Not all short-haul flights are created equal—and Cathay Pacific’s A330 business class proves just how elevated regional travel can be. With lie-flat seating, full-service dining, and a flagship lounge experience beforehand, this quick hop from Hong Kong to Taipei packed in a surprising amount of luxury.
How I booked Cathay Pacific business class for 16,000 points
I’m always on the lookout for short-haul flights that punch above their weight—especially when they cost fewer points than a domestic economy ticket in the U.S
Thanks to Roame’s Cathay Pacific award alerts, you can snag a one-way business class seat from Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) for just 16,000 Asia Miles and ~$65 in taxes.
Yes, it’s a sub-two-hour flight. But it’s also a widebody aircraft with lie-flat seats, a proper lounge experience, and Cathay Pacific’s signature soft product.
Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
With a few hours to spare before my flights, I spent a lot of time in Cathay Pacific’s flagship: The Pier Business Class Lounge.
The space oozes Cathay's signature style—understated luxury with a sense of calm. The Tea House was a standout, offering curated brews served in an almost spa-like setting.
There’s also a made-to-order noodle & dim sum bar, shower suites, workstations, and cozy lounging areas that make it feel more boutique hotel than airport lounge.
Despite the short-haul nature of my flight, the ground experience elevated the entire journey. If you’re transiting HKG on a longer itinerary, this lounge is worth building extra time for. For a full breakdown, see our Cathay Pacific: The Pier Business Class Lounge Review. Cathay Pacific A330 Cabin & Seat
My aircraft was one of Cathay Pacific’s regional A330-300s, configured in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout in business class—an increasingly rare treat on short intra-Asia hops. While it’s not their flagship A350 or 777 product, it still felt premium.
Each seat offers direct aisle access and a fully lie-flat bed, with the same Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seat shell found on many of Cathay’s long-haul aircraft. The seat pitch is approximately 82 inches, while the seat width is a roomy 21 inches. When fully flat, the bed length clocks in at just under 78 inches—enough space for most passengers to stretch out comfortably.
Storage was decent for a short flight, with a side compartment for headphones and a water bottle, a large counter for personal items like a phone or passport, and a deep footwell that didn’t feel cramped when in lie-flat mode. A 15.4-inch touchscreen sat at eye level, and power and USB outlets were tucked conveniently next to the seat controls.
While the seat showed a bit of age it was still comfortable and offered sufficient privacy. For a regional business class seat on a 1-hour flight, this is about as good as it gets.
Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Entertainment and Amenities
Despite the quick hop to Taipei, Cathay doesn’t skimp on the inflight entertainment. Each seat had a personal 15.4-inch touchscreen, loaded with StudioCX, Cathay’s content portal. Think: dozens of movies, TV series, music, and even meditative content.
Noise-canceling headphones were distributed, and while not quite on par with Bose or Sony, they were more than enough to drown out engine hum for a quick sitcom binge or to check in on the latest Hong Kong cinema.
As expected for a short regional route, no amenity kits were provided.
The Cathay Pacific A330 Business Class Dining Experience
Cathay offered a full meal service, even on this hour-and-a-half flight—a great reminder of how premium short-haul flying can still be in Asia.
There were two options: a Western-style grilled prime Australian beef tenderloin with pommery mustard sauce or a traditional stir fried chicken with pickled younger ginger.
I decided to skip the meal because I ate too much at Cathay Pacific’s flagship The Pier Business Class Lounge in Hong Kong.
The cabin crew also offered Champagne, juices, and tea/coffee.
Sleep Experience
No, I didn’t need to lie flat for a 90 minute flight, but I did anyway—because I could. The seat reclines fully into a lie-flat bed, and although bedding wasn’t provided for this short sector, the seat padding was soft enough for a quick nap.
For a red-eye or longer hop to Japan or Southeast Asia, this same seat would be a solid bed in the sky.
Final Thoughts on Cathay's A330 Business Class – 8/10
For a 90 minute flight, Cathay Pacific’s A330 business class feels like a long-haul international flight from full meal service to lie-flat seats.
Yes, the seat’s starting to show some age, and it’s not the A350 or 777 flagship product, but for a short-haul flight, it’s honestly better than many long-haul business class experiences elsewhere.
My rating breakdown:
- Food Quality: 8/10
- Drinks Quality: 8/10
- Cleanliness: 10/10
- Cabin Design: 8/10
- Seat: 8/10
- Service: 8/10
For just 16,000 points, this flight is a fun way to experience lie-flat seating, a nice in-flight meal service, and Cathay's signature soft product. With
Roame’s award search and alerts, it was easy to find and book.
