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I had a chance to fly on CX844 from Hong Kong to New York in December 2025 operated by the A350-1000. It was a 14 hour flight that was pretty smooth, arriving slightly ahead of schedule into JFK.
When you come onboard, you are greeted with hot towel and a refreshing drink (Orange juice, water, Cathay Delight and champagne). Interestingly Cathay Delight was lovely and refreshing, thanks to its coconut milk base with mint and kiwi.
Cathay Pacific’s Business Class features a reverse-herringbone seat layout, giving every passenger direct aisle access — a major advantage on ultra-long-haul flights where you don’t want to climb over someone to move around. I was seated at 20D, and luckily the seat next to me was unoccupied (yay!). Had it been filled, I might have felt slightly more aware of the proximity, but overall the cabin design still provides a good sense of personal space and privacy.
One standout feature was the generous footwell space. Compared to some business class seats that taper tightly around the legs, Cathay’s felt surprisingly roomy. In fact, after waking from my nap, I even managed to do a few hip bridges just to stretch — that’s how much space there was to move comfortably while lying flat.
The amenity kit came in a cute, reusable pouch, which I appreciated for its practicality. However, for an ultra-long-haul flight of this length, I did feel the contents were slightly minimal and could have been more comprehensive.
For an ultra-long-haul route like HKG to JFK, this level of seat comfort makes a noticeable difference, especially when you’re trying to settle in for several hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Inflight Meals 🍴
One thing Cathay Pacific does well in Business Class is offering a menu that caters to both Western and Hong Kong-style cuisine preferences. The selection felt thoughtful rather than overwhelming, and there were also snacks available on request throughout the flight, which is always a plus on ultra-long haul routes like Hong Kong to New York. For dinner, I chose the egg-fried rice with wok-stir-fried prawns — a classic Cantonese comfort dish. The prawns were flavorful, well-seasoned, but the fried rice was a let down as the rice was overcooked. I ended the meal with a sweet note with a rich brownie dessert (a Christmas edition), and ice cream.
Trying to adapt to New York time, I stayed awake for the first part of the flight and watched The Devil Wears Prada. Naturally, being me, I couldn’t resist ordering an egg tart with Hong Kong milk tea to accompany my movie session — a small touch that made the experience feel very “Cathay”.
Before I knew it, I was already four hours into the flight and it was time for sleep. After waking up, I opted for some light snacks — a selection of cheese and crackers, which was perfect before the arrival meal.
For breakfast, I went with the congee and dumplings, a comforting and familiar choice. Warm, soothing, and easy to eat after a long sleep, it was a great way to ease into the final stretch of the journey into New York.
Seats & Service 💺
After my movie and snack break, I decided to turn in for the night — and was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the seat was once converted into a fully flat bed.
I managed to get about seven hours of uninterrupted sleep, which is impressive on such a long-haul journey. The bedding was comfortable, and the cabin lighting stayed calm and subdued throughout the night, creating a restful atmosphere.
Midway through the flight, as we flew across Alaska, there was a quiet buzz in the cabin — passengers on the left side were staring intently out the windows, excitedly reporting sightings of the aurora borealis. Unfortunately, I missed it, but it’s definitely one of those unexpected highlights that make ultra-long haul flights memorable.
Overall
Overall, I still felt that Cathay Pacific Business Class offers good value for money, especially for such a long ultra-long-haul route like Hong Kong to New York. The seat comfort, spacious layout, and ability to get uninterrupted sleep were definite highlights.
That said, I did notice that the service experience could be a little inconsistent, depending on the crew working your section. Some were warm and proactive, while others felt more functional than attentive. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but it did make the overall experience feel less polished compared to some competitors.
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