At Cathay Pacific, Premium Economy Class is what many refer to as “economy plus”. In the new cabin configuration of the 777-300ER (77J), the number of Premium Economy seats has been increased to 48, more than in other aircraft configurations. This adjustment has also prompted a redesign of many details and features.
The cabin seats are configured in a 2-4-2 layout.
Enhanced Privacy: Side panels around the headrest provide extra privacy.
Improved Comfort: Offers a larger seat pitch and greater recline angle than Economy Class, with an adjustable headrest for a more comfortable resting experience.
High-Resolution Entertainment: Equipped with a 15.6-inch 4K resolution personal TV screen.
Advanced Entertainment System: Allows connection to personal Bluetooth headphones and displays the real-time status of lavatory availability.
Ample Storage: Includes storage spaces under the screen, beneath the armrest, and between the front seats.
Dedicated Lavatories: Two lavatories exclusively for Premium Economy passengers, with availability displayed on the entertainment system.
Charging Options: Features a 45W Type-C port, a Type-A port, and an international power outlet for charging devices.
Special Seat Note: Seats 33A and 33K lack windows.
Cathay Pacific 777-300ER (77J) Seat Map
Premium Economy Class: Cabin Space
The cabin seats are arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration.At the very rear of the cabin, the decorative panel showcases Cathay Pacific’s corporate logo, the “Brushwing.”
Each seat in the cabin is equipped with side panels around the headrest, offering additional privacy for passengers. This design helps create a more enclosed and personal space, enhancing comfort during the flight.The TV screen in each seat is a 15.6-inch 4K display, offering high-resolution visuals for an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience.Even in the last row, the seats are designed to retain a reclining function, allowing passengers in this section to still enjoy a comfortable position for relaxation during the flight. This feature helps maintain comfort across the entire cabin, including the rear section. Overall cabin space for Premium Economy ClassTwo-seat space.
Premium Economy Class: Special Seats.
The screen in the first row of Premium Economy is not installed on the armrest but is mounted on the wall.The infant bassinet installation locations in Premium Economy are at the first row, 30AC/30HK. The central DEFG seats do not have space for bassinets (these are placed in Economy Class).The 30th row AK seats have a window, but due to the air conditioning ducts, there is a larger cabin wall space between these seats and the 31st row.On the other side, looking at the 30th row K seat.
The last row can fully recline.Row 33 on the left side has no windows.Row 33 on the right side has no windows.
Premium Economy Class: Seat Features
Seat Number Plaque
每個座位的走道側都標示了這個座位的號碼銘板
Reading Light
Reading Light on Headrest Side PanelSimply push the light out to use it; no additional switch is required.
Armrest Space
In the middle seats of each row (seats E and F), the armrest is divided to provide dedicated space for each passenger on either side. This ensures personal space for both travelers. For other seats, the armrest area is designed to store the foldable tray table, so this specific separation feature is not implemented.Each seat has additional personal storage space located beneath the armrest. This storage area is equipped with independent lighting, making it easier to access items in dim cabin conditions.
More personal storage space.
There is a designated space at the front for placing water bottles, making it easy to access them when resting.The coat hook is located on the side panel of the seat in front.There is an additional storage tray beneath the screen that can be used to place small items.
Charging Facilities
In the armrest space, there is a 45W USB-C charging port, providing passengers with a fast and efficient way to charge their devices during the flight.
Another charging location is situated in front of the armrest. Above it is the headphone jack, while below is the charging area, offering passengers easy access to power for their devices during the flight.In front of the armrest, there is a Type-A USB charging port as well as an international power outlet, allowing passengers to plug in and charge their devices conveniently during the flight.
The seat control has three buttons, arranged from top to bottom: seat recline control, leg rest, and tray table. On the side is the entertainment system remote, which is generally unnecessary since the system can be fully controlled via the touchscreen.
Jesse, at 183 cm tall, is considered very large, and there is still plenty of space around his legs, providing a comfortable amount of room even for someone of his size.The leg rest and footrest in Premium Economy Class are designed for easy adjustment. The footrest can be lowered simply by pressing down, without the need for additional controls. This feature enhances comfort, allowing passengers to rest their legs during the flight.The leg rest and footrest in the first row of seats are designed as a combined unit. For other rows, the footrest is located beneath the seat in front. This design allows for easy leg support, providing added comfort during the flight. Photo source: Cathay Pacific.From this photo, you can observe the differences in reclining angles between the seats, as well as the adjustable height of the headrest. These features contribute to a more personalized and comfortable seating experience, allowing passengers to tailor the seat’s position to their preferred level of comfort. The reclining function offers varying degrees of tilt, and the headrest’s height adjustment helps support different neck positions for added relaxation during the flight.The headrest in Premium Economy Class features adjustable sides that can be folded inward, providing more complete support for the head during rest. This design ensures a more comfortable sleeping or resting position by enhancing neck and head support, helping passengers to relax even more effectively during the flight.
Jesse, at 183 cm tall with a large build, can comfortably find a resting angle in the seat due to the adjustable features like the reclining angle and customizable headrest. The spacious seat design, including the adjustable headrest side panels, offers ample support for both the head and neck, making it easier for passengers of larger stature to relax and rest during the flight.The footrest in Premium Economy Class offers multiple adjustable angles, allowing passengers to find the most comfortable position for their legs. This flexibility enhances relaxation by accommodating different preferences for leg support. Whether you’re looking for a slight elevation or a more extended position, the footrest can be tailored to suit your comfort needs during the flight.The seat’s footrest support is positioned in the middle of the aisle seats, a design common in many Premium Economy cabins. This layout ensures ample space for leg comfort without obstructing movement in the aisle. The width is typically wide enough that it does not interfere with the passenger’s use of the footrest, offering an optimal balance of comfort and functionality. Many airlines adopt this design in their Premium Economy sections to provide better support and comfort, especially on longer flights.By pressing the tray table button, the table pops out automatically, a design improvement over older models. This new design eliminates the need to reach or stretch to retrieve the tray, providing greater ease of use and convenience. The table is designed to slide out smoothly, enhancing the overall comfort of the seating area without interrupting the passenger’s space. This streamlined feature is especially useful for maintaining a more organized and efficient seating layout in Premium Economy.In addition to the tray table built into the seat, there are extra cup holder spaces located on the central armrest and in the space in front of the armrest. These holders provide convenient places to store drinks, ensuring that passengers have easy access to beverages without cluttering their immediate area. This thoughtful design helps keep the seating area organized and adds to the overall comfort during the flight.
Personal Entertainment System:
The entertainment system in Cathay Pacific’s Premium Economy Class is highly customized, offering a streamlined and intuitive interface. Controls and settings are located at the top of the screen for easy access.
A notable feature is the collaboration with Disney+, providing an extensive range of content. The interface allows passengers to adjust subtitles and audio settings directly within the video, minimizing the number of steps required for setup.
Another standout feature of this version of the system is the ability to view the status of the lavatories. The system uses a red-green light indicator, similar to the Wi-Fi status, offering a clear and intuitive way to see if a restroom is in use or available.
Additionally, passengers can connect their own headphones to the system. When doing so, like with other airlines, the Public Announcement (PA) system’s audio is excluded, so only the media sound is transmitted to the headphones.
The screen is designed to be adjustable to complement the seat’s reclining angle. When the seat in front of you reclines, you can adjust the screen for a more comfortable viewing experience, ensuring that you can watch media without obstruction, even when the seat ahead is in a fully reclined position. This design provides added flexibility and improves the overall entertainment experience for passengers.You can connect your own Bluetooth headphones.The system can display the number and locations of available restrooms. This feature uses an intuitive red-green light system to indicate the status of the restrooms, allowing passengers to easily check which restrooms are currently in use or available. This design provides a clear, real-time view of restroom availability without the need for constant monitoring or guesswork.
The Wi-Fi and restroom statuses are displayed in the top-right corner of the screen using a red-green light icon system. This intuitive design allows passengers to easily monitor the status of Wi-Fi, restrooms, lighting, service bell, and other features at a glance. The icon system makes it straightforward to check the availability of key services during the flight.Due to the onboard cameras, during takeoff and landing, passengers can view the Airshow screen, which displays real-time information such as speed, altitude, and external conditions. This feature provides an immersive and informative flying experience, offering a visual connection to the journey’s progress and the surrounding environment.
Cabin Entertainment System Operational Video.
Premium Economy: Restrooms
The restroom design in Premium Economy is entirely new, with a simple yet warm design for the countertops. The material chosen avoids the cold, industrial feel of stainless steel, adding a touch of warmth to the space. Additionally, the lighting system has been upgraded to a more gentle, gradual illumination. This approach minimizes the visual impact of transitioning from the relatively dark cabin into the restroom, as the lights gradually brighten instead of suddenly flashing on, reducing any discomfort caused by abrupt changes in brightness. This design aims to enhance passenger comfort, particularly when using the restroom during night flights or after the cabin lights are dimmed.The garbage bin lid in the restroom has been redesigned to operate with a pedal mechanism, allowing passengers to open it without having to touch the lid. This hands-free feature enhances hygiene by minimizing contact, making it more convenient for passengers to dispose of waste. This thoughtful design aligns with the overall effort to improve cleanliness and user comfort in the restroom.
The toilet flush button has also been upgraded to a contactless sensor design. This feature allows for a more hygienic experience, as passengers can activate the flush without needing to physically touch the button. This change contributes to the overall emphasis on cleanliness and convenience in the restroom, aligning with the touchless features like the pedal-operated trash can lid.In line with the overall cabin upgrade, even the restroom indicator lights have been redesigned. These updated lights provide clearer guidance and a more modern look, enhancing the restroom experience by ensuring passengers can easily locate the facilities. The lighting system is in harmony with the other design changes, contributing to a more cohesive and user-friendly environment throughout the cabin, including the restrooms.
Premium Economy: Reference Photo Perspective
In Premium Economy, since the engine is located right beside the seating area, photos taken from certain angles will often include the engine in the frame. For example, in Jesse’s seat 32A, the reference perspective would likely show a view of the engine outside the window, offering an interesting contrast between the internal cabin space and the exterior view.
Taipei-Hong Kong Route Meal
Because it is a route between Taipei and Hong Kong, the Premium Economy Class service is not fully provided. Instead, it follows the same service as Economy Class. The meal is the same as in Economy Class, and there are differentiations in services only on long-haul flights.
This time, on the 2024/11 Taipei to Hong Kong flight, the meal provided at Taipei departure was a “gua zai rou fan” (braised pork rice), supplied by Huashan Catering. The meal offerings vary depending on the time and route, and this is a simple hot meal typically served on the Taipei-Hong Kong short-haul flight. For long-haul routes, the meal offerings are differentiated.
This article is a collaboration with Cathay Pacific, and all content is based on actual on-site experiences.
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