Cathay Pacific A350-1000 Premium Economy Trip Report

Join me onboard the gorgeous Cathay Pacific A350-1000 from Taipei to Hong Kong today in Premium Economy. It's been years since I flew Cathay but I used to fly them all the time - I'd heard they are not as good as they once were, but I wanted to find out for myself. Has Cathay lost that special something, or is it still the CX we know and love? We're continuing the Asian flying adventure and my friend Pete is along for the ride again; and today he's even more confused about how planes work than ever. (And fun fact: this is my 55th lifetime flight with CX.)
Flight information:
September 21, 2023 | CX495
A350-1000 B-LXJ [age: 4 years]
Flight time: 1h15m
How I booked it:
I used British Airways Avios points to book this. It cost 11,000 points + $36.50 per person.
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Shot on: Sony FX3 & iPhone 14 Pro
Music: Epidemic Sound
Shot, written and edited by Gabriel Leigh, a.k.a. Gabe Leigh.
#cathaypacific #a350 #premiumeconomy

[@airedition]

Support me directly if you like my work! www.buymeacoffee.com/gabeleigh

[@Zonno5]

pretty chill trip + wonderful vistas

[@airedition]

Thanks!

[@jhelinski]

Just discovered your channel. It’s amazing. 🎉

[@airedition]

Hey thanks a lot!

[@MrTomcat104]

CX was hit harder than most airlines by Covid. It suffered greatly from the draconian covid shutdown in Hong Kong from 2020 to end of 2022. It laid off many pilots, flight attendants and customer service personnel. Only in 2023 was it able to recover without covid travel restrictions. Given that reality, CX still retains an above average level of service, although it is now starting to fall behind other reginal competitors like Eva, Singapore Airlines and ANA.

[@airedition]

Yes here’s hoping it can eventually fully recover!

[@852twm]

Great tripreport, dropped a sub! HK has indeed changed... Hopefully Cathay returns to its pre-COVID standards soon!

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@bjornhansen79]

The beautiful A350 ❤ nice video 😌

[@airedition]

Thanks a lot!

[@Oduck22]

4:14 I wish I could go through most parts of life with how Pete views everything 😂 I also enjoyed watching behind the scenes of Gabe filming the main content 👍 I’d happily travel in a seat next to you as your cameraman 🎥🛫

[@airedition]

Hehe thanks! Maybe one day!

[@Qacc6]

A series of great choices on which Airlines and cabins to review!

[@airedition]

Glad you think so!

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

I Like The Product.Great Video

[@airedition]

Thank you!

[@OtakuAviators]

1:40 😂 “A350-1000?” “That means nothing to me” We were both laughing out loud when hearing this. Pete is naturally very funny (wonder if he realizes it😄)!

[@airedition]

Hehe yes!

[@charlienelson2002]

Great point about the pressure to sleep in Business. Premium Economy tends to be highly underrated for comfort, sleep and affordability. Business can be more of a status 'thing' when Premium makes better sense overall. Fantastic review, Gabe. Thank you.

[@airedition]

Thanks!

[@beeeneee]

I'd love to see more of all of your destinations - not just the flights

[@airedition]

Working on it! Thanks!

[@walkwithjonas7920]

😂 so you can really see that your friend is not really into aviation 😂 great video. I love CX a lot ❤

[@airedition]

Thanks!

[@petershen1984]

love the teal seats

[@airedition]

Yeah!

[@petershen1984]

Tks for visiting TPE, my home

[@chuchulo9198]

Yes, CX is still the best ever 🎉

[@airedition]

🥳

[@halitosis75]

😍😍😍😍😍🥰 bring your friend along more often gabe ❤❤❤❤❤

[@airedition]

Will do my best!

[@jayl549]

I flew their J class from London to Osaka via HK. Amazing flight and product, but it was 2 months before covid hit.

[@airedition]

Yeah many nice memories of pre-Covid Cathay J class!

[@wotajared]

👋 First without class! Barely can see it during a fika pause but quite promising. I wish HK were more accessible from ARN, basically a non option now. As a hub HKG seemed to lose traction during the pandemic but interesting to know about the expansion, of only the Kai Tak approach were a thing!

[@airedition]

Thanks for the comment! I just wish we had a few more flights to Asian cities direct from ARN. Just BKK and the occasional charter to other points in Thailand is not enough for a city of 1 million people!

[@TrustedSamurai]

Your quick lounge stop prior to boarding. This wasn't part of your Cathay Pacific Prem Economy ticket was it?

[@m8tyone]

Flew on the 350 HKG-SFO premium economy and found the seats a bit too snug. I have a hard time adjusting the recliner.

[@airedition]

That's a long segment, so that's interesting to hear!

[@johngalt6708]

Chilled vibe report? Check. Sardonic British friend? Check. Tasteful soundtrack snippets? Check. Subscribed. 👌

[@airedition]

Thanks very much, and welcome to the channel!

[@Jason-BMWM5]

I think your friend should swim next time Gabe!

[@airedition]

Whoa, harsh!

[@GW-tr8xn]

I'm gonna fly Cathay Pacific's A350-1000 Premium economy from Melbourne to HK next Friday the seat pitch of Premium Economy of Cathay 350 is 40 in, better compare to the 38 in one on Singapore Airlines which I took last month

[@airedition]

Let me know how it was!

[@GW-tr8xn]

@@airedition pretty good! had a good sleep on it :)

[@muek]

They really shrunk down the meal for this 1 hr flight. Still better than the cardboard vending machine packs served on EU Carriers.

[@airedition]

So much better yes!

[@cuocsongconghia]

Should I take the bulkhead seat (30A) or the alse (31C)? Im going to HK to Toronto. Thanks!

[@airedition]

I always choose bulkhead window if I can. Lots of room in premium economy.

[@cuocsongconghia]

@@airedition But we cannot store our belonging underneath right?

[@airedition]

Right, just for takeoff and landing it has to go in the bin.

[@cuocsongconghia]

@@airedition how about the tv screen? is it under arm rest or the mounted one?

[@airedition]

I think armrest but I’m not sure

[@philippeadam2499]

The lounge access is not included, wrigth?

[@airedition]

Right. I should have pointed that out, I get in as oneworld sapphire.

[@philippeadam2499]

@@airedition Thank you very much for information, i just want to say that from my point of view ,the very prestigious airlines like Cathay,Qatar ...Can provide special lounges for premium economy clients in their hubs,to make the experience way better and make a great image of the airline,to help them justify big price increases from standard economy,specially in connection flight situation,knowing that most premium economy passengers are tourist travel passenger and not work travelers,so probably don't have a very high fidelity cards status...

[@sumitgoyat]

Does anyone have idea if the last row of the seats have full recline?

[@airedition]

They do I’m 95% sure

[@sumitgoyat]

@@airedition I hope so. Thanks

[@user-uw7yb6xf7d]

Nice but I am waiting for your737 200 further reports greet from fra kai

[@airedition]

Check the flightradar channel this Friday!

[@ThomasLovelacetommystix]

I just need to know if it's comfortable on a 13 hour flight.. with my cpap.. lol ( so fun) with wife and 8 year old

[@airedition]

Yep it’s a good question! I’ve heard it’s not bad. Will try to sample it on a longer run myself at some point!

[@donrainesoh]

Gabe is handsome

[@airedition]

🥳

[@LuLunThang]

Does Premium Economy include lounge access?

[@airedition]

It doesn't no, sorry I should have made that clear!

[@brettkear2933]

I'm flying CX Premium Economy JFK/HKG/MEL in April so enjoyed this review. I'm not sure how Pete added any value to your efforts though - an unnecessary distraction.

[@airedition]

Wow that’s a very long run and would be a much better test of this product than my quick hop! Hope you enjoy it.

[@johnk6657]

I really think the only airlines which offer a great PE are those with a truly good seat (JAL, EK, QF, SQ) but who also have dedicated cabin crew and better food & bev than economy. BA, CX, AA all offer an ok seat but everything else is same as economy. For me JAL is definitely the best with 2-3-2 abreast, lounge access and better F&B. But I do love transiting HKG so when in J I do try to fly CX.

[@airedition]

It’s a good point! Would make for an interesting video breaking down which airlines fit into which camp.

[@edwinchan5603]

CX offers better food in PE for medium and long haul flights. Have you flown SQ's PE for their short haul like SIN to HKG? The food is the same as economy, just like CX's offering for short-haul.

[@ometofu]

premium econ has lounge access?

[@airedition]

No it doesn't; sorry should have pointed out that I got in because of oneworld status!

[@ometofu]

@@airedition ok ok. thx

[@rk6483]

Gabe, you look like a dude that would ghost me during our secret gay relationship while you have a girlfriend that you're only with because of money... Basically you remind me of my ex crush, so I have to unsubscribe. Ily anyways you rock! Great content❤

[@airedition]

😅 thanks, sorry to see you go! You know where to find me if you decide to come back 😎