After spending a few days enjoying the warmth of Bali and escaping Melbourne’s cooler weather, it was time to continue my travels to Hong Kong. For this journey, I would be flying with Cathay Pacific in Business Class aboard the Airbus A330.
From the airport experience in Bali to the onboard service, dining and lie-flat seat, here is a look at what you can expect when flying Cathay Pacific Business Class on this route.
Checking In at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali
After arriving at the airport, I headed inside to check in for my flight to Hong Kong. I couldn’t find a Cathay Pacific check-in kiosk, so I decided to wait until the check-in desks opened.
Although online check-in is certainly convenient, I still enjoy receiving a physical boarding pass, particularly when it comes on that thicker, colourful paper. It’s a small detail, but one I appreciate when travelling.
With check-in complete, it was time to make my way through immigration and security before exploring the airport.
The Tujuwan Lounge at Bali Airport
Cathay Pacific uses the Tujuwan Lounge at Bali Airport. The lounge was particularly busy during this visit, with passengers from several airlines sharing the space. As it is also a paid access lounge, availability and crowding are worth keeping in mind when planning your time before departure.
Despite this, there is a reasonable selection of food and refreshments available. The food offerings include hot dishes such as soup, vegetables and steamed rice, alongside pastries, fresh fruit, a salad bar and sweets.
For drinks, you can find juices, soft drinks, water, tea, coffee and a selection of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is served by the bar staff rather than being available for self-service.
There are also a few desks where you can settle in and get some work done, which is a useful addition for those travelling with a laptop.
Lounge Showers and Amenities
The lounge has a couple of shower rooms for passengers wanting to freshen up before their flight. These are fairly simple and compact, so don't expect particularly spacious facilities. One thing to note is that there is no hair dryer provided in the shower room I used. If you plan to bring your own, check that it is compatible with the power outlet available.
After freshening up, I made my way towards the departure gate, ready to enjoy some of the airport's excellent aviation views.
Bali Airport: A Wonderful Spot for Aviation Enthusiasts
One thing I particularly enjoy about Bali Airport is the opportunity to watch aircraft movements from the terminal. The runway views are fantastic, and I think the airport has done a wonderful job of creating spaces where passengers can sit and watch the activity outside. For anyone who enjoys aviation, it is a lovely way to spend the time before boarding.
Before long, it was time to board my Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong.
Boarding Cathay Pacific Business Class on the Airbus A330
To the best of my knowledge, this was my first flight aboard an Airbus A330, so I was particularly looking forward to seeing how it compared with other aircraft I have travelled on. Upon boarding, the crew welcomed me with a drink and a hot towel. It was a lovely way to begin the journey, and I enjoyed my welcome drink as the aircraft pushed back and taxied towards the runway.
Once we were airborne, the crew returned with some post-take-off refreshments. I opted for a glass of champagne accompanied by mixed salted nuts.
With the formalities out of the way, it was time to explore the cabin.
Economy Class
Economy Class is spread across two cabins, with a total of 265 seats. The majority of the cabin is arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration.
However, the final five rows of the rear cabin feature a 2-3-2 configuration, so it is worth checking the seat map when selecting your seat.
Business Class
Business Class is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with all seats facing forwards towards the flight deck. Unlike some Business Class products, the seats are not staggered.
The centre seats feature a design in which the controls and side bench create a degree of separation between passengers. This offers some privacy when travelling alone, although the lack of a dividing wall means that chatting with the person beside you requires leaning forward.
The window seats face inwards towards the windows, with the seat positioned closer to the aisle and the controls and side bench nearer the window. I particularly like having a window seat when travelling, as it gives me the opportunity to enjoy the views throughout the flight.
For this journey, I was seated in 16A, a window seat on the left-hand side of the aircraft, just in front of the wing.
Exploring Seat 16A
The Business Class seat has several practical features and storage areas, making it possible to keep your essentials close at hand throughout the flight.
To the left of the seat are the inflight entertainment remote, seat controls and reading light. There is also a universal power outlet, USB port, AV input and iPod connection.
Around the corner is a small storage compartment with a mirror on the door. Cathay Pacific has provided a bottle of water and a set of inflight headphones, with the headphone connection also located inside this compartment.
There is additional storage beneath the armrest, along with a small storage net. A further compartment sits beside the legs on the aisle side of the seat.
In front of the seat is the footwell, with the inflight entertainment screen positioned above it. One interesting feature is that the screen can be tucked away when not in use. Simply press the button on the side to slide it out of its stored position.
There is also a garment hook, along with space for inflight literature and other small belongings.
Above the seat, the lighting is neatly integrated into the cabin design. One thing you won't find here is an individual overhead air vent. Personally, I think having a personal air vent can be useful on a flight, particularly if you prefer to control the airflow around you.
What do you prefer: an individual air vent or a cleaner, streamlined overhead design?
Inflight Entertainment
Cathay Pacific offers a selection of inflight entertainment, including films, television programmes, children's entertainment, music, games and flight maps.
There is plenty to explore during the journey, whether you prefer to settle in with a film or keep an eye on your progress towards Hong Kong.
The Business Class Tray Table
The tray table is stored in front of the seat and can be released using a small latch. Once pulled out, it unfolds to provide a larger surface for dining or working.
While the table offers a useful amount of space, it doesn't slide forwards or backwards. Once you're finished, it folds away neatly into its original position.
Dining in Cathay Pacific Business Class
One of the highlights of any Business Class flight for me is the opportunity to enjoy a meal while travelling comfortably above the clouds.
For this flight, I chose the sliced roast chicken breast with quinoa salad as my appetiser. The chicken was tender and full of flavour, and it was served with a side salad, balsamic dressing, butter and a choice of bread. I opted for the garlic bread.
For the main course, I selected the steamed snapper with ginger and spring onion in supreme soy sauce, accompanied by pak choy and steamed jasmine rice. Although not listed on the menu, my dish also included mushrooms, with chilli sauce served on the side.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. The fish was delicious, and the combination of ginger, spring onion and soy sauce worked beautifully with the steamed rice and vegetables.
After the main course, I enjoyed a cup of green tea. The crew then brought around a selection of fruit, cheese and ice cream.
The fruit was generally ripe and sweet, apart from the grapes, and the cheese was served cold and fresh.
Overall, I was very happy with the meal and particularly enjoyed the snapper.
Are Amenity Kits Provided?
One thing I would have liked to see on this flight was an amenity kit. Unfortunately, no amenity kits were provided.
Personally, I think amenity kits are a worthwhile inclusion, even on shorter flights. They can be useful for freshening up during a journey, particularly when passengers are continuing onwards to another destination.
I would love to see airlines offer them to all Business Class passengers, or at least make them available upon request.
Business Class Lavatory Amenities
Although there was no amenity kit, the lavatory did have a selection of useful amenities available.
These included hydrating face mist, hand wash, body lotion, tissues, paper towels, toilet seat covers, feminine hygiene products and cups. There was also a garment hook and a baby-changing table.
It was good to see these practical essentials available for passengers throughout the journey.
Turning the Seat into a Lie-Flat Bed
When it comes to getting comfortable, the Cathay Pacific Business Class seat offers several configurations.
The seat can be positioned upright for take-off and landing, adjusted into a lounge position or converted into a fully flat bed.
The headrest can be raised or lowered, with folding side sections to provide additional support around the head. A pillow and blanket are also provided to help make the sleeping experience more comfortable.
Having the ability to lie completely flat is always a welcome feature, especially if you want to rest before arriving at your destination.
A Lovely Gesture from the Cathay Pacific Crew
One of the most memorable parts of this flight was the time I spent chatting with the crew.
We had a lovely conversation, and they kindly shared recommendations for places to visit and restaurants to try during my upcoming five days in Hong Kong.
They also gifted me a set of Cathay Pacific playing cards, which was such a thoughtful gesture. I will certainly be taking them along on future travels.
It is always nice when an airline experience goes beyond the seat, food and facilities. Small personal interactions like these can make a journey feel that little bit more special.
Arriving in Hong Kong
As we approached Hong Kong, the crew began preparing the cabin for landing, and I returned to my seat for the final part of the journey.
I was excited to begin exploring Hong Kong over the next five days, and this flight had been a lovely start to the trip.
Thank you for joining me on this journey and for all the wonderful support, comments and emails I have been receiving. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to watch my videos and follow along with my travels.
If you would like to see the full experience, including the airport, lounge, cabin tour, seat features and inflight dining, you can watch my complete Cathay Pacific Business Class flight review on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqu1yYPh3DI&t=1723s
I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you flown Cathay Pacific Business Class before, and what did you think of the experience? Let me know in the comments section over there.
Until next time, and as always,
Enjoy the Journey!
Aircraft Information ↓
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343
Age: 15 years
Registration: B-LAL