Flying Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to New York
TRAVEL
sometimes, the journey really is just as beautiful as the destination.
5 MINS READ TIME
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CATHAY PACIFIC
WORDS BY IGEE OKAFOR
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CATHAY PACIFIC
The moment you step into The Pier, Cathay Pacific’s First Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, it clicks. This isn’t an airport lounge, it’s more like a wellness focused design hotel that happens to have boarding gates nearby.
The space leans into soft timber tones, stone textures, greenery in unexpected corners, creating an atmosphere that’s as calming as it is quietly impressive. Cathay pacific has taken ITS approach to hospitality beyond just aesthetics here. Every material, from recycled woods to energy efficient lighting, showcases a growing and continuous commitment to sustainability that doesn’t scream for attention but subtly sets the tone.
To call it a lounge almost feels reductive Because The lounges: The Wing - Business, The PieR - Business and The Bridge feel like they were pulled straight from a design editorial. It possesses that calming energy of a boutique hotel lobby you accidentally spend hours in. there are the little indulgences too.
THE PIER, FIRST
at the bar, whether you’re team Champagne, espresso, or something a little bolder before boarding, they’ve got you covered. Cathay pacific has steadily been integrating more sustainable, locally sourced wines and spirits into their lounges. The Pier makes waiting feel luxurious, and just when you think the pampering HAs peaked, you board.
Business Class on Cathay Pacific feels like slipping into your own private suite with a view of the clouds. The crew greets you with a choice of Champagne, juice, or coffee and a hot towel so refreshing you almost forget you’ve been operating on airport time.
The seatS ARE Spacious yet cocooned enough to shut out the world. Window seats are prime real estate. the kind where you can stretch out, recline fully, and melt into your own little haven. The pullout table is generous enough for a proper meal or an elaborate snack spread, and when you're ready to sleep, the seat transforms into a lie flat bed layered with a plush mattress topper, pillow, and duvet.
When it comes to dining, Cathay’s collaboration with Michelin starred restaurants like Louise, known for its elegant French plates, and Duddell’s, a contemporary Cantonese favorite, brings something entirely new to inflight dining. Somehow they’ve made high altitude meals feel like you’re sitting at a table in SoHo or Sheung Wan, except you’re at 35,000 feet.
That iconic Cathay noodle dish? Still on the menu. Still elite. Comfort food is always on the menu, especially when the time zones blur. It’s the details that seal the experience.
CATHAY PACIFIC, THE ARIA SUITE - BUSINESS CLASS
Bamford grooming products, straight from the British countryside are given to each guest and The crew is Flawlessly attentive knowing when to appear with water, wine, or another hot towel without ever hovering. There’s a quiet confidence in how they operate. the kind that makes a 15 hour flight feel enjoyable.
Cathay Pacific makes the journey feel intentional. it has never just been about getting from point A to B. Their latest evolution reflected in the design of The Pier, the innovation of the Aria Suite, and the quietly ambitious sustainability efforts throughout the journey proves they’re rethinking what premium air travel means for 2025 and beyond.
It’s polished, It’s personal, It’s planet conscious without ever sacrificing comfort or style. And it makes arriving in New York feel less like an ending and more like the start of something all over again. cathay pacific has managed to turn the mechanics of long haul travel into something almost cinematic, romantic, thoughtful, and yes, even exciting for someone who’s technically done this before.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR BREVITY.
