For the primary time in practically three years, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific is ready to renew flying its world-famous top notch seats to and from the U.S.
New schedules from the airline present it will start flying Boeing 777s geared up with a firstclass cabin as of March 27 between Los Angeles (LAX) and Hong Kong (HKG). Los Angeles is the one U.S. route at present set to get top notch service from Cathay, with flights working throughout the Pacific Ocean 5 occasions per week.
It is a very long time coming and an enormous second for frequent flyers who’ve had Cathay Pacific top notch on their bucket checklist for years. With a cabin of simply six seats, these top notch seats are a number of the widest you will discover within the sky – with probably the most comfy beds, too. Caviar service and champagne are a given.
Because the world shut down in early 2020 and Hong Kong banning virtually any journey, Cathay flew a skeleton schedule and grounded its complete fleet of 777s. The airline finally leased a handful of those 777s to Qatar Airways, opting to fly its Airbus A350s with no top notch cabin to the states as an alternative. The return of Cathay top notch appeared iffy – and for some time, it felt just like the airline won’t even survive.
However in 2023, issues have circled. Worldwide journey demand is hovering, and Hong Kong has dropped its onerous entry restrictions. Cathay is reopening lots of its flagship lounges in Hong Kong and has already resumed flying top notch to different main hubs like London-Heathrow (LHR) .
Quickly, the U.S. might be again on the map, too. And it is possible solely a matter of time earlier than we see Cathay Pacific jets with top notch flying to different large airports like New York Metropolis (JFK) or San Francisco (SFO).
Touring to Hong Kong may need misplaced a few of its luster after the city-state’s repressive lockdown throughout COVID-19 and years of mainland China’s encroaching affect. However past its simple standing as a worldwide metropolis and a magnet for foodies, flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong can also be an effective way to get virtually anyplace in Southeast Asia.
Whereas the Biden administration dropped its testing requirement for worldwide flights final 12 months, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) issued a separate order in early January requiring anybody flying to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to offer a detrimental COVID-19 take a look at taken not more than two days earlier than departure. As of publication, that requirement stays in place.
Reserving Cathay Pacific First Class
It is one of many finest top notch seats you possibly can e-book with factors. And meaning it may be a problem.
Flying from the U.S., you possibly can rating Cathay Pacific top notch with 110,000 AAdvantage miles and some bucks in taxes and costs. Utilizing miles from British Airways, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific’s personal Asia Miles program is an choice too – however you will have to fork over way more miles and pay some hefty surcharges.
The very best deal by far is cobbling collectively simply 70,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles for a seat in Cathay Pacific first. Except for the massive, 70,000-mile bonus at present accessible on Alaska’s bank card, these miles will be pretty onerous to earn.
However the true problem is discovering award availability. Until you are OK sweating it out last-minute and reserving a seat only a few days earlier than departure, discovering seats which might be really bookable with miles is hard. There are simply six top notch seats, in any case, and Cathay does not simply hand them out.
Simply final evening, we despatched our Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members an award alert for an opportunity to e-book these seats later this 12 months – with two seats accessible on many dates!
Get uncommon award alerts to make use of your factors and miles with Thrifty Traveler Premium+!
Backside Line
After a three-year absence, Cathay Pacific First Class is heading stateside quickly.
Come late March, the Hong Kong airline will resume flying its flagship Boeing 777s geared up with top notch to and from Los Angeles (LAX).