A Sneak Preview of Cathay Pacific’s Aircraft & Lounges at London Heathrow

Some of the Brightsun team recently enjoyed an exciting Familiarisation trip with Cathay Pacific at London Heathrow Airport, exclusively experiencing the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft followed by a tour of the First and Business class lounges.

Our tour started at Cathay Pacific’s check-in area at Departures, and we got to see first-hand the process of customer check-in in all classes. It was the morning departure to Hong Kong, operated by the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft that we had a sneak peek tour of before passengers boarded. Cathay Pacific operates five daily direct flights to Hong Kong from London Heathrow, and the journey takes approximately 12 hours and 35 minutes.

There are a few variations of this aircraft available, and the variation we got to explore was the 777-300 (77A) which boasts 6 private First class suites, 53 Business class seats, 34 Premium Economy class seats, and 201 Economy class seats.

First we entered the luxurious First class cabin which though small and intimate, offers ample space. We tried the seats out for ourselves and were all impressed with the instant feeling of sheer luxury and comfort. There’s a private working area included with each seat, and other First class perks include a turndown service, meals prepared to order, and Bamford toiletries, to name a few. We all secretly hoped that the flight would take off with us in First class!

Next we explored Business class, a premium product with lots to offer customers like fully-flat bed seating with privacy partitions, plus expansive tables, power outlets, restaurant-style dining, and a selection of fine wines, champagne, and Cathay Pacific’s signature Betsy beer. The cabin is sleek, state-of-the-art, and stylish.

Next on our aircraft tour was the Premium Economy cabin that allows customers to enjoy greater legroom, recline, and comfort with full-length calf rests and leather-padded footrests, a larger meal table than in economy, and an environmentally-friendly amenity kit on long-haul routes. The seat configuration for Premium Economy on this aircraft was 2-4-2.

Finally we explored the Cathay Pacific Economy cabin, which features modern touches. Seats in Economy class are ergonomically designed, each boasting an adjustable headrest and advanced cushioning. There are several stowage areas by each seat, and legroom was plentiful, tried and tested by us!

Following our aircraft visit, we headed for a tour of the Cathay First and Business lounges. We walked through the First lounge which had an intimate feel to it with plush furnishings, a fully-stocked help-yourself bar, and The Dining Room, allowing passengers to order signature à la carte cuisine.

We then continued to the Business lounge where we were treated to lunch that comprised of made-to-order dishes from the airline’s signature Noodle Bar, as well as a delicious hot and cold buffet section and full-service bar. The lounge had a serene, relaxing feel to it and there were some individual pods with great views of the runway – perfect for winding down before departure.

These lounges complement the flight experience with Cathay Pacific, and it was a pleasure being able to experience this ourselves.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Cathay Pacific for their warm hospitality when hosting us on this awesome airport experience. Familiarisation trips allow Brightsun staff the opportunity to experience first-hand what it’s like to travel as a customer, and the experience and knowledge we gain from them helps us to help plan your travel, too, and share our knowledge with you in the form of recommendations, tips, and advice.

If you’d like to enquire about Cathay Pacific flights, please call our dedicated team on 0208 819 1111.