Cathay Pacific to upgrade business class, first class sleep service
By David Flynn, June 24 2019
Cathay Pacific is set to roll out an upgraded 'sleep service' on long-range flights, with mattresses and slippers – but not pyjamas – for business class passengers.
First class flyers will reportedly be treated to an even thicker mattress topper, while amenity kits for both first class and business class are also in line for a refresh.
All this is due to land in October 2019, according to The South China Morning Post, and comes as the Oneworld airline steadily marches towards the debut of all-new business class seats and first class suites on its Boeing 777-9 jets from 2021.
Approached for comment by Executive Traveller, a Cathay Pacific spokesperson declined to comment specifically on the new business class sleep service but admitted that "as part of our promise to 'move beyond' for our customers, we will be introducing an enhanced business class experience later this year. More details will be announced soon."
Many travellers find that when transformed into a flat bed, Cathay Pacific’s business class seats are a little too firm – leading some savvy flyers ask for a second duvet use as a makeshift mattress to add an extra layer of cushioning.
Cathay trialled business class 'mattress pads' in late 2017 on selected flights from Hong Kong to London and Chicago, with one Executive Traveller reader telling us it definitely made for a more comfortable sleep.
The mattress was "very similar to what Qantas has in quality and thickness, but is white instead of grey and wrapped with the duvet and waiting for you when you boarded," recounted Nicole Tsyon of her flight from Hong Kong to London Gatwick.
Read more: The sleep test – Cathay Pacific's new business class mattress
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
Always a positive experience if you can improve sleep quality on a fli
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
Good to see CX continuing to raise its standards. Its second-gen flatbed business class was top of the class when it came out in 2011, the A350 refresh of this was a good update but so many airlines are catching up and overtaking them. Sleep-oriented improvements are a solid addition to the overall Cathay business class proposition. I think PJs would be great on top of this, although on most of my overnight CX flights I see at least half of the passengers bring their own.
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 73
Yes the more airlines offer it the better. All too often the seats are lovely at fully flat position it sometimes feels like You are sleeping on a carpet.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2014
Total posts 22
Never have a real problem with Cx hard offering. The long haul (all I do with cx really) has been good and i get good hours of sleep...I do wish they would do PJs in J though.. I hate getting off an 8 hour flight wearing the same clothes I have been wearing for the 12 hours. Stinky!
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 315
Sweet. Have an Oneworld Award booked starting in December. First flights are CX J, PER-JFK. I look forward to this addition.
11 Nov 2017
Total posts 11
I had a revelation last month; in Cathay Business. I used to fly the kangaroo route, annually, in economy. And I would worry myself sick about sleep, hydration, jet-lag etc, trying to optimise my condition on arrival. But it took me 6 years in business class to realise that I don't need to measure how many minutes I have slept or try to time my meals/movies/drinks. In fact, I don't even take temazepam any more!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Feb 2017
Total posts 10
Really, given how much business class costs, how much does pyjamas really cost.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Feb 2015
Total posts 124
Do you know when this will actually be implemented?
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 315
Anyone experienced this new service yet?
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