Here are 3 tidbits that surprised me about Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suite

I recently had the privilege of participating in the presentation of Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites in London.

This event coincided with the debut of first 777/300 fitted out with new cabins at London Heatrow Airport, where as of now one of the 3 daily flights Cathay Pacific operates to Hong Kong will be operated with the new cabins, which I recall in addition to the new Business Class also offer the new Premium Economy experience and the tourist class, awarded last year as the best in the world.

Of the business class we had already seen everything in October when it was unveiled in Hong Kong, has since flown around medium-haul to allow crews to familiarize themselves with the new cabins, and now it is time for long-haul.

A small premise

We will not see these booths in Milan or Rome. Today CX flies a 777 to Malpensa, but we will have to wait until at least 2027 to hope to see these cabins on the route that has connected the two cities for 15 years. It will not even get to Rome where Cathay is set to return after a 5-year hiatus during summer 2025.

The main features of the Aria Suite

The new suites offer a level of privacy unprecedented in Cathay Pacific's current offering. Each suite has sliding doors that provide a personal and quiet environment. This allows passengers to relax or work uninterrupted and away from prying eyes.

Each suite is equipped with the latest technological innovations, including high-definition screens, Bluetooth connectivity and customized entertainment options.

The design of the suites has been thoughtfully designed to provide maximum comfort. From the fully reclining seats to the high-quality materials, every detail has been taken care of to make travel comfortable.

Three tidbits I hadn't yet seen aboard business class

The first feature, which is also the most important, is. the hidden compartment under the coffee table. Those who read my reviews know in detail what are the features I look for in a business class seat: the ability to keep my most precious items such as passport, wallet, and phone safe is essential.

In the airplane, unfortunately, everything happens, if there are those who can safely cross all the booths to have sex in first class, let alone how long it takes to steal a pair of headphones. That is why I like the space under the coffee table even more than the small compartment in the seat structure.

The second function, which I obviously could not test, is the fact that From the screen, business class passengers can see which bathrooms are free at that time. It's a no-brainer, but it's one of those technological innovations that costs little and makes travel more comfortable.

The third caveat that I appreciated is that Cathay included a Support for mobile devices in business class tables, perfect for those who want to look at the tablet during the flight and not the 24″ mega screen.

In conclusion

The old business class will continue to fly, Because not all 777s will be renewed. On A350s, however, these seats will never arrive, while for see the new First Class will have to wait for the arrival of the 777x (if and when they come). CX has worked well, improving an already top product and making it different from the rest of the carriers.

• asia miles