Cathay Pacific Airlines

www.cathaypacific.com

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

5/5

Excellent service, especially on long haul flights

Family Traveler

4/5

Special baggage allowance for infants

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

4/5

Wide reach

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Above average prices

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

4/5

Good accessibility

Long Term Traveler

4/5

Comfortable seats

Novice Traveler

3/5

Average website usage

Introduction

Cathay Pacific was formed in 1946 by expatriate pilots from the US and Australia. It became the flag carrier of Hong Kong and one of the world’s most influential airlines. It was the first airline in the world to complete a non-stop transpolar flight (in1998) and one of the first to regularly fly across the Pacific.

The airline is one of the founding member of the Oneworld Alliance. It is one of the few airlines ranked as a 5 star airline by Skytrax, the most influential airline rating company in the world. Cathay regularly flies long haul flights from Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Ratings

Important Factors 5/5

Average Delay

74%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Less than 4%

Customer Satisfaction Rating

5 out of 5 stars

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A330-300; A340-300; A350-900; Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200; Boeing 777-300; Boeing 777-300ER

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

115 on 5 continents

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

128

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Amsterdam, London, New York, Rome, Chicago, Tokyo, Beijing

Location of Hub

Hong Kong International Airport

Countries Served

China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, United Kingdom, France, Italy, US, Australia

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

Hong Kong-Taipei; Los Angeles- Hong Kong; Hong Kong-Singapore; Tokyo-Hong Kong

In-Flight 5/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

All routes offer at least snack and beverage service; long hall flights offer full meals featuring local cuisine

Food Quality

Above average with fresh-cooked items

In-flight Menu

Regional dishes and beverages served on all flights in economy class. Business class and first class offer cook-to-order meals

Average Leg Room

30-36 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Personal screens for long haul passengers, movies, audio, television, newspapers, Discover Magazine, games

Baggage 4/5

Baggage Fees

None

Number of Bags Allowed

two

Weight Limits and Restrictions

To Americas: 32kgs in business/first class and 23kgs in economy To all other destinations, the combined weight of baggage cannot exceed 40kgs in 1st class, 30kgs in business class and 20kgs in economy

Web Site 5/5

Online Check-in

Yes

Web Site Usability

excellent

Special Needs 4/5

Handicap Accessibility

Standard Accessibility

Pets

Transported in the cargo hold only unless they are service dogs

Special Offers /Partners 5/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Oneworld

Hotel Partners

Asia Miles and The Marco Polo Club

Competing Airlines

EVA Air, Asiana, China Airlines

Strengths

Superb service
Regular long haul flights
Good packages available
Member of Oneworld alliance
Good service in economy class

Weaknesses

A lot of competition in the region
Not always the cheapest option

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

The Marco Polo Club is a rewards program where fliers can earn status points and rewards for flying regularly on Cathay Pacific or on one of its allied airlines. AsiaMiles is a more traditional program that allows frequent fliers to earn miles like any other frequent flier program. AsiaMiles is free to join, but the Marco Polo Club costs $50 per year. Cathay has lounges in Hong Kong and in other major airports that it serves. Fliers with enough status points can access lounges run by allied airlines.

Conclusion

Cathay Pacific has become the gold standard when it comes to in-flight service. It is known for its comfortable cabins and good food, even in economy class. Since Hong Kong is a major air hub, Cathay is probably one of the most popular airlines for trans-Pacific flights, as travelers can easily connect in Hong Kong to reach their final destination. Cathay does not always have the lowest fares, but fliers can be sure that they are getting the highest quality.