Wednesday newsletters characteristic a resort or flight evaluate.
I lately loved an exquisite journey in Southeast Asia. You may learn my journey studies right here:
- Evaluate: Finnair A350 Enterprise Class from Helsinki to Hong Kong
- Evaluate: Rosewood Hong Kong Resort
- Evaluate: Cathay Pacific A330 Enterprise Class from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh (right this moment)
- Evaluate: Six Senses Krabey Island (Cambodia)
- Evaluate: Shinta Mani Angkor, Siem Reap (Cambodia)
- Evaluate: Rosewood Phnom Penh Resort (Cambodia)
- Evaluate: Music Saa Personal Island (Cambodia)
- Evaluate: Thai Airways A350 Enterprise Class from Bangkok to Munich
Evaluate: Cathay Pacific A330 Enterprise Class from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh
I lately flew Enterprise Class on a Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 from Hong Kong to Phnom Penh, a brief flight that provided a transparent have a look at the airline’s regional Enterprise Class product. Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A330 fleet options completely different Enterprise Class configurations, that means the onboard expertise can range fairly considerably relying on the plane assigned. Throughout its A330 fleet, the service has put in 5 completely different Enterprise Class layouts, starting from trendy reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle entry to older regional merchandise in a conventional 2-2-2 association.
Sadly, my Hong Kong to Phnom Penh flight was operated by one among Cathay’s older A330s that includes the outdated 2-2-2 Enterprise Class cabin. Whereas the seat clearly felt dated in comparison with the airline’s long-haul merchandise, it was nonetheless a fairly comfy recliner for a brief daytime flight, particularly when paired with Cathay Pacific’s constantly robust tender product. A full meal service was provided, and the cabin crew have been attentive all through, serving to to keep up an incredible onboard expertise regardless of the ageing exhausting product. It could not match the airline’s flagship Aria Suites long-haul product (which I reviewed right here), however for a comparatively brief hop inside Asia, the regional Enterprise Class was completely ample.
In some ways, Cathay Pacific’s older regional Enterprise Class nonetheless compares favorably to what’s provided on many short-haul Enterprise Class merchandise in Europe or the US. Nonetheless, it’s harder to benchmark towards main Asian carriers comparable to Singapore Airways, EVA Air or ANA, which are inclined to function extra constant and trendy regional cabins throughout their fleets. That stated, Cathay Pacific has already introduced a significant upcoming improve: the brand new Airbus A330 Aria Suite regional Enterprise Class, anticipated to enter service from the tip of this 12 months, will exchange the present recliners with absolutely flat beds in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle entry, considerably elevating the usual for regional journey.
On a aspect observe, the arrival into Phnom Penh additionally introduced an fascinating expertise, as we landed on the new Techo Worldwide Airport. On the time of arrival, our Airbus A330 was the one plane on the bottom, and the airport felt fully abandoned (it has been dubbed the “ghost airport” for good purpose). This impression is partly defined by the truth that it’s a brand-new, purpose-built alternative for Phnom Penh’s former airport and has been designed on a really massive scale, with long-term capability targets within the tens of tens of millions of passengers yearly, elevating the query of whether or not Cambodia will be capable to realise that ambition in follow. That stated, architecturally, the terminal is spectacular, that includes large-scale Khmer-inspired design parts and huge open areas meant to evoke conventional temple-like spatial qualities, positioning the airport as a symbolic gateway to Cambodia quite than only a transport hub.
Have you ever ever flown in Cathay Pacific’s regional Enterprise Class? Depart a remark.
Flight particulars:
- Journey: Hong Kong (HKG) to Phnom Penh (KTI)
- Airline: Cathay Pacific
- Plane kind: Airbus A330-300
- Plane registration quantity: B-HLN
- On time departure: Sure (8:40 am)
- On time arrival:Sure (10:40 am)
- Distance: 962 miles (1550 km)
- Flight time: 2 hours
- Seat: 14K
- Class: Enterprise Class
On this Cathay Pacific A330 Enterprise Class evaluate (extra data & photographs under my YouTube video):
- Value of my ticket
- The Pier Enterprise Class Lounge
- Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 fleet
- Enterprise Class cabin
- Enterprise Class seat (+ finest & worst seats)
- Facilities
- Meals
- Leisure
- Onboard web
- Ultimate ideas & my verdict (rating)
1. Value of My Ticket
In whole, I paid 10,000 Avios plus €63.02 in taxes and charges, which made this a really good-value redemption for a regional Enterprise Class flight. This additionally occurred to be the final remaining steadiness in my British Airways account, so I used to be glad to lastly put these miles to make use of quite than allow them to expire.
2. The Pier Enterprise Class Lounge
Situated close to Gate 65 within the northwest concourse of Hong Kong Worldwide Airport, The Pier Enterprise Class Lounge is the biggest lounge within the Cathay Pacific community, providing seating for roughly 550 visitors. The lounge is accessible to eligible Enterprise Class passengers, chosen Marco Polo Membership members, and eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members touring via Hong Kong. The lounge operates day by day from 5:30am till the final Cathay Pacific departure.
The general format is organised across the idea of a road, divided into “quick” traces and “gradual” lanes. The quick lane is centered across the lounge’s eating areas and consists of three distinct areas: The Meals Corridor, the Noodle Bar, and the Tea Home:
- The Meals Corridor encompasses a self-service buffet alongside a espresso cart impressed by conventional Asian road distributors, the place baristas put together contemporary espresso all through the day.
- The Noodle Bar stays one of many signature options of Cathay Pacific lounges. Friends can select from a number of freshly ready dishes together with dan dan noodles, wonton noodle soup, dim sum, steamed buns, and different Asian consolation dishes served all through the day.
- Essentially the most distinctive areas throughout the lounge is the Tea Home, designed as a quieter transition area away from the busier eating areas. A tea specialist serves a variety of teas, permitting visitors to get pleasure from a extra conventional and slower-paced expertise earlier than their flight.
Situated alongside the quick lane is the gradual lane, an extended and slim area devoted to rest and lounge seating. Right here, massive floor-to-ceiling home windows convey pure gentle into the seating areas whereas providing views throughout the airport runway. Seating is various, with a mixture of lounge chairs, communal areas, and Cathay Pacific’s custom-designed Solo Chairs, which embrace built-in studying lamps and aspect tables for passengers in search of a extra personal area to work or calm down.
A wellness part is positioned on the far finish of the lounge and consists of fourteen bathe suites in addition to a devoted rest room. The relief space options upholstered loungers and softer lighting meant to supply a quieter surroundings for passengers in transit.
Designed by London-based studio Studioilse, led by Ilse Crawford, The Pier Enterprise Class Lounge focuses on creating a relaxed and comfy surroundings impressed by up to date Hong Kong design. The lounge decor combines pure supplies comparable to limestone, cherry wooden, leather-based, and tender textiles to create a heat and understated aesthetic. Greenery is integrated all through the lounge, and a number of art work from Hong Kong-based artists provides native character to the area. Lighting and acoustics have additionally been fastidiously thought-about to keep up a quieter and extra comfy environment regardless of the lounge’s measurement.
3. Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 Fleet
The Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 fleet continues to play an essential function throughout the airline’s regional and medium-haul community in Asia. As of 2026, the service operates 43 Airbus A330-300 plane, making it one of many largest A330 operators on the earth. The plane have a median age of round 17 years, with a number of planes at the moment present process cabin refurbishments as a part of Cathay Pacific’s broader fleet modernization program.
Whereas Cathay Pacific more and more makes use of newer Airbus A350 plane on long-haul routes, the A330 stays a key a part of the airline’s regional operations. The A330 is primarily deployed on high-density regional routes from Hong Kong to locations throughout Asia, together with cities in Japan, mainland China, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The plane is especially effectively suited to those medium-haul sectors because of its spacious cabin format and operational flexibility.
Cathay Pacific lately introduced an order for 30 Airbus A330-900neo plane, which can regularly exchange the older A330-300 fleet from 2028 onwards. The brand new-generation plane will supply improved gasoline effectivity, up to date cabins, and better flexibility for each regional and longer-haul providers.
4. Enterprise Class Cabin
On this specific Airbus A330, Enterprise Class was configured with 24 seats unfold throughout 4 rows in a single 2-2-2 cabin. Whereas this isn’t Cathay Pacific’s best premium product, it stays completely ample for shorter regional sectors, particularly on daytime flights of two to 4 hours. The design of the Enterprise Class cabin felt practical, with impartial tones and gray cloth seat covers creating a relaxed environment. Whereas the general aesthetic mirrored an older technology of Cathay Pacific interiors, the cabin nonetheless felt effectively maintained and comparatively timeless. A colourful art work displayed on the rear bulkhead added a welcome distinction to the in any other case muted palette.
5. Enterprise Class Seat (+ Finest & Worst Seats)
The Cathay Pacific Enterprise Class seat on this specific Airbus A330 was primarily based on a shell-style recliner design. As a substitute of reclining backwards into the area of the passenger behind, the seat slid forwards inside its fastened shell, serving to to protect private area all through the cabin. The seat’s beneficiant 45-inch (114 cm) pitch and 20-inch (51 cm) seat width offered a snug quantity of non-public area for a brief daytime flight.
One of many most important drawbacks of the seat was the whole lack of cupboard space as there have been no devoted storage areas across the seat. Privateness was additionally nearly non-existent, with no divider or shell separating passengers from each other.
The leisure display felt very small and old style by present requirements. A tray desk was saved under the TV display and folded out from the seatback forward; it might be prolonged additional when wanted for eating or working. Common 110V energy shops have been positioned midway alongside the middle panel separating the paired seats, making it comparatively straightforward to cost gadgets through the flight.
Seat controls have been completely handbook and built-in into the middle armrest, permitting changes to each the recline and legrest independently. Recline itself remained pretty restricted, and the seat was removed from lie-flat — and even angled-flat — although for a two-hour daytime flight the general consolation stage was nonetheless completely acceptable.
What are the finest Enterprise Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s A330 Enterprise Class?
- For passengers touring collectively, the paired set-up of each the window and heart seats works moderately effectively.
- IMHO, the very best seats are the window seats within the final row of the cabin (15A and 15K). These seats are inclined to really feel barely quieter, with much less foot visitors in comparison with the entrance rows close to the galley and bathrooms. Additionally they supply a bit extra privateness than the middle seats, even when privateness general stays very restricted on this configuration.
What are the worst Enterprise Class seats in Cathay Pacific’s A330 Enterprise Class?
- On this specific 2-2-2 regional Enterprise Class cabin, the seats are usually very comparable, although there are nonetheless a number of rows price avoiding. The worst seats are usually the bulkhead seats within the first row, particularly since bassinets are put in for households touring with infants. These seats are additionally closest to the galley and bathroom space, that means extra noise and passenger motion all through the flight.
Click on right here for a seat map of Cathay Pacific’s A330 Enterprise Class.
6. Facilities & Bedding
On this brief regional flight, the onboard providing was saved pretty minimal given the roughly two-hour period. An amenity equipment was not offered, which is typical for a sector of this size, however Enterprise Class passengers have been nonetheless provided a pillow and a light-weight quilt, making it straightforward to settle in should you needed to relaxation through the journey.
7. Meals
A full breakfast menu was served shortly after takeoff, and passengers got a printed menu to select from. The meal consisted of a number of seasonal contemporary fruit and fruit yoghurt, together with a selection of most important programs, all served collectively on a single tray. Choices included a Western-style crepe with scrambled eggs, chorizo-style sausage, portobello mushrooms, vine tomato, and potatoes, or a dim sum choice. I opted for the dim sum, which featured gadgets like a rooster beancurd roll, shrimp enjoyable gor, pork siu mai, a seafood dumpling with spinach pores and skin, and a sticky rice roll. Whereas it was properly introduced and acceptable for the route, I discovered it pretty commonplace quite than particularly memorable in flavour or texture. Nonetheless, for such a brief flight, the truth that a correct multi-choice sizzling meal service was provided felt beneficiant.
8. Leisure
The in-flight leisure system featured a really small touchscreen, which made the general expertise really feel considerably dated. Nonetheless, regardless of the compact show, there was nonetheless a good number of motion pictures and TV exhibits obtainable, providing sufficient selection to maintain passengers entertained on this shorter regional flight.
9. Onboard Web
Enterprise Class passengers acquired complimentary Wi-Fi on this flight, permitting full web entry during the journey at no further price. For different passengers, Cathay Pacific provided completely different Wi-Fi packages relying on utilization. A messaging-only choice was obtainable for round USD 3.95, whereas a 1-hour web cross price roughly USD 9.95. For full-flight entry, the value was about USD 12.95 for limitless connectivity all through the journey.
10. Ultimate Ideas & My Verdict
General, Cathay Pacific’s regional Enterprise Class expertise felt considerably blended. The older 2-2-2 cabin on the A330 was clearly dated and lacked the privateness and direct aisle entry of extra trendy merchandise, but it remained comfy sufficient for a brief intra-Asia sector and was supported by the airline’s constantly robust tender product, with attentive service and a well-executed meal service. From a worth perspective, redeeming 10,000 Avios plus €63.02 in taxes was a wonderful deal, particularly for a Enterprise Class ticket on this route, and a satisfying approach to make use of up the final steadiness in my British Airways account.
Right here’s my verdict for Cathay Pacific’s regional Enterprise Class on the Airbus A330:
- Seat consolation (upright): 6/10
- Seat consolation (mattress place): 3/10
- Meals (high quality): 7/10
- Meals (amount): 6/10
- Inflight leisure : 6/10
- WiFi: 8/10
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 3/10
- General expertise: mediocre – 6.5/10
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