After two years of closed borders, Malaysian Maggie Chooi returns home and finds Cathay Pacific has maintained standards in its business class cabin despite the challenging operating environment.

Check-In

I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport and made my way to Cathay Pacific’s dedicated business class check-in counters, where crew member Katrina Mak efficiently checked me in for my flight, checking the results of my PCR test (conducted by Prenetics at HKIA) as well as my Malaysia Sejahtera app, which needs to be downloaded in advance by all visitors to the country and which includes a pre-departure form that must be filled in.

From check-in, I made my way to the only CX lounge currently operating, The Wing First Class. Only one immigration and security section is currently operating and it’s at the opposite end of the terminal but I quickly made my way to the lounge where the friendly staff greeted me and guided me to a seat in The Haven, the lounge’s elegant dining room. The restaurant serves a host of a la carte dishes, including signature Dan Dan noodles. I paired my dish with  The service throughout this coveted space, which is usually only open to first-class or Marco Polo Club Diamond members, was attentive and cheerful

At The Haven, service is attentive and the staff are cheerful. The bar serves a great selection of wines, champagnes, juices and also classic cocktails and I noticed the staff were very efficient to clear away plates and sanitise tables after use.

Boarding & In-flight

Despite last-minute gate charges, the boarding process was efficient. With so few services currently on offer, it was little surprise that the flight was close to full flight, with business class on the Airbus A350 at 90% capacity. Cathay Pacific’s newest aircraft model offers a 1-2-1 seating configuration in business class, with each superbly comfortable seat offering a host of amenities and storage options, a USB port, and a comprehensive inflight entertainment system. Guests could also access the internet for US$3.95.

Once I was seated, crew distributed fast track lane passes for Malaysian immigration as well as Cathay Care Kits, which includes a face mask and two antiseptic wipes, and took drinks and meal orders quickly. The captain announced a flight time of three hours and 19 minutes – pretty good for Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur, and we took off on time.

The Flight

The meal was served 45 minutes after take-off and curiously for Cathay Business Class, there was no choice for mains, with all passengers served roasted chicken breast served with potatoes, asparagus and braised beans in tomato sauce. The main came with side dishes of prawn and potato salad and bread, and mixed fruit. The meal was well heated and delicious.

Throughout the flight the crew were attentive, often stopping by to top up my champagne and presented a can-do attitude that is impressive given the difficult work conditions they have had to endure during the pandemic. It shows that with a grounded service DNA, Cathay will quickly recommence thrilling premium travellers as they travel to destinations around the globe.

Note: The author flew on a fully-paid business class ticket without the airline’s prior knowledge.

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