Cathay Pacific Ord to Hkg Premium Economy Review
During Cathay Pacific's Black Friday sale the airline offered 60% off circular trip fares. During that auction I was able to purchase a round trip Premium Economy from the U.s.a. to Hong Kong for just $ane,100. By comparison that aforementioned flight today is approximately $2,200.
I empathize $1,100 is still a lot of money for a weekend trip. However, the price made sense to me considering I'd earn a lot of AAdvantage Elite Qualifying action. Cathay Pacific Premium Economy fares earn 1.5 Elite Qualifying Miles per mile flown and xx% Aristocracy Qualifying Dollars per mile flown when credited to the AAdvantage programme.
In my instance, since I purchased ORD-HKG-LAX-ORD, I'd earn approximately $3,100 EQD and just shy of 25,000 EQM for this trip. That'due south right, for just $1,100 and iii days of my fourth dimension I'd earn AAdvantage Aureate status for 2019!
For me, booking and taking this trip made absolute sense every bit I continue my pursuit to qualify for Executive Platinum for another year. Because of the lucrative Elite Qualifying Accrual opportunity I decided to book this flight. Then, a few weeks afterwards, it was finally time to head off to Hong Kong.
Getting To Chicago O'Hare International
As my HKG over MLK trip started on Friday afternoon I began my journey in downtown Chicago as I left piece of work. My flight wasn't scheduled the depart until 2PM CST, but I decided to go out for the airport early so I could catch a Metra train near my office.
Metra is the commuter railroad train network which services the Chicagoland suburbs. Certain train lines take stops near CTA Blue Line stops which makes it a viable option from getting downtown to Chicago O'Hare.
At $4.25 Metra unmarried-ride ticket costs more than a standard CTA train ticket ($2.50). However, by taking the Metra I shortened my journey to O'Hare past 20 minutes. Also, the Metra train station is just a few blocks from my role whereas the CTA Blueish Line is several blocks away. During the common cold Chicago wintertime the terminal thing I want to practise is drag my roll-aboard 10 blocks through the city.
You lot can't get to Chicago O'Hare international entirely by Metra train. Instead, y'all must accept the NW-Upwardly line from the Ogilvie Transportation Eye to the Irving Park stop. From there, you must walk from the Metra station to the nearby Irving Park Blueish Line station. The transfer is relatively painless, only it does become a little more than hard equally swarms of pigeons fly in front of you as you pass under the highway.
Switching Terminals At Chicago O'Hare International
The CTA Blue Line takes you direct to the center of Chicago O'Hare international Aerodrome. Once you lot leave the station you'll discover yourself near Concluding ii (Delta/United). From hither, follows signs to the "Airport Transit" system. The Airport Transit (ATS) is free and takes you lot from i terminal to another at Chicago O'Hare.
Most flights on international carriers (ex. Lufthansa) depart from Chicago O'Hare's Terminal 5 (International Terminal). To become to Terminal 5, head down to the ATS station and looks for boarding information to T5.
Transferring between terminals at O'Hare is easy thanks to the ATS. The ride from T2 to T5 took just a few minutes. The ride seems much longer if you lot're late for a flight as the train moves painfully deadening.
Arriving At Chicago O'Hare International Concluding five
Later a short ride on the ATS I finally arrived in Terminal 5. Although it was mid Jan there were still holiday decoration lining the last.
Nearly the heart of the terminal is the Red china Pacific bank check-in desk-bound. These desks are shared with Qatar Airways, only Qatar's flying doesn't leave until much subsequently in the evening.
The Cathay Pacific check-in lines are divided by class and past OneWorld aristocracy status. As I currently maintain OneWorld Emerald status (AAdvantage Executive Platinum) I was able to use the Start Class check-in line. This was great and saved me a ton of fourth dimension considering not a single person was in any line…
Every bit I mentioned, there was no one waiting in line at the check-in counters when I arrived. This was surprising considering I arrived at the airport nearly an hour and a half earlier the posted boarding fourth dimension.
At that place are 2 things to know about when checking in for Cathay Pacific flights when parting the The states. The first is that you are able to retrieve a mobile boarding pass in the Cathay Pacific app which ways you tin skip the check-in counter entirely. The 2nd is that you can add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to your reservation and savor the benefits of TSA PreCheck.
However, on this item flying, the TSA PreCheck logo appeared on my mobile boarding pass, but not on the printed version. When I approached the security checkpoint they did not take the Mobile TSA PreCheck logo and the TSA agent instead forced me to use a standard security lane. This wasn't an consequence as I had enough of time before my flight.
Chicago O'Hare International Terminal 5
Later on clearing security y'all immediately enter the Revenue enhancement & Duty Gratis stores located in Terminal 5. Clearly someone wants you lot to do some shopping before your flight.
As I exited the Taxation & Duty Free store I noticed the below sign for dining options in Last 5. I was impressed by the various dining options offered. Since I had an invitation to the British Airways Starting time Class lounge I decided to skip the Concluding 5 dining options and instead eat in the lounge.
The British Airways lounge and departure gate are located at the South-East terminate of the concluding. As you head to the gate you'll laissez passer the Hub 51 restaurant and bar.
British Airways Galleries Start Lounge
I've already written a detailed review of this lounge as role of this trip report so I'm going to avert doing then here. However, it's worth noting that if y'all do get an invitation to this lounge, from status of when flying in a premium motel (not Premium Economy), I'd skip it.
Instead, I'd recommend either waiting in the Terminal 5 cafeteria or in one of the other Priority Pass lounges in the terminal. The lounge just isn't that great. The only thing I enjoyed about the lounge was the somewhat fast WiFi.
Besides the adequate internet, null about this lounge makes it worth visiting.
Mainland china Pacific Premium Economy Boarding Process
The Cathay Pacific flight from Chicago to Hong Kong departs at approximately ii:05PM. Prc listed the scheduled boarding time to begin approximately xl minutes prior to departure. Our flight was scheduled to depart from Gate M14.
I decided to leave the lounge a few minutes early to try to get near the front of the boarding line so that I could get some pictures of the empty Premium Economy cabin. When I arrived at the gate as the footing crew loaded the final palates of freight onto our China Pacific 777-300ER.
Although I left the lounge early I was nowhere near the forepart of the boarding line. Communist china Pacific boards by grouping and divides boarding groups by elite status and grade of service. Withal, all OneWorld elites and business class passengers lath from the same boarding lane. This created quite a long line at the gate earlier the boarding process began. Merely Cathay Pacific MarcoPolo Diamond members were allowed to lath early on.
Boarding began a few minutes tardily, simply was quite organized. The business class cabin is huge and seats 53 total passengers. Past the time boarding commenced information technology seemed near half of all passengers queued upwardly in the "Priority" boarding lane.
Communist china Pacific 777-300ER Premium Economy Cabin
Although the boarding line was long, the gate agents did an excellent task processing boarding cards quickly. Before long I had passed through the aft business class cabin and entered the Premium Economy cabin. The Premium Economy cabin on the 777-300ER begins with row 30 which is located in line with the over-wing exit doors.
The Premium Economy cabin is comprised of iv rows of 8 seats in a 2-4-2 layout. The seats are slightly larger than those in economy class, but also feature additional recline and a foot or leg-remainder.
Each Premium Economy seat also offers a slightly larger seat back entertainment screen than those found in economy.
Located on each Premium Economy seat was a pillow, blanket, pair of headphones, and a pocket-sized Cathay Pacific Premium Economy assiduities kit. Inside the amenity kit is a dental kit, a Cathay Pacific branded eyeshade, flight socks, earplugs, and a 10% discount lawmaking for purchases on Zixag.com.
The assiduities kits are pocket-size pouches which were placed on every seat prior to boarding.
Communist china Pacific 777 Premium Economy Seat 30D
For the flight to Hong Kong I pre-selected seat 30D, a bulkhead seat. I specifically selected this seat because it, forth with the other seats of row thirty, had received positive reviews on SeatGuru.
Overall, Communist china Pacific's Premium Economy seats are fantastic. The seats have a lot of padding in them and the textile upholstery makes them especially comfortable. I had no issues sitting for over 13 hours in these seats and would gladly fly Premium Economic system once again. However, I would not choose seat 30D again. Here's why.
One thing that'south different about the seats establish in row 30, and some in 32, is the leg rest. Rather than a foot rest these bulkhead seats characteristic an extendable leg residuum. At the end of the leg rest is a small metallic part that pops up equally a footrest. While this sounds comfortable, the issue is that the leg rest is much to short to accommodate my legs. I'thou approximately 5'11" for reference. I found it hard to observe a comfortable reclined position with the leg rest extended.
While the leg rest wasn't that big of an issue, there were much larger problems I had with the seat. In fact, the issues are so large I'yard surprised they aren't noted by SeatGuru.
Issue one: Premium Economy Lavatory
The kickoff issue is the lavatory. The Premium Economy cabin offers its ain lavatory to Premium Economy passengers. While this helps keep the lavatory cleaner throughout the flying, information technology also creates an issue. The issue being its location.
The lavatory is located where seats 30H/K should be on the right side of the cabin. This ways passengers seated in seats A-Eastward effectively have to somehow walk beyond the cabin to get to the lavatory. When airborne the cabin crew closes the 4 defunction which isolates the cabin.
Therefore, those seated in seats A-E accept to walk in forepart of seats 30 D-G (where the bulkhead is located) to go to the other side of the cabin. The merely alternative is to walk 10 rows back through economy to the Galley. This meant for the first several hours of the flight, other passengers were constantly passing in front of me. This became very annoying very apace as I had a difficult time sleeping.
Issue ii Horrible Leg Rest
The other effect with row 30 is the leg balance. The leg rest is extremely short. With the bar extended my knees were nearly at a 90 caste angle equally I tried to recline. Instead, I had to put the human foot-bar down, merely that meant my legs were in this unsupported and bad-mannered position. The only solution (I'g sad to say) was to utilize the magazine holder as a foot rest.
Trust me I hate then people put their feet where they don't belong on an aircraft, but this was the only style I could get comfortable enough to sleep on this flying.
All the same, putting my anxiety here simply highlighted the first issue. With my feet resting on the magazine rack passengers simply tried to climb over me equally I slept. This resulted in a few passengers accidentally kick my feet and waking me up. Not a fantastic situation.
Issue 3 Seat Position
The third and mayhap most major issue with seat 30D is that its position puts it nearly in line with the business class cabin's aisle.
Not only are you constantly reminded on the wonderful business concern course seat that you're not sitting in, but you're too at risk of existence struck by a runaway service cart.
On peak of that, the pall that divides the business form an premium economy cabins really protrudes a little into your seat. This means that each time someone passes through the curtain (which is frequently) the curtain actually bushes your legs. Again, this is a small inconvenience, but one that adds up during a xiii 60 minutes flying.
All of those small inconveniences add together up to a seat that makes information technology difficult to slumber and my goal on any long-haul flight is to slumber.
Bottom Line: Practice Non Sit down IN ROW 30!
Cathay Pacific 777 Premium Economy Lavatory
Speaking of the lavatory, the Premium Economy lavatory on the 777-300ER was interesting. The lavatory is odd because it's substantially an enclosed box in the middle of the cabin. Whereas typically a lavatory is congenital into a galley expanse, this lavatory is but kinda sitting in that location in the cabin. It's a really odd identify to take a lavatory. You can come across what I'm talking about below (although this is from a different flight… shhh).
Inside the lavatory you'll find what you've come to expect from a dated Boeing lavatory. The sink basin is quite large and provides plenty of room to launder your hands. Also on the counter of the lavatory was a mixture of hand soap, moisturizing foam, and lotion.
The lavatory isn't all that wide and the toilet takes away much of the available room within.
With the narrow lavatory and protruding toilet in that location really isn't that much floorspace for yous to modify in this lavatory.
Overall, I much adopt more modern and spacious lavatories found on the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A380, but this one did it's job.
Cathay Pacific 777 Premium Economy Seat Controls
Now, dorsum to the Cathay Pacific Premium Economy seat. While I didn't love my item seat (Seat 30D), I did really like the Communist china Pacific Premium Economy difficult production. Each seat features a person in-flight amusement screen and remote command. The remote is housed in the movable armrest.
This remote controls the in-flight entertainment screen, but also controls the overhead lights and the flight attendant call button.
Seat controls, which control the leg rest and the seats' recline, are plant on the fixed center armrest.
On the center armrest you lot'll detect the headphone outlet, the leg rest controls, and the seat recline button. The 2 buttons worked great and the seat moved freely when pushed. The headphone jack still is in a fairly terrible position.
With headphones plugged in my legs were constantly forced upwardly confronting my headphone airplane adapter. On several occasions I was afraid that I was bending my headphone jack when adjusting the leg balance. It would be nice if this headphone outlet was moved toward the front of the armrest or within the IFE screen housing.
As I was in a bulkhead row I had a perfect view of the center bulkhead monitor. I expected this screen to display flying information for the entirely of the flying, but instead the crew turned off the monitor shortly after takeoff. Although I always enjoy when the bulkhead monitor displays flight data I was happy the crew dimmed the monitor as information technology helped reduce the ambient light in the premium economic system cabin.
Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Pre-Departure Service
Premium Economic system class boards just earlier the remaining economic system form cabin. Economy passengers must walk through the Premium Economy cabin to get to their seats which makes pre-difference services difficult. However, as human foot traffic to the economy cabins decreased the cabin crew circulated the Premium Economy motel to serve a pre-deviation beverage. Premium Economy passengers could cull betwixt water, orange juice, or Champagne.
Cathay Pacific 777 Premium Economy Pre-Departure Champagne
The Pre-Departure Champagne came in an extremely small Champagne glass. The glass' base was simply small enough to fit on the tiny pop-out tray table which extends from the center armrest.
Shortly subsequently handing out pre-deviation beverages the flying bellboy returned with a hot towel service which I declined. A few moments later on, every bit we pushed back from the gate the flight attendant returned to retrieve all of the pre-deviation service items.
Departing Chicago O'Hare International
As nosotros pushed back from the gate and began our taxi to the runway I discovered yet another issue I had with seat 30D. Since the seat is in a bulkhead row the IFE screen is of the foldable diversity. Y'all must stow the screen during taxi, takeoff, and landing. While I normally wouldn't listen this dominion I found information technology specially frustrating on this flight because the shipping is equipped with a forrard facing photographic camera. Instead of watching a live view of the skies over Chicago upon deviation I instead had to watch the bulkhead wall shimmy with every bump equally we climbed out of Chicago O'Hare International.
Shortly after takeoff I unlatched my IFE screen and fired upwards the moving map. At that bespeak I realized I was stuck in seat 30D for the next 14 hours and 28 minutes!!!
Shortly after takeoff the cabin crew began circulating the cabin with the departure beverage service.
With the difference potable service the flight attendants offered passengers salted almonds and an antiseptic towelette. I personally was happy to receive the towelette as I used it to wipe downwardly the IFE screen, remote, and seat controls.
After the departure beverage service the flight attendants circulated the cabin yet once more to distribute the Premium Economic system meal service menus, immigration forms, and a People's republic of china Pacific branded pen.
It seems you're alway without a pen when information technology's fourth dimension to fill out an clearing course. Luckily, Mainland china Pacific thought near this and provided all Premium Economy passengers with a plastic pen.
Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Meal Service(due south)
The Premium Economy menus were quite brusk and generally unnecessary, merely there's something nearly receiving a carte that makes the entire feel seem a bit more special. The menu for our flight was as follows.
Essentially, all Premium Economy passengers received the same bones meal, but could choose an entrée. For beverages, the Premium Economy menu essentially offered the typical beverages found in standard economy on long-booty flights.
Mainland china Pacific Premium Economy Dejeuner Service
Approximately an 60 minutes and a half following takeoff the cabin crew began serving the dejeuner service. At this point I had not yet "ordered" my entrée. Instead, when the coiffure got to my seat I was asked which entrée I preferred.
As I responded with my meal preference the crew-fellow member delivered a complete tray of nutrient to my seat. Within the tray were a few small plastic plates arranged on a serving tray. At the top of the tray, in the large rectangular plate, was a ready of silverware wrapped in a thick paper napkin. Unlike economy class, Premium Economy passengers receive truthful metal silverware.
The paper napkin was and so secured by a Cathay Pacific branded clip which resembled a tuning fork.
The entrée and salad were both covered when the repast arrived. This isn't carp me, but the hat for the entrée was arguably the hottest material in the globe as it arrived at my seat. Information technology took a few minutes for the lid to cool enough to be handled and I could remove the lid.
For my entrée I chose the Kung Po Chicken entrée which was actually succulent. Sure the food quality wasn't of that establish in Business Class on Qatar Airways, but it was still quite good.
As I finished my meal the crew stopped past over again to distribute the water ice cream dessert. I wasn't in the mood for ice foam then I passed. At that signal the flying attendant collected the meal services items and I tried to go some slumber.
Mainland china Pacific Premium Economy Dinner Service
Later the lunch service I was able to become a few hours of slumber before the dinner meal service. Dinner on Cathay Pacific is quite odd compared to other long haul flights. Typically airlines serve meals near the kickoff and stop of a long-haul flight. This allows passengers to get a few hours of sleep between meal services.
On Cathay Pacific, the crew serves the second repast very virtually the middle portion of the flight. My flight from Chicago to Hong Kong was no exception. Virtually eight hours into the flying (just over halfway) the cabin lights came on and the repast service began shortly thereafter.
For my dinner service I opted for the Grilled Kurobuta Pork entrée. Each dinner likewise came with fresh fruit, staff of life and butter, and a mango mousse.
Again the presentation of the repast was the same equally the lunch service. Premium Economy passengers agin received metal silverware. For this meal though the lid for the entrée wasn't quite as hot as information technology was during the luncheon service.
Overall, the dinner meal wasn't as expert as lunch. The port medallions were a flake dry, but I suppose they were a improve option than the cod. The fruit, staff of life, and mousse were all very practiced though.
I wasn't hungry when the crew served dinner, only I ate quickly so that I could autumn back asleep. Once I finished my repast the flight bellboy collected my tray and I once more stowed my tray table.
Cathay Pacific Chicago To Hong Kong Route
At this indicate in the flying was was wearied, simply was too interested in our flight path to autumn comatose. When I turned on the moving map our flight was merely passing over the Northern border of Greenland!?
Information technology'south funny, every time I search Chicago to Hong Kong on Google Flights I see the beneath image.
For that reason I've just always assumed when heading to Hong Kong we'd get W. Instead, we departed Chicago and went Due north E. Nosotros keep going North Eastward the whole fashion! Nosotros began past heading upwardly over Greenland.
Next, nosotros crossed over the Greenland Sea and the Arctic Ocean. We and then passed right over Svalbard which is a famous isle know to offer some of the all-time views of the Northern Lights.
We then continued our journey through Russia and Red china before touching down in Hong Kong.
As we passed into Russian airspace the sun began to rise and I switched from the Moving Map to the Nose Camera of the 777.
The nose camera offered peachy views of the Sunrise which couldn't be seen otherwise equally the coiffure required the window shades to remain closed.
Cathay Pacific Premium Economy Service
I wasn't really sure what to wait in terms of service in Premium Economic system on Cathay Pacific. On one hand, Premium Economy is a step up from standard economic system class, merely on the other Premium Economic system is nowhere nigh business class.
That aside, I was actually very impressed by the personalized service I received in Premium Economy class. To begin the flight the Purser stopped by my seat and thanked me for being a OneWorld Emerald aristocracy. That was a prissy touch, but non something I'd ever expect on whatever airline.
After takeoff, the beverage and meal services were more or less the same as those offered in economic system class. The only existent departure that I noticed was that the cabin coiffure occasionally circulated the cabin with a snack box full of chips, chocolates, and fruit.
Again, the service was overall fantastic as is expected with most asian carriers. Nonetheless, the Premium Economic system service isn't much different from that offered in standard economic system class. Needless to say you'll be disappointed if you expect the service to rival that of China Pacific Business form.
Final Thoughts
I'grand overall not a huge fan of Premium Economy grade. I say that because ofttimes Premium Economy prices are significantly more than than regular economic system and yous don't get that much more value. The seat is marginally more than comfy for an average size person, the nutrient is substantially the same, and you're still sleeping in a seated position. For those reasons, I'd never pay the $ane,000+ premium to fly Premium Economy over standard economy on any airline.
Even so, flying Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific makes sense from an elite qualifying accrual perspective. That's considering (almost) economy course fares on Cathay Pacific don't earn AAdvantage mileage or aristocracy status accrual. Premium Economic system however earns nearly the aforementioned amount of elite qualifying activity and number of AAdvantage miles as yous'd earn when flying in business class. For that reason, ownership Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific makes sense.
For this trip I earned just nearly $i,500 EQD and I earned near $three,000 EQD for the entire trip. Since I try to earn $2 EQD per out-of-pocket dollar I spend I'd pay for a round-trip flying in Premium Economy provided the price is less than $1,500. Currently prices for Mainland china Pacific Premium Economy eclipse $two,000 which isn't worth it to me. However, if prices for Premium Economy ever fall to $1,500 or less that I'd definitely book this flight again as it was a enough enjoyable experience.
Source: http://moorewithmiles.com/2018/02/review-cathay-pacific-777-premium-economy-chicago-hong-kong/
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