Cathay Pacific’s New Premium Seats: What Passengers Get

A recent review found a clear difference between Cathay Pacific’s older A350 premium economy and its updated seats on a retrofitted 777.

Travel & PlacesOctober 16, 20263 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

Cathay Pacific’s updated premium economy is on some retrofitted Boeing 777s, while older premium economy seats remain on A350s serving the same Australia–Hong Kong routes. ¹
A reviewer who flew both versions described the 777 cabin as noticeably better, but the available source excerpt does not give enough detail to compare every comfort feature. ¹
The aircraft assigned to a flight can affect which seat design passengers get, so check aircraft and seat details for a specific booking. ¹
The sources offer no comparable fares for the cabins, so they do not show whether the updated seats cost more than older premium economy or how the price compares with other classes. ¹³

What are Cathay Pacific’s new premium economy seats?

Cathay Pacific has an updated premium economy cabin on retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft. Passengers may also encounter the older cabin design on other aircraft. ¹

A reviewer flew four long-haul legs, two in the older A350 cabin and two in the updated 777 cabin. The reviewer preferred the 777 version, but the available source excerpt does not describe every design change or provide a complete feature-by-feature comparison. ¹

How much more space do the new seats provide?

The source gives measurements for the older A350 cabin: 28 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout, with each seat measuring 18.5 inches, or about 47 centimetres, wide. It also reports 40 inches, or about 102 centimetres, between rows. ¹

These measurements apply to the older A350 cabin, not the updated 777. The available information does not state the 777 seat’s width or row spacing, so it cannot establish exactly how much extra room the new design provides. ¹

Will every Cathay Pacific flight have the new seats?

No. The review says both A350 and 777 aircraft serve Cathay Pacific’s Sydney–Hong Kong and Melbourne–Hong Kong routes. Which aircraft operates a flight affects whether passengers get the older or updated seat design. ¹

The route alone therefore does not identify the cabin version. Check the aircraft and seat information for the specific flight. The source does not explain how often aircraft assignments change. ¹

Does the seat upgrade mean a higher ticket price?

The sources do not compare fares for the older and updated cabins, or give a price comparison between premium economy, economy and business class. They therefore cannot show what passengers pay for the new design. ¹³

A separate promotion reported for Singapore-originating trips offered S$50 off eligible return tickets to Hong Kong and mainland China. It covered bookings made October 15–31, 2026, for travel through March 31, 2027, with December excluded. The offer included economy, premium economy and business fares, but not every premium economy fare was listed. It does not establish the usual price of the updated seats. ³

What should passengers check before booking?

Check the cabin and aircraft information for the exact flight. The review found a difference between Cathay Pacific’s premium economy cabins on different aircraft, including aircraft used on the same routes. ¹

Also check the terms of the fare you are considering. The reviewer reports that premium economy passengers with a Flex fare could bring two checked bags, each weighing up to 23 kilograms, plus a 7-kilogram cabin bag and a small personal item. Those details refer to the fare described in the review and may not apply to every ticket. ¹

What we don't know yet

The available source excerpt does not give the updated 777 seat’s width, row spacing or a complete list of comfort features. ¹
It does not state how many aircraft have received the updated cabin or when any retrofit work will be complete. ¹
The sources do not compare fares for the different premium economy designs or other cabin classes. ¹³
The sources do not explain whether aircraft assignments may change after booking. ¹

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Questions people ask

Does Cathay Pacific have new premium economy seats?

Yes. A review reports an updated premium economy cabin on some retrofitted Boeing 777s. Older seats remain on A350s serving some of the same Australia–Hong Kong routes. ¹

Are Cathay Pacific’s new seats on all flights to Hong Kong?

No. The review says both A350s and 777s serve the Sydney–Hong Kong and Melbourne–Hong Kong routes. The aircraft used determines which premium economy design is on board. ¹

How wide are Cathay Pacific premium economy seats?

The review reports that older A350 premium economy seats are 18.5 inches, or about 47 centimetres, wide. It does not give the width of the updated 777 seat. ¹

Are Cathay Pacific premium economy seats worth the extra cost?

The sources provide no comparable prices, so they cannot show whether the fare is worth the added cost. One reviewer preferred the updated 777 cabin to the older A350 version, but that is not a price comparison. ¹

How can I tell which Cathay Pacific seat I will get?

Look at the aircraft and seat information for the specific flight. The review says aircraft with different premium economy designs can operate on the same routes. ¹

Sources

Same airline, two different premium economies (one noticeably superior) — SMH Traveller, 2026-10-12
Cathay Pacific gives Singapore travelers S$50 flight discount — InsideFlyer, 2026-10-15

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