Cathay Pacific Business Class
If you’re the kind of flyer who will pay the extra dollars for a good business class, I hope my Cathay Pacific Business Class review between Hong Kong and New York will help you make up your mind if it is worth it. While it’s not the cheapest airline, it’s one of the best, especially in Asia. In Hong Kong, which is Cathay Pacific’s home city, access to the Business Class lounges alone will make your journey much more comfortable. This Cathay Pacific Business Class review has more information and some great photos of The Wing and other business class lounges.
Here’s what it’s like flying at the front end of the aircraft.
Cathay Pacific business class seat
Cathay Pacific’s reverse herringbone seats in business class are stylish and throughout their longhaul fleet, which is my favorite business class product in the entire world. You can’t beat chairs with direct aisle access.
The amusement selection is excellent as well, with the same StudioCX programming Cathay Pacific provides in class.
Cathay Pacific business class food
The meal service surprised me, though not necessarily in a bad way. The meal service seemed to be a tad too efficient and too quick. I can understand the need for speed on a six-hour redeye, but on a 15-hour trip, it’s a little strange.
Firstly, each class was served with a wonderful trolley of food. Although, I thought it a bit odd that the very first round of drinks was served after the appetizer was delivered to my seat.
On a 15-hour trip you’d think there would have been plenty of time to do a round of drinks before proceeding with the meal service. Maybe they’re not encouraging passengers to drink?
Interestingly there were nuts on the beverage trolley, though I guess they weren’t offered due to the pre-meal drinks being missed.
As far as the food quality itself goes, it was excellent and tasty. I love Chinese food, and Cathay Pacific serves up a fabulous Chinese menu. The Western choices are top notch too.
The highlights of the meal were the cod, which I had as a main and the pear tart I had for dessert was exceptional.
Cathay Pacific business class service
The crew on this sector were friendly and attentive throughout the meal service, but they disappeared between courses. I was alright with this, because when I pushed the call button they cheerily appeared within seconds.
Although the dining experience felt a bit like an assembly line, it was reasonably personalized. I was addressed by name and the flight attendants had a smile on their faces each time they approached me. I was disappointed that they weren’t very proactive in offering drink refils or anything else on my tray. They just seemed to be working the cart.
Cathay Pacific business class amenities
I was provided an amenity kit after takeoff, though I was surprised that there weren’t any slippers. I realize it sounds minor, but I really appreciate it when airlines offer slippers. I don’t like to go to the lavatory in my socks, and I hate having to put on my shoes each time, so I find slippers to be super-useful.
Cathay Pacific between Asia and Canada
Flying from Singapore to Toronto, Canada, is a popular route. There are numerous flights you may take which will connect Toronto and you.
Cathay Pacific has eight flights a day between Singapore and Hong Kong so if you’re looking for a stopover in Hong Kong, this is the airline to choose. Flight time is about 23 hours so count on a day’s worth of traveling if you’re flying between Singapore and Toronto.
Transiting in Hong Kong is a pleasant experience, as Hong Kong International Airport is packed with shops and eateries. It’s even nicer if you can spare a couple of days to explore Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific’s services are excellent, especially when compared to North American airlines like Air Canada and United Airlines. Pricing is decent and depends on the season. It usually costs around $S 2500 to $S 3000 for a round trip between Singapore to Toronto. But don’t fly at Christmas time.
Compared to United Airlines, Cathay Pacific is usually on par but take into consideration the savings you’ll get in travel time, investing a few additional dollars may be well worth it.
Flying on Cathay Pacific is most likely probably the most convenient way to fly from Singapore to Toronto. Here’s a review of Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Kong to Sydney leg.
Flying is cheaper than catching the bus
Getting inexpensive airfares nowadays isn’t so easy if you live in North America. In the meantime, budget airlines are flourishing elsewhere in the world.
In Thailand for instance, you can fly from Bangkok to Phuket for about $30 on Air Asia, a Malaysian budget airline. Sometimes, Air Asia has incredibly cheap sales that bring the prices of flights down to as low as $10!
In Europe, you can choose airlines like Ryanair that offer incredibly inexpensive airline tickets to many European cities. You’re able to go from London to Paris for $50, so long as you do not mind has no preselected seats and a very strict weight limit.
Where do you find cheap flights like these in the USA? It’s not as easy but still, with companies like Jet Blue you can find some decent deals. The trick is to purchase tickets well in advance or take advantage of real cheap last minute deals.
Best places to find a cheap flight
If you do lot’s of traveling, then looking for cheap tickets is essential to balancing your budget. These days, there are so many budget airlines that everyone can fly anywhere in the world at affordable prices. Compared to other modes of transport, air travel has become available to the masses. The real trick is to find the best airlines to fly you to your destination at the lowest cost. Sometimes, doing research can be a nuisance!
Direct from the airlines
Quite often, budget airlines have special deals available to customers. So check the airlines’ websites regularly.
Another tip is to sign up for the airline’s “frequent flyer” program.
While you may not earn points, these airlines often release cheap flights to their frequent flyers before the prices are available to the public.
Air ticket consolidators
Look out for tickets, special offers, discount rates and choices that are refundable. Getting a travel bargain is not about working hard, but about planning smart and working smart.
While business travelers may not mind paying extra when purchasing flight tickets it’s still important to plan. One way of finding inexpensive and cheap aviation tickets is through air flight consolidators.
A trip ticket consolidator in an individual or a company that buys air flight tickets in large quantities or in large blocks and after that resells them at a relatively lower price like from here or here or here.
There’s just one major disadvantage of purchasing such tickets, the flexibility for exchanges is usually just not there and the consumer support is usually not up to expectations.
Travel Agents
There are several reputable travel agents who can assist you to gather info from the Internet. One rule of the thumb is doing your research and get quotes from a number of agents before buying.
Comparing and surfing the Internet is a good way to purchase a discount airfare anywhere in the world. But check out if the air ticket is in fact discounted by comparing different air travel ticker prices online.
Seven budget airlines in North America to keep an eye on
Locating a cheap flight and selecting cost-effective airlines may not be as simple as it might seem. Budget airlines follow a different business model to traditional full-service carriers. The focus is on providing rock-bottom airfares. Other services which may be offered by a conventional airline, like free food or a blanket usually comes at an additional cost on a budget carrier. However, don’t make the mistake of assuming that all budget airlines operate the same way. Here are seven budget airlines to keep an eye on in North America
Allegiant
Allegiant serves about 75 destinations, with a focus on leisure destinations in hot climates in North America. Services offered prior to arrival at the airport are minimal. You have to pay an extra fee for a selection of a seat, and only then will you bypass the lines at the terminal for boarding passes. Allegiant often operates from midsize airports in large cities or smaller markets. Before booking on Allegiant, always check to determine if this airport is linked to others in the area.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier has a significant hub in Denver, and serves many cities which are near national parks in the western USA; the Airline often offers exceptional fares between Denver and other locations. Primarily a national USA budget airline, Frontier also offers flights to Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Volaris
Volaris is the most significant low-cost carrier located in Mexico. It flies to a limited number of destinations in the USA and has code-share agreements with Southwest. Along with Mexico City, Volaris also has a presence in Los Angeles International (LAX). A customer perk supplied by Volaris is that it offers rewards if your trip is delayed for more than half an hour.
WestJet
WestJet is the second only to Air Canada for services within Canada. Headquartered in Calgary, WestJet serves cities through North America, 71 destinations in total. The list of codeshare partners of the airline is impressive: KLM, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Delta, American Airlines and Korean Air. Unlike many budget airlines, WestJet has a frequent flier program and on occasion includes some free snacks or drinks.
JetBlue
JetBlue does a lot of its business along the east-coast corridor, with its heart in New York JFK. It’s a favorite selection of budget travelers opting for Fort Lauderdale, Miami and San Juan. Its code-share agreements offer convenient connections with bigger international airlines like American and Lufthansa. JetBlue’s customer support and legroom are becoming part of the general advertising strategy.
Southwest
Many cost-effective airlines tend to be quite small and concentrated on a defined service area. Southwest became the most substantial cost-effective airline in the USA, and the nation’s most prominent overall domestic carrier. Southwest soared because it provided an alternative to sky-high prices and last-minute bookings. Flights operate in Coach and a fundamental part of the advertising plan has focused on highlighting free luggage checks. The Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program was revamped years back to credit travelers for money spent as opposed to mileage or segments flown.
Virgin America
A comparatively new cousin of the Virgin Group household, Virgin America made its debut in 2007, offering cheap fares between the east and west-coasts from the U.S. Unlike several budget airlines, Virgin America does provide first-class seats. Depending on the part in which they’re seated, passengers may pay more fees for cushions, snacks and in-flight pictures.
Tips on how to book online
Here are some tips you may use next time you are looking for an online travel agency to book flights. Social Media and the internet has changed the way companies conduct business and opened up many more options to source cheap flights.
You can benefit by the increased competition by hunting for your cheap flight online, either through an online travel agency or a flight booking website like Skyscanner or Webjet.
There are so many websites these days you do need to be careful about where you book. One of the best ways to be vigilant is to check out how active the site is on social media. Do they respond to their fans and followers? When did they last post and how many fans do they have?
Also, look for a blog or discussion forum on that site. Do a quick audit of the chat room and you’ll soon know if there are any disgruntled customers.
Make sure they are displaying airfares including fees and taxes as these additional costs can add heaps to the final price of your flight. The key is to do your homework and not to jump at the lowest fare. Sometimes top quality airlines have low fares too and sometimes you might just want to give yourself a treat, like this Business Class flight.