CATHAY PACIFIC’S NEW PREMIUM economy is being fitted to its long-haul fleet. The airline flies four daily services between Heathrow (Terminal 3) and Hong Kong, though premium economy is not available on all flights.
CHECK IN & LOUNGE: Cathay’s flights depart from Heathrow Terminal 3 and are around 12 hours in duration. Cathay’s check-in area is in Zone B, with separate desks for economy, premium economy, business and first class. Security was reasonably quick. There is no lounge access with premium economy, though fliers with a top tier level can access the lounge in the terminal. THE SEAT: Depending on the aircraft, the premium economy cabin comes in different configurations and
has differing number of seats, ranging from 26 to 34. This four-class B777-300ER had 34 seats in a 2-4-2 layout. Premium economy was in a separate cabin in one sense, with curtains dividing it from business and economy, but in truth there was no division since the washroom on the right- hand side was also for economy passengers and the curtain was kept open during the flight. The seat has a 38in pitch – 6in more than economy. WORK & PLAY: The in-seat power took a UK plug, and the
IFE had a 10.6in screen and a large range of content. FOOD & DRINK: After take-off we were offered champagne or orange juice. The food came on a tray and comprised potato and bean salad, a choice of main, and ice cream for dessert. Snacks were available throughout the flight and there was a choice of wines. After the meal I settled down to sleep with a thick blanket and cushion. The seat reclined 8in, in contrast to economy’s 6in, and was wider (19.5in compared with 18.5in).
VERDICT: The seat is comfy and the service efficient, if perhaps lacking in personal charm. This is an upgraded economy service rather than a lesser business class, but for value for money it ranks highly if you want to sleep or work more easily on a long flight.
Correction: In the Nov/Dec issue of BBT we published a picture of the premium economy cabin alongside a review of business class. View the correct business class image in the digital edition (bit.ly/RwrBrl).
Tom Otley
QATAR AIRWAYS B787 Dreamliner business class. Delivery flight, Boeing Seattle-Doha
QATAR IS TAKING DELIVERY of five B787 Dreamliners this year, with London as one of its initial routes after testing on short-haul services in the Gulf region. The B787 series is eagerly awaited by airlines because of its fuel efficiency (it uses 20 per cent less fuel than today’s similarly sized aircraft), and has a 20 to 45 per cent advantage in cargo revenue capacity.
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CHECK-IN & LOUNGE: This was the delivery flight of Qatar Airways’ first B787-800 aircraft to Doha International airport from Boeing’s Seattle airfield, so there was no lounge and simply a walk across the tarmac. THE SEAT: Qatar has its top business class seat on these aircraft – fully flat in a 1-2-1 configuration and only 22 seats. The seats are large, with a bed length of 80in, and a bed width of 30in. The whole aircraft has the advantage of larger windows (18.5in by 11in), allowing more light into the cabin and a great view. Larger overhead lockers allow
for bags to be stored more compactly. The aircraft also has a smoother ride, and is pressurised to around 6,000ft rather than the more usual 8,000ft. WORK & PLAY: The advanced (i8000) Thales IFE system is excellent, with a 17in screen, in-seat power taking US and UK plugs, and the On Air system for both wifi and mobile phone calls – the pricing is US$15 for 10 MB, US$35 for 35MB, though we were provided with vouchers. FOOD & DRINK: Qatar has four celebrity chefs who have created dishes for its in-flight
offering: Nobu Matsuhisa, Vineet Bhatia, Tom Aikens and Ramzi Choueiri. The wine list includes Billecart-Salmon champagne and a Château Brane-Cantenac Margaux. There’s also a long list of cocktails, mocktails, spirits and soft drinks, and the ability to make proper coffee, very welcome in the morning. VERDICT: The B787 is a lovely aircraft, clearly a step change for the aviation industry but also for passengers, if only for the large windows, lower pressurisation and all-round environmental improvements. Qatar Airways business class is outstanding.