Flight Report: Cathay Pacific A350 Business, ORD-HKG

Flight facts:

Booking

CX utilise their A350 on a variety of routes from their home in Hong Kong, from their longest treks to DFW to some of their regional routes within East Asia. As such, there's a good chance you'll find a similar experience on a given CX flight that you book.

To complete a prior open-jaw multi city booking, I needed to find a way to get from Los Angeles to Fukuoka. I could've selected from a variety of both North American and East Asian airlines for this route, with cash fares relatively inexpensive for Economy. However, as usual, I decided to think a little outside the box, and did some digging for available redemptions with Qantas Points.

In doing so, I found a redemption from Chicago to Hong Kong on March 4th, 2025, for 119,200 Qantas Points, plus 120.00 USD in taxes + fees.

Check-in

Lounge

Boarding

Onboard

Departure

Meal Service #1

Entertainment

Meal service #2

Arrival

Final Thoughts

You'll find comparatively widespread redemption options using Qantas points on CX than you will on their own metal, and even when compared to some other carriers like JAL. If QF aren't showing any availability on your preferred dates between North America and Australia, CX may be worth a look, though you may have to search for it as a multi city via HKG for all options to show.

If you're flexible with dates and departure locations, from my experience, the best North American departure ports for CX business availability are Chicago, Dallas and Toronto.

If you're investigating something similar and have questions on my booking process - feel free to get in touch!

Prior to the flight and current as at the time of writing, Cathay Pacific contract the LOT Polish Airlines lounge at Chicago O'Hare. To me, this was surprising, considering CX are a oneworld member and LOT are a Star Alliance carrier. However, I can see why CX chose this lounge for their Business passengers - the alternatives in T5 are limited to Delta's SkyClub, SAS and Swissport lounges. Again, whether CX eventually relocate to T3 to co-locate themselves with oneworld partner American Airlines, I would be keen to know.

The LOT lounge on the smaller side, but is incredibly modern and was well staffed. It's located nearby TSA screening, near gate M18. It features a self-service buffet, a staffed bar, free Wi-Fi, showers and restrooms. The buffet contains a wide range of hot and cold options, but I was sure to try some of the more traditional Polish cuisine they had on offer - small bites like pierogis and soups. Interesting to note their mashed potato (of all things!) was some of the best lounge food I've had!

Seating is varied, from traditional dining tables to more lounge-like seating. The far corner of the lounge features a quieter area with loungechairs, which I stationed myself within.

Staff were friendly and frequently came around to collect used diningware. The entire space was spotless during my hour-or-so spent here; my full compliments to the staff and LOT more generally for such an effort at an outstation, and to CX for their choice of lounge in ORD.

I made my way from my hotel downtown via the CTA blue line to O'Hare airport. About an hour later, I was in the check-in hall of ORD's Terminal 5, which is used by CX alongside most foreign carriers. Interestingly, oneworld partner American Airlines operate from Terminal 3, so a transfer between terminals is required if you're connecting from an AA flight and are bound for HKG on CX.

Check-in was simple and efficient - There was no line at the priority check-in desk. I dropped my baggage and headed through TSA, which took about 20 mins on this particular day.

Loungechair-like seating at the LOT lounge, O'Hare

Boarding commenced at about 1400 via gate M20. A short walk from the lounge and I was lining up in the priority boarding lane.

The boarding gate was well-organised, with separate lines for economy, premium economy, and business / oneworld priority - each sufficiently signposted.

Cathay's entire Airbus A350-1000 fleet features a three-class configuration, with 46 seats in business, supplemented by 32 premium economy and 256 economy seats. Business is laid out in a reverse herringbone configuration with direct aisle access for each seat.

Once onboard, I settled into seat 22A, towards the back of the business cabin.

Cathay Pacific's A35K is configured 42J 32W 256Y. Courtesy: aerolopa.com

Upon settling in, I was introduced to Phoebe, who was staffing my side of the aisle for this flight. She welcomed me onboard and offered a pre-departure beverage, a choice between cranberry juice and water, and a hot towel. I got settled in and made myself at home for the next 15 hours.

A cranberry juice and hot towel were offered

Seat 22A, my home for the following 15 hours

An amenity kit, menus, bedding and slippers were waiting on the seat

Unpacking the amenity kit revealed its contents: a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, eye mask, 'multi balm,' body gel and pillow mist. The kits are supplied in partnership with Bamford. Whilst I appreciated the dental kit in particular, I feel the addition of a comb, pen and a fragrance would enhance the kit, despite being commonly absent items regardless of airline. In saying that, 'body mist' and moisturiser were available in the lavatories.

The seat itself was comfortable and is adjustable across several axes. It also lays fully flat, and doesn't require an additional mattress pad given how soft it is.

Pushback was right on time at 1440, though a late runway change saw us sit idle on the taxiway for about 30 mins. Once we were moving though, it was a quick taxi to ORD's runway 10L and we were airborne at 1519.

Climbing out of O'Hare

Cathay opt to serve lunch as the first meal service on this route, which was served approximately 45 minutes post-departure.

Dining was a pleasantly elaborate affair, starting with an amuse bouche, which was a spring onion-based item - not particularly my taste but anyhow!

What a fantastic flight with Cathay. Everything within their control on the ground is superb; their priority check-in was a breeze and LOT's lounge in ORD's T5 is a fantastic oasis away from the sterile terminal.

Onboard, their service is much more refined and personable compared to some of the Chinese mainland carriers I've experienced in the past (looking at you, China Eastern), certainly competing with some of the best cabin crews I've been fortunate enough to fly with. This follows through in their catering - although the lunch wasn't stellar, the breakfast was fantastic and the overall quality was up to standard. Do not pass up trying a 'Cathay Delight' when you fly with them!

Despite not being their latest business offering, the seats currently fitted to the A350s are comfortable, well-padded and provide the mod-cons you would expect in 2025. I am keen to hopefully experience their new Aria suite one day!

Very impressed with both their hard and soft products, and their hub in Hong Kong makes them a great option for Aussies bound for Asia, North America and Europe.

This was my first time flying with them, and I am sure it won't be my last.

A wide variety of Western and Chinese entertainment options - movies, TV shows, and audio - were available to browse and I think any given individual would be hard-pressed to become bored on a CX journey - even if it's a marathon from Australia to Europe via HKG, for example. The best part of the system, however, was the tail camera which is accessible through the system. An avgeek can have that playing all flight long!

All of this is viewable on the 18-inch touchscreen display, which despite not being 4K, is full-HD.

Overall Cathay's entertainment selection is good, certainly when compared to many other East-Asian carriers and far surpassing those offered by mainland Chinese airlines. This is key to a leisure traveller like myself on a flight exceeding 14 hours!

A small touchscreen handset is available in the side of the seat

If you prefer not to reach forward to the screen or are comfortable in a lay-flat position, a small touchscreen handset controller is available and built into the side of the seat.

Full-HD 18-inch touchscreen monitors in Cathay's A350 Business

Appetiser: shredded chicken with sesame dressing, alongside garlic bread

My appetiser arrived shortly after the completion of the amuse bouche, which was a shredded chicken salad with sesame dressing. Pleasant but basic.

Amuse bouche: spring onions in a red sauce (apologies, that's the best description I can muster!), alongside a Cathay Delight

For main, I went with the wok-fried cod with sweet corn sauce. I was happy with the dish, but again, nothing standout.

Main: wok-fried cod with sweet corn sauce

Finishing with dessert, I opted for the fruit plate, which was as you would expect - a pretty safe bet!

Dessert: fruit plate

As a whole, the meal was perfectly acceptable, but I regret not opting for the Cantonese option of Wonton noodle soup. Well, you live and you learn!

I've attached the full food and beverage menus at the end of the article.

Cathay's second meal service of choice on this route is breakfast. It might seem odd considering the arrival time of 2035, meaning breakfast is served at about 1900 HKG time, but I would consider it suitable considering the majority of the cabin was asleep up to that point.

I selected the Western option, which was an omelette, served with a selection of pastries and fresh fruit.

Breakfast: an omelette, pastries and fruit

This was a fantastic meal, of great quality and quantity.

Before too long, we commenced a descent into HKG, landing shortly therafter at 2005 local time. We had a short taxi to the terminal and were on blocks at 2014 - over 20 mins ahead of schedule, despite the late departure.

Immigration at HKG was a seamless experience, with a short 2-minute queue meaning I was at baggage reclaim at 2034, to find my bags already on the belt awaiting my arrival. Kudos to the CX ground team for their efficiency with priority baggage.

From there, it was a short walk through customs to the airport's integrated bus terminal, to catch a bus directly to my hotel.

MENUS

As promised, you can find the food and beverage menus below.

NOTES

All thoughts and opinions listed in this article are wholly my own. I have not received remuneration from CX nor any other party for the composition of this article.