First Class is only available on the following long-haul aircraft configurations, and there is only ONE type of First Class seat:
Olympus seats (suites)
74A, 74K, 77H
Note that even though your regional flight may be operated by a three-class long-haul aircraft, First Class may not be sold. See section 4.3 for information about how to get a First Class seat on a Business Class ticket in these circumstances.
QuickGlance at this section's questions
3.1 Is there any difference between First Class suites and service on the 77H series versus the 74A/74K?
3.2 What are the notable features of the new Olympus First Class suite?
3.3 Which are the best First Class seats?
3.4 What amenities are provided in First Class?
3.5 What are my dining options in First Class?
3.6 Which flights have caviar service?
3.1 Is there any difference between First Class suites and service on the 77H (777-300ER) series versus the 74A/74K (747-400)?
No. As between the Olympus First Class suites, they are the same across both types of aircraft.
There has been spirited debate about the merits of the 777-300ER First Class cabin in comparison to the 747. Generally, the consensus appears to be that there is no beating the privacy and spaciousness of the nose area on the 747, and the spacious (windowed) toilets on the 747 compared to the 777-300ERs.
3.2 What are the notable features of the new Olympus First Class suite?
A full rundown of the seat can be found on the Cathay Pacific website, which even offers a virtual tour. You can expect the usual bells and whistles: a full-flat bed, a (narrowish) buddy seat so you can dine with someone else in the cabin, duvet and bed making service etc. Each seat also has a personal closet in which you can hang your clothes/jacket, store your shoes and where your sleep pad and duvet are stored.
Unlike other airlines, the seats do not have doors but the design of the shell around the seat means that once seated in your suite, you have to make a considerable effort to see what other people are doing in the seats around you. This makes it very easy for the crew to suddenly appear without you ever being aware of them approaching!
All overhead lockers have been removed from Olympus F cabins. There is space for your carry-on luggage underneath the buddy seat.
Arguably the best feature on the 747 aircraft are the spacious toilets located behind each of doors 1L and 1R.
3.3 Which are the best First Class seats?
Opinions vary but here is a quick rundown on the pros and cons.
74A
1A, 1K
Most private (least foot traffic). Probably the best seats for couples as there are no paired seats in the 74A or 74K cabin. Note that due to space constraints, the PTV in these seats must be latched to one side for taxi, takeoff and landing.
2A, 2K
Widest separation between seats. Not a lot of foot traffic.
3A, 3K
Similar to 2A and 2K. However, rather than having empty space between the seats, the credenza in front of 4D forms a ‘barrier’ between 3A and 3K.
4A, 4K
Bassinet seats and closest to the galley.
4D
The only seat in the cabin without a window. Note that the PTV must be latched to one side for taxi, takeoff and landing.
77H
1A, 1K, 2A and 2K are essentially the same seat. Similarly 1D and 2D are similar to each other.
Row 1 is obviously closer to the galley so may be slightly noisier during meal times. Note that although labelled “D” seats, the egress for suites 1D and 2D are actually on the right-hand aisle (i.e. the same aisle as 1K and 2K). This means that theoretically 1A and 2A should have less foot traffic. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that this is compensated for by cabin crew using the left-hand aisle when they need to access the forward galley.
3.4 What amenities are provided in First Class?
In
long haul First Class, passengers are provided with an amenity kit and a Shanghai Tang pyjama kit (with slippers and eyeshade). The amenity kits contain three or four small tubes of lotions and lip balm (exact details of which depend on the gender of the kit), and a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and comb.
Duvets will be given, often along with an offer to make up your bed with a mattress underlay, usually after the first meal service. The crew will of course be happy to do this earlier on request. Lambswool blankets are also available on request.
Water bottles are automatically provided after the first meal service for passengers on long-haul flights.
3.5 What are my dining options in First Class?
There is considerable flexibility in First Class and indeed the menu invites you to dine whenever you wish. This means that you should not feel compelled to dine the “traditional” way (right after departure and a couple of hours before landing) if you do not want to. Simply inform the cabin crew of your dining preferences. As an example, if your flight leaves at 4:30 pm, you might choose to defer the first meal service until three hours into the flight as a “dinner” service. Alternatively, you might wish to have something from the second meal for your first meal, or vice versa. This flexibility is obviously more difficult to deliver on shorter flights.
This thread contains First Class menu transcripts for recent flights.
On Olympus aircraft, you have the option of dining with another person seated in the FCL cabin in the suite’s buddy seat. However, you may
not invite someone else from a lower cabin, so please do not ask.
3.6 Which flights have caviar service?
Caviar is offered on long-haul first class flights with the exception of the following flights: CX888 (YVR-JFK leg) and CX889 (JFK-YVR leg) or on any short or medium haul regional flights. Please note the change to CX889 JFK-YVR-HKG which used to serve caviar ex-JFK and not ex-YVR - this has now changed to serving caviar ex-YVR and not ex-JFK.