boeing 777-300ER
- Aircraft registration number: B-KPI (built in 2008)
- On time departure: Yes (1 pm)
- On time arrival:Yes (7 am)
- Miles: 5700 miles (9200 km)
- Flight time: 13 hours
- Seat: 21K
- Class: Business Class
In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- Cost of my ticket
- Lounge
- Aria Suites Business Class cabin
- Aria Suites Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
- Amenities & bedding
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Other inflight experiences
- Final thoughts & my verdict (score)
1. COST OF MY TICKET
I booked this Cathay Pacific Aria Suites Business Class flight using 75,000 AAdvantage miles, issued through American Airlines’ loyalty program AAdvantage, and paid €126.39 in taxes and surcharges. Given the overall experience, this redemption represents excellent value and one of the most attractive ways to fly Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suites Business Class on a long-haul route.
2. LOUNGE
Since Cathay Pacific does not operate its own lounge at Frankfurt Airport, premium passengers and oneworld elites currently have two main options in Terminal 2: the Priority Lounge (which I’ve reviewed previously in this blogpost) and the Japan Airlines lounge, also known as the Sakura Lounge. For this trip, I opted for the JAL lounge, as it offers a more refined atmosphere and noticeably better food than the Priority Lounge.
The Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge is located airside in Terminal 2, on Level 3 opposite Gate D5. After clearing passport control, it’s simply a matter of taking the escalator up toward the D-gates. One drawback of Terminal 2 is that lounges are located before the final security checkpoint, meaning you’ll need to allow extra time to pass through security again before boarding.
The lounge itself is split into two areas: a main Business Class (Sakura) Lounge and a separate First Class section. The Business Class lounge is a spacious, open-plan area with a good mix of seating, including deep armchairs, dining-style tables and high-top seating. There’s also a designated quiet work zone, clearly signposted with a no-phone-call policy.
Food is a real highlight here and, by Frankfurt standards, genuinely impressive. While there is a small buffet, most dishes are ordered at the counter and prepared fresh. The menu is largely Japanese-inspired, with noodle dishes and curries, complemented by a limited selection of German-style cheeses, cold cuts and sandwiches. Drinks are mostly self-service and include soft drinks, beer (including alcohol-free options), wine, spirits and self-serve coffee machines. Even when busy, everything is well organised and easy to access.
One thing worth noting for the future: Cathay Pacific is expected to move its Frankfurt operations to the new Terminal 3 in spring. With that move, a brand-new oneworld lounge is planned, which should finally give Cathay passengers a more seamless and flagship-style ground experience in Frankfurt. Until then, Terminal 2 and shared lounges are the reality.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with Aria Suites feature 45 Business Class seats. Rather than placing them all in one large cabin, the seats are split across two separate Business Class cabins — a forward section behind the galley and a smaller rear cabin — which helps break up the space and gives the cabin a more exclusive feel. The forward cabin (between doors 1 and 2) houses 25 Business Class seats, arranged across six full rows, plus one additional seat tucked into the back right corner of a seventh row. Further back, the rear cabin contains 20 seats, laid out over five full rows, creating a noticeably quieter and more intimate environment.
In both cabins, the seats — which are modified versions of Collins Aerospace Elements seats — are arranged in a reverse-herringbone configuration with a 1-2-1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger. Window seats angle outward toward the windows, offering excellent privacy and generous views (roughly two windows per seat), while the paired seats in the center are subtly angled toward one another — ideal for couples travelling together. When flying solo, a privacy divider can be raised between the center seats, turning them into two clearly defined personal spaces without any awkward eye contact.
From a design standpoint, the Aria Suites Business Class cabin is beautifully understated. Soft ambient lighting and a restrained mix of warm neutrals create a calm, almost residential feel. The look marks a deliberate shift away from Cathay Pacific’s signature green color, replacing it with a more contemporary palette of warm beige, muted stone and light earth tones. Subtle green accents remain, most notably on the center-seat privacy dividers and within some of the storage cubbies. The overall result is one of the most elegant Business Class cabins in the sky, and if Aman were to design an aircraft interior, this is exactly what I’d expect it to look like.
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
The Aria Suite itself is where Cathay Pacific truly elevates its long-haul Business Class experience. Each seat is generously sized, offering 43 inches of pitch (109 cm), measuring around 21 inches wide at the armrests (53 cm) and expanding to approximately 25 inches at shoulder level (64 cm). When fully reclined, the seat converts into a lie-flat bed measuring about 78 inches (198 cm) in length, which feels comfortable and supportive even for taller passengers like myself.
Each suite is housed within a fixed shell and features a sliding privacy door, creating a genuine suite-style experience without making the space feel claustrophobic. While the door adds a strong sense of personal space, small gaps remain when it’s fully closed, meaning the suite isn’t completely sealed — though privacy is still excellent overall. Compared to other aircraft seat doors I’ve used, these were refreshingly easy to operate, gliding open and shut smoothly.
Next to the seat is a multi-functional side console packed with clever details. It includes a small storage compartment for headphones, a bottle of water and personal items, complete with a built-in mirror (handy if you want to freshen up or apply some makeup). The entertainment controller is neatly integrated into the console wall, although in practice you’ll rarely need it, as the screen itself is fully touchscreen-enabled. An elongated, desk-style lamp is mounted above the console, offering generous and well-focused lighting.
Adjacent to the console is a side table that slides forward, revealing additional storage space underneath. Beneath the table sits a small control panel for quick and intuitive adjustments to seat position and lighting, while more detailed settings can be accessed via the inflight entertainment system. Below that is another large storage compartment, ideal for shoes or smaller bags you want within easy reach. Just above this area are the comprehensive charging options, including AC power, USB-A and USB-C ports. Cathay has also included wireless charging for phones (via a pad on the armrest), as well as Bluetooth audio connectivity, allowing you to use your own headphones if you prefer.
In front of the seat is a crisp 24-inch 4K entertainment screen, perfectly positioned for both upright lounging and bed mode. It’s one of the largest screens currently offered in Business Class — perhaps even too large for some, given the relatively close viewing distance. A nice touch is that many of the seat’s preset positions and lighting controls can be adjusted directly via the touchscreen, in addition to the physical controls in the armrest.
The bi-fold tray table slides out from underneath the screen and is well sized, comfortably accommodating a full meal or a laptop. Beneath the screen and tray table is a footrest, which becomes part of the sleeping surface when the seat is fully reclined into bed mode. The footwell isn’t especially large and may feel a bit tight, which slightly limits how much you can move your feet around while sleeping. It’s by no means uncomfortable, but it’s also not particularly spacious. Personally, I still prefer the staggered layout used by Emirates in its refurbished Boeing 777s (read my review here), which offers noticeably more room for your feet and allows for greater freedom of movement when sleeping.
What are the best Business Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites cabin?
- Seats A and K (the window positions) feel the most private overall, as they’re angled outward toward the window, creating a personal nook with minimal disturbance. They’re ideal if you’re flying solo and don’t expect much interaction with a travel companion.
- If you’re travelling as a couple, the centre pairs (seats D and E) in any row are a great choice. When flying alone, the privacy divider between the centre seats can be raised to create two clearly defined personal spaces. These seats also feel more social when travelling together, without sacrificing comfort or privacy.
What are the worst Business Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites cabin?
- Seats located toward the front or the back of the cabin can be less ideal due to their proximity to the galley and crew work areas, which may result in more foot traffic and noise. While these seats still offer excellent space and privacy, they may feel busier if you’re particularly sensitive to cabin activity.
- The single seat, 18K, sits on its own at the very back on the right-hand side. I’d avoid this one, as it’s positioned almost directly next to the galley.
Click here for a seat map of Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites cabin on the Boeing 777.
5. AMENITIES & BEDDING
Passengers travelling long-haul Business Class with Cathay Pacific receive a well-rounded selection of premium amenities designed to enhance comfort throughout the flight:
- Cathay Pacific has partnered with Bamford, a well-regarded British lifestyle and wellness brand, for its Business Class amenity kits. These come in four different colours, each presented in a neatly designed pouch that’s easy to reuse beyond the flight. Inside, you’ll find essential travel items such as an eye mask, earplugs, mouthwash and a dental kit, along with Bamford toiletries including pillow mist, cooling body gel and multi balm.
- The bedding package on Aria Suites is among the best offered in Business Class. Each passenger receives a soft mattress pad that sits on top of the seat in bed mode, adding noticeable cushioning and comfort. The duvet is lightweight yet cosy — ideal for sleeping without overheating — and is well sized for most passengers. Slippers and a full-size pillow are also provided, completing a genuinely comfortable sleep setup.
- For inflight entertainment, Cathay supplies premium noise-cancelling headphones, which do an excellent job of reducing cabin noise. They’re a clear step up from standard airline headsets and pair nicely with the large screen, making it easy to fully immerse yourself in movies, music or simply enjoy a quieter flight.
6. MEALS
Cathay Pacific’s approach to dining in Aria Suites is just as considered as the cabin itself, starting with the beautifully designed printed menus. These are clean, elegant and easy to read, setting the tone for a premium dining experience rather than a typical airline meal. A particularly nice touch is the separate breakfast card, which can be hung on the hook inside your suite for the crew to collect, allowing you to choose if and when you’d like to be woken for breakfast.
Shortly after take-off, an aperitif was served, accompanied by a roast beef amuse-bouche—a small but well-executed opener that nicely set the stage for the main meal service. For lunch, I chose the following selection from the menu:
- Starter: Smoked salmon and avocado tartar with mustard dressing
- Main course: German slow-cooked marinated beef, served with steamed broccolini and carrots and herbed spaetzle, accompanied by a leaf salad with balsamic vinaigrette
- Dessert: Lemon curd with almond crumble and meringue, followed by seasonal fresh fruit
Cathay also offers a selection of mid-flight snacks, which can be ordered from the menu at any time during the flight. Mid-flight, I opted for the oven-roasted baby cauliflower with romesco sauce, which turned out to be a standout—flavorful, satisfying and well above typical airline standards. Additional snacks and fresh fruit were also available in the galley throughout the flight for whenever hunger struck again.
Breakfast offers several different options, including wellness, lighter, Chinese, Western and express selections, catering to different appetites and schedules. I went for the wellness breakfast, which consisted of a cacao chia seed pudding with coconut yogurt and blackberries. This was served alongside fresh fruit, plus a pastry and croissant, and a Cathay Delight, the carrier’s signature non-alcoholic drink, with kiwi fruit juice, coconut milk, and fresh mint.
7. ENTERTAINMENT
Cathay Pacific’s inflight entertainment on the Aria Suites is, quite simply, among the very best in the industry, and a real highlight of the Aria Suites experience. Each Business Class seat has a crisp 24-inch 4K screen, one of the largest currently found in Business Class, which is easy to navigate thanks to a highly responsive touchscreen interface.
The system is fast and intuitive, giving access to a vast library of movies, TV series, documentaries, music and games, with strong representation across both Western and Asian content. There’s easily enough variety to stay entertained for the entire duration of a long-haul flight.
Beyond traditional entertainment, the system also offers live nose and belly camera views, which are especially enjoyable during take-off and landing, as well as a detailed flight-tracking map for keeping an eye on progress throughout the journey. A particularly practical feature is the ability to see which lavatories are currently available directly on the screen, saving unnecessary trips up and down the aisle.
In addition to entertainment, the touchscreen allows you to control seat positions (including preset modes) and various lighting settings within the suite. While there’s also a physical control panel for quick adjustments, having everything accessible via the screen feels modern, intuitive and exceptionally well thought out.
8. ONBOARD INTERNET
Cathay Pacific provides complimentary Wi-Fi for First and Business Class passengers, as well as Cathay Diamond members. For everyone else, pricing is set at $9.95 for a one-hour pass or $21.95 for unlimited access for the duration of the flight. Wi-Fi can be accessed simply by entering your last name and seat number. Connectivity was reliable, with seamless switching between devices and speeds fast enough for both work tasks and general browsing.
9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES
# CREW: Service onboard was excellent and very much in line with what what you would expect from a premium airline like Cathay Pacific. The cabin crew were consistently friendly, attentive and genuinely helpful. Requests were handled promptly and with a smile, whether it was during meal service or for smaller, ad-hoc needs throughout the flight. The crew regularly passed through the cabin without ever feeling intrusive, and interactions always felt warm and professional.
# LAVATORY: The Cathay Pacific Aria Suites Business Class cabin is served by three lavatories, all of which are stocked with Bamford amenities, including hand wash and lotion. The lavatories were kept in excellent condition throughout the flight, with the crew regularly checking and refreshing them. A particularly practical feature is the integration with the inflight entertainment system, which allows you to see in real time which lavatories are occupied or available directly on the screen. It’s a small but thoughtful detail that helps avoid unnecessary waiting or trips up and down the aisle.
10. FINAL THOUGHTS & MY VERDICT
Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites Business Class is a highly polished evolution of the airline’s long-haul product. The suite offers excellent privacy without feeling boxed in, the technology enhances the journey rather than distracting from it, and the soft product—from bedding to amenities—supports genuine rest on a long-haul flight. Add in one of the best inflight entertainment systems in the sky and a dining concept that translates surprisingly well onboard, and Aria Suites becomes a very compelling Business Class product.
Given how few Boeing 777s have been refurbished so far, flying Aria Suites still feels like something of a treat. If you can snag one—especially using miles, as I did—this is easily one of the most refined and enjoyable ways to cross continents in Business Class today, and a strong indication of where Cathay Pacific is heading with its premium offering.
Here’s my final review and verdict on Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suites Business Class on the Boeing 777:
- Cabin design: 9/10
- Cabin layout: 9/10
- Seat privacy: 9/10
- Seat comfort (upright): 9/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 8/10
- Food (quality): 9/10
- Food (quantity): 9/10
- Inflight entertainment : 10/10
- WiFi: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Overall experience: exceptional – 9/10
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