Cathay Pacific’s flagship long-haul business class usually means hours in the air — but on the short Hong Kong-Seoul hop, it’s pure indulgence with zero jet lag.
Airline: Cathay Pacific | Route: Hong Kong-Seoul Incheon | Aircraft: A350 | Rating:★★★★☆
I think most of you will agree, there’s a particular pleasure in flying long-haul business class on a short-haul route. Cathay Pacific operates a mix of aircraft between Hong Kong and Seoul, and on a recent midweek departure I was fortunate enough to find myself aboard the A350-900, the airline’s flagship wide-body and home to its most celebrated business class product. Four hours of flat-bed luxury between two of Asia’s great cities. I could get used to this.
Check-In and The Pier Lounge
I checked in via the Cathay Pacific app as I boarded the Airport Express at Hong Kong Station, arriving at the airport 25 minutes later with nothing to do but clear immigration and make my way to The Pier, Cathay’s first class lounge and, in my view, one of the finest airline lounges in the region (although it now has stiff competition).
The space is thoroughly modern and genuinely considered. The Pantry offers grab-and-go grazing — cold cuts, cheeses, pastries — while the elegant dining room serves an à la carte menu developed by Rosewood as part of a new healthy eating collaboration. Shower suites are luxurious, work spaces are quiet, and the day bed suites at The Retreat offer something close to genuine respite. I opted for a 15-minute head-and-shoulders massage before settling in at The Bar for a pre-flight martini, which, in my mind, is an entirely reasonable way to begin any journey.
Boarding and the Seat
We boarded at Gate 41 — a short walk from The Pier at Gate 62 — with smooth priority access for business class passengers and elite oneworld members. There were no crew at the door as I boarded, though glasses of Ayala Brut Majeur champagne and hot face towels followed swiftly once seated, alongside a bottle of water and the menu. The pilot advised a four-hour flight time, and we pushed back and took off for Seoul perfectly on schedule at 4.40 pm.
Long-haul Cathay regulars will recognise the cabin immediately: 38 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, each upholstered in a deep, elegant green. The seat itself is 20 inches wide with a 45-inch pitch, and offers exactly the right balance of privacy and functionality. Storage is generous, the 18.5-inch touchscreen is crisp and responsive, and the separate handset — with its own 4.7-inch display — keeps the seat controls intuitive.
The additional AC and USB outlets, noise-reduction headphones, and easy seat controls complete the picture. I brought my own Bose QC45s, as I always do, but the provided headphones are more than serviceable.
Dining
I began, as is tradition, with a gin and tonic and warm nuts as I browsed the film selection. A seasonal mixed salad with olive oil and balsamic was followed by a beautifully chilled scallop tataki with salmon roe that turned out to be a highlight of the meal.
For mains, I was torn between the braised chicken in soy bean sauce — a Cathay signature created in collaboration with Hong Kong institution Duddell’s — and the pan-fried halibut, though nearly every passenger around me (myself included) opted for the Korean bibimbap.
It proved to be a solid choice, if perhaps deserving of a more refined presentation given its clear popularity on this route. The meal closed with a selection of international cheeses, seasonal fruit, a modest pot of Häagen-Dazs and a perfectly made double espresso.
Entertainment and Connectivity
As a frequent Cathay flyer, finding something fresh in the entertainment library is an ongoing challenge; the selection, while decent, doesn’t lean heavily into classics the way some carriers do, and for me, there’s nothing like tried-and-true flicks like Die Hard to ease you through a flight. I settled on a few episodes of Modern Family and was perfectly content. For those who need to work, the A350 carries Cathay’s fastest in-flight Wi-Fi.
Service
The crew were professional and warm throughout. My cabin attendant, Vanessa, was a particular pleasure; she was attentive without being overbearing, smiled genuinely, and was diligent in keeping glasses topped up through the meal service until descent began.
The Verdict
Cathay Pacific’s A350 business class remains one of the strongest products in the sky, and experiencing it on the Hong Kong–Seoul route is something of a luxury cheat code: a world-class seat, exceptional lounge access and a full meal service, delivered in four hours and with no jet lag at the other end. If you have the choice of aircraft on this route, take the A350 without hesitation.
Cathay Pacific operates multiple daily flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Seoul Incheon (ICN).
