Cathay Pacific Business Class SIN to HKG Review (A350, Vegetarian Meal)

⚡ Quick Verdict

👉 Worth it if you value comfort and service—but not for the food alone.

• 🪑 Seat Comfort: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  
• 🍽️ Food (Vegetarian): ⭐⭐☆☆☆  (decent, but not memorable)
• 😊 Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆  
• 🧼 Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆  
• 💰 Value for Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆  
• 💡 Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.6/5)

Great business class experience overall, but vegetarian meals are just “good enough”—not a highlight.

✈️ Compare Flights (SIN → Hong Kong)

Before booking Cathay Pacific, always compare prices—sometimes premium cabins go on sale. Business class fares on this route can vary significantly depending on timing.

👉 Check latest fares here:
👉 Compare Flights on Trip.com

✈️ Flight Overview

• Airline: Cathay Pacific
• Route: Singapore (SIN) → Hong Kong (HKG)
• Flight number: CX692, 0640hrs-1040hrs
• Aircraft type: A350-900.
• Registration: B-LRO (May 2017 delivery)
• Airport Terminal: Changi Airport Terminal 4
• Duration: ~4 hours
• Cabin: Business Class

This is a short regional flight, but still long enough to experience a full business class service.

✈️ Check-in Experience (Singapore Changi Terminal 4)

Changi Airport Terminal 4 is one of the most modern and efficient terminals in Singapore.

My flight was scheduled to depart at 6:40am, and I arrived at the airport around 5:00am. Despite the early morning timing, the entire check-in process was smooth and quick.

You can choose between:

• Self check-in kiosks
• Traditional counter check-in

I opted for the counter, and within 5 minutes, I received both my boarding pass and lounge invitation.

It was a quiet Sunday morning, duty free shops were empty and the Christmas 🎄 decorations were lovely.

After strolling around for a bit I went to the mezzanine floor where Cathay Pacific lounge was located. 

The lounge was pretty quiet in the morning as well so I sat there for a bit before making my way to the gate.

🛫 Boarding Experience

Boarding had already begun by the time I arrived at Gate G18, which was about a 7-minute walk from the Cathay Pacific lounge.

The process was quick and efficient—my boarding pass was scanned, and I was on my way to the aircraft within minutes.

📰 First Impressions

At the gate, there was a good selection of newspapers available. I picked up a copy of The Straits Times, and shortly after boarding, I was warmly greeted by a flight attendant who directed me to my seat, 14A.

By the time I settled in, most business class passengers were already onboard—it was a full cabin.

🍹 Welcome Service

Within minutes of taking my seat:

• A welcome drink was offered
• Followed by a warm towel

Everything felt prompt, polished, and very much in line with what you’d expect from Cathay Pacific.

🪑 Cabin Experience (AvGeek Perspective)

Cathay Pacific’s business class cabin remains one of the most consistent and well-regarded products in Asia.

• 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout
• Direct aisle access for every seat
• Fully flat bed (on selected aircraft)

🪟 Window Alignment (A350 Quirk)

One commonly discussed issue on the Airbus A350 is the misaligned window seats—and I can confirm this firsthand.

Seats like 14A and 14K are slightly offset from the window.

That said, it’s not a dealbreaker:

• During take-off and landing, you can still lean towards the window for a view
• Once airborne, reclining your seat naturally aligns your position with the window

It’s a minor annoyance, but manageable if you know what to expect.

🔧 AvGeek Seat Choice (Engine Views 👀)

I deliberately chose the front cabin because I wanted a clear view of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines—one of the highlights of flying the A350.

Initially, only seats in the mini cabin were available. However, as the departure date got closer, more seats opened up and I managed to switch to a window seat in the forward cabin.

💡 Pro tip:
Check the seat map frequently via the Cathay Pacific app—especially in the last 48 hours before departure. Seats often open up closer to the flight.

🎯 Best Seats for Views

If you’re after engine views:

• Rows 15 or 16 offer a better angle of the engines
• Forward cabin = quieter and more exclusive feel

Even though this is a relatively short flight, the seat still offers a noticeable upgrade over economy—especially for comfort and privacy.

It was a fairly early flight and the windows were still wet. I was a bit worried that there will not be a nice view during take off but the windows cleared itself up eventually as the plane moved.

The IFE screen is not as sharp as I’d like, I think Singapore’s premium economy screen is much better. There were loads of movies or series to choose from, I watched Lion King the movie and the moved on to enjoy cloud-surfing.

Here are a couple of view from my seat when I put the bed flat. I felt that there is decent privacy in these seats.

On board camera is what I love as an #avgeek. The top camera did not work on my flight so the front camera will do.

🍽️ Vegetarian Meal Review

🥗 Pre-Ordered Vegetarian Meal

As a vegetarian, I pre-selected my meal in advance.

The meal included:

• Starter
• Main course (vegetarian)
• Bread + butter
• Dessert
• Beverage service

🍴 Taste & Quality

The meal was:

• Well presented
• Balanced in flavour
• Not overly heavy

That said—it’s still airline catering.

🌱 Vegetarian Experience (Honest Take)

A simple breakfast that tasted bland and kailan looked pretty dead. Some of the rice noodle were hard too. I finished the rice noodle though. 

🍷 Service & Overall Experience

Cathay Pacific delivers a polished and professional service:

• Attentive cabin crew
• Proper meal presentation
• Smooth service flow

Even on a short route, it still feels premium.

⚖️ Cathay vs Other Airlines (SIN → HKG)

👉 Check Flight Prices on Trip.com

Lavatory 🚻

I had too much liquid while I was in lounge and that triggered me to use the washroom as soon as the seat belt sign turned off after take off.

Cathay uses Bamford toiletries products, there was a cleanser and lotion on the site of the counter. There is no mouthwash like Singapore Airlines offer though they do provide mouthwash in their long haul amenity kit.

✈️ Final Thoughts

Overall, this was a smooth and uneventful flight with Cathay Pacific—on time departure, on time arrival, and a comfortable journey throughout.

As an avgeek, this was also a special experience for me. My first flight on the Airbus A350 was with Singapore Airlines in economy class, so this was my first time experiencing business class on the A350—and it definitely delivered.

• The lie-flat seat was comfortable
• The cabin felt premium
• Service was attentive and personalised

📶 Stay Connected in Hong Kong

I used my mobile carrier’s roaming since but if your mobile carrier does not offer good roaming rate, avoid expensive roaming—get your data sorted before arrival. – Get Hong Kong eSIM

🚄 Getting from Hong Kong Airport to the City

24 minutes, the fastest and most convenient way to get into the city is by airport transfer or train. Saves time and avoids confusion after landing. Skip the queue book your transfer here.

🌱 Vegetarian Meal – The Weak Link

Where I feel there is clear room for improvement is the vegetarian meal.

Cathay Pacific emphasises the importance of inflight dining, but based on my experience:

• Presentation was average
• Taste was underwhelming

To be very honest— Even a typical Singapore food court stall could probably do a better job with something like fried rice noodles.

That said, this isn’t unique to Cathay Pacific. In my experience, most airlines still struggle with special meals, especially vegetarian options.

Would I fly Cathay Pacific again?

Yes—without hesitation.

• As an avgeek → excellent aircraft and seat
• As a passenger → reliable and comfortable experience
• As a vegetarian → acceptable, but not a highlight It’s still a very pleasant way to travel between Singapore and Hong Kong.