My experience in premium economy with Cathay Pacific
For our trip to Japan, we decided to try Cathay Pacific's premium economy, both on flights from [...]
Cathay Pacific
For our trip to Japan, we decided to try Cathay Pacific's premium economy, both on the flights from Malpensa to Hong Kong on the Boeing 777-300 and for the shorter flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo made on an Airbus 330. In a previous article I have already told you about my experience in the booking flights with Cathay and in contacting their support, so I will not cover this topic. Instead, let's see how it went with flights.
At the airport
In this article:
At the airport in Milan, Cathay Pacific offers its premium economy customers the opportunity to check in at dedicated counters. Which is convenient and greatly speeds up baggage delivery (remember that in PE you can bring two suitcases each to put in the hold) even for those who do not have status with the company or the One World alliance.
In Hong Kong we had only quick stopovers, the luggage was arriving at the destination, so we didn't go through the check-in counters, but I guess in the company's main hub there are dedicated counters.
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In Tokyo (Narita), however, the situation is slightly different. There are check-in counters for PE or Business travelers, while eco travelers must go through 'self check-in'.
Unfortunately, we were in economy on the flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong, as premium was not there as a class on the flight we were interested in, so we self checked in. Perhaps by asking, having the second flight in premium we could have gone through the 'normal' counters, but even the self check-in process is still very quick.
Only note. Before the 'normal' counters in addition to the signs there were two company employees directing echo passengers to the automatic counters. Once there there were 3 other staff helping with ticket printing from the automated kiosks. Two others who then controlled the 'entry' queue to the area where luggage is dropped off in addition to 1 attendant per baggage drop-off location who checked that the tags were attached properly and helped passengers if necessary...bottom line, I don't know if they saved a lot of people in the end compared to putting regular check-in counters.
In any case, after dropping off our luggage and going through security, we had some time to walk around the airport. Unfortunately, premium economy (applies I think to all airlines) does not give access to the lounge 🙁
Landing
At boarding, those traveling in PE have their own dedicated row, and you will tend to board right after first/business and high status travelers who can pass through the priority boarding lines.
Actually, you can even take it easy and get on later, as the premium economy section is separate from the economy section and you are unlikely to have trouble finding room for your carry-on luggage in the overhead bin. It is also located in the middle part of the plane, quite close to the entry door, so little queue before you get to your seat, even getting on after economy boarding has begun.
The booth
The cabin configuration is the 'classic' (at least for premium) 2/4/2 on 4 rows, 32 seats in all. The premium economy area is separate from both business and economy, and already this is a big advantage. Few people usually corresponds to little noise during the flight.
Upon arrival on the seat you will find a discreet pillow and comforter, the usual accessory kit with mask, socks, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste as well as headphones to plug into the entertainment system. That's at least on the Boeing.
On the Airbus from HKG to NRT down comforter and pillows were not seen, nor was there an accessory kit. Ok, it was a daytime flight and you only had to possibly ask, cmq they were not there.
Just as, on the flight to Narita, there was no welcome drink, which was offered on the two flights to/from Milan instead.
I was saying, you will find the headphones.... are not bad and cover enough even from noise during flight. However, as soon as I plugged them in I 'went deaf' due to a very high-pitched whistling sound they emitted. Try them on the seat next to me ... same problem.
I then reported the problem to the stewardess who immediately changed them: kudos for the response time, super efficient even though we were still boarding. Inserted the new headsets...same problem.
I admit I was beginning to fear it was the connector on my seat (which, however, gave no problems with the headphones of those traveling with me). Reported to the stewardess, changed again, this time all ok.
I admit it is not a serious problem and it was eventually resolved quickly, however, let's say that as a start it was not the best.
Slightly more 'serious' was the situation on the way back. The entertainment system unfortunately had the touch part going when it wanted to, so I often and often had to use the controller. Okay, the flight from Hong Kong to Milan is quite long, but it's overnight, some sleeping, some eating, some watching movies, in the end it's not like you keep playing with the screen... however, it had never happened to me.
Fortunately the problem was only on navigating the menus, then once I started playing everything worked properly. Nothing unbearable, however once home I reported the problem to Cathay by filling out the appropriate form on the website, a thousand apologies and 10,000 free miles put on the account. For wasting five minutes to report the mishap and given the not-so-serious problem I can live with it.
Apart from these problems, the entertainment system seemed more than good to me. Nice big screen, good headphones (after adjusting them), and a great selection of movies, including in Italian, even on the flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo.
The seat
The seats on the two planes were generally the 'classic' premium economy seat. Not comparable to business seats but certainly wider and more comfortable than economy class seats.
In the armrest are two folding side tables, one larger, ideal for resting your meal tray or if you have to work with a laptop. This side table can also be folded 'in half' , it still offers a good base of support and does not take up too much space.
There is also a much smaller small table, which is ideal if you only need to rest a glass on it. The latter, however, I admit I use only when the plane is on the ground; in flight I rarely, if ever, use it. It definitely feels small to me, the slightest jolt and I fear the glass would end up on the ground--or on my legs.
The seat in premium economy does not become a real bed, however it reclines quite a bit, so it is quite comfortable even for sleeping, and given the space available, even if the person in front of you reclines it you will be able to get up without much trouble.
What I think, however, makes the real difference between the eco seat and the premium seat is the leg support.
In fact, at the bottom, the seat has a part that can be raised, allowing you to rest your legs and 'lie down' more comfortably.
Especially in this part, the configuration of the two planes is very different.
On the Boeing the raising and lowering of the part that supports the legs is more 'mechanical'. It is activated by a button, but to get it fully up you have to help yourself a little bit by manually pulling on it, and to lower it back down you have to do a little bit of leg-pulling.
And it doesn't have a built-in footrest. In the sense that the footrest is attached under the seat in front of you, but it is still adjustable in height.
On the Airbus, on the other hand, the whole mechanism is electronic, you will have a button to lower, one to raise and another to slightly extend it, including the footrest which is integrated.
The operation is more convenient from a certain point of view, however, at the same time it has disadvantages. If the footrest is fully extended, you will not be able to lower the leg rest part, because it goes to touch the floor, so you must first 'retract' the part with the footrest and then fold the leg part.
The built-in footrest, although, as mentioned, it is partly adjustable as a distance can also cause some problems in case you are very tall. It can in any case be folded on itself making it disappear.
On the Boeing, on the other hand, although it requires a little more manual intervention, the operation is faster, and the separate footrest is perhaps more convenient.
Another difference between the two types of seats is the 'courtesy light'. On the airbus it is integrated into the seat, near the headrest, you can direct it better and it disturbs the neighbors very little. On the Boeing, on the other hand, it is the classic light built into the overhead compartment.
Meals
As mentioned, at least on the flight to/from Milan, as soon as you are seated, the cabin crew comes by to offer you a drink, alcoholic or not, depending on your taste.
Instead, in the seat pocket you will find the menu for the meals that will be served during the flight, with also indicated the various types of beverages you can choose from.
In addition to the main meals, during the flight you can always ask the staff for some snacks or a bowl of hot noodles. I admit on the outward journey, in the middle of the night, I asked for them.... and they brought them to me after a few minutes. However, I suspect that the stewardess kind of 'hated' me. After I asked for them other people did, in turn, so much so that after a while she gave up and came by with a tray with several bowls of noodles to see who wanted them 🙂
For snacks, on the other hand, if you want you can ask or wait a while, they go by them several times between meals with a basket from which you can choose various options, sweet or savory... or both... however, there is no need to 'go shopping' or fill your backpack with food supplies for the next six months, just take what you plan to actually eat.
Similar discourse for beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, which you can request when you proffer it. Try their beer, quite light but not bad at all.
Coming to the main meals, as you can see from the photos, they are classic 'airplane' meals.
The quality I would definitely say good, maybe a little above average, but don't expect the treatment of business or first.
They are still served in ceramic bowls and with metal cutlery.
Conclusions
From northern Italy there is no direct flight to Tokyo, a stopover is necessary and it is a long journey. In our case, via Hong Kong, the flight hours, excluding stopovers were about 16 on the outward journey and almost 20 on the return.
The situation improves slightly by taking advantage of the ITA direct from Fiumicino, but it still remains a flight of more than 12 hours outward and nearly 15 hours return.
A trip to Tokyo therefore rightfully falls among the list of flights for which, if you can avoid doing it in economy it is much better, at least as I see it.
Business in our case was quite impractical, paying cash for it was definitely high cost, and unfortunately at the time of booking our balances on the various frequent flyer programs we are enrolled in were not substantial enough to book award flights.
In these situations, premium economy in my opinion is a good choice, especially if it is reasonably priced. It is a good compromise, much more comfortable than economy but without having the costs of business.
Again, if it can be found at a reasonable price. Often the price of the premium is halfway between the other two classes, like the service, so it is definitely worth the price, but other times the cost is very (too) close to that of the business, at which point it is better to aim directly for the higher class.
Then if you are lucky and find the few cases where premium costs very little more than economy, I would have no doubts about the choice, it is money well spent.
Cathay's premium in particular is a very attractive product, certainly in line as a service, with the premium economy of other airlines we have flown with and, at least when we booked it, at a very very reasonable price, just over €1,200 to be clear, including two suitcases (each) in the hold, free choice of seat at the time of booking and a small allowance in case of change of reservation or (voluntary) cancellation of the same always useful in case of change of plans.
Aside from the minor inconveniences with the entertainment system I mentioned above, but which can happen with any flight, I must admit that I had a good time with the Hong Kong company, I would definitely take it back and recommend it without fail.
