Design firm Yellow Window has unveiled a beautiful new first class suite concept for Cathay Pacific. While not transformative, the elegance and simplicity of the design makes for a beautiful first class product.
Cathay Pacific New First Class
Cathay Pacific’s current first class cabin consists of six semi-enclosed suites onboard the Boeing 777-300ER in a 1-1-1 configuration. These features 81 inches of pitch and plenty of personal storage.
In 2013, Cathay Pacific ordered 21 new 777-9 from Boeing, with delivery slated to begin later this year. The program is delayed and will now not begin until 2025. That gives Cathay Pacific plenty of time to come up with a new first class design, even tough it has already spent seven years exploring the concept.
Among the design firms shortlisted to design the new product is Yellow Window, based in Belgium and France. It has recently unveiled its new design for first class, and I can only stay both concepts look stunning.
One option includes a four-seat cabin with beds adjacent to the seat, a bit like the Etihad Apartments or the old Lufthansa 747-400 first class. The four seats are actually close to one-another, but the design itself is unique and looks comfortable.
The second concept includes three seats across in a configuration with a couch along the side and what looks looks like a very wide bed in lie-flat mode. Rather than traditional doors or curtains, it appears this suite would have a garage-door-like privacy divider.
If the product reminds you of the 777 first class product on Air France, that is because Yellow Window also designed that seat, which Live and Let’s Fly has reviewed here. I personally think four seats across, with a honeymoon suite in the center section, represents better space utilization than just three across, though Emirates also only has three across in its fully-enclosed 777-300ER suites.
CONCLUSION
Now I don’t know about you, but the current Cathay Pacific first class suite is already one of my favorites due to its design and plush comfort. I understand the carrier wants a fresh look, but mood lighting, wooden tray tables, and new fabric are secondary to the first class soft product experience. I think passengers will easily be able to sleep in both the old and new suites. Cathay Pacific’s biggest challenge will be to continue to offer a culinary adventure and amazing flight attendants in an era of cutbacks.
Do you like the new Cathay Pacific first class seat?
(H/T: View from the Wing // images: Yellow Window)
I like the Yellow Window design, but do not like the first one. The seat is too far from the window and when in the seat, you would be quite close to your neighbor. Frankly, the current product is just fine.
Exactly my problems as well. Where’s the privacy when you’re super close to the aisle? Then there’s the problem with getting award space for these. I’ve approached different bloggers to use their booking services to book 2 Cathay first class saver award seats to or from the USA. I was basically told that getting 2 seats is impossible. If that’s the case with a 6 seat first class, getting even a single seat in the 4 seat configuration would be equally tough. What good is an aspirational product that’s insanely priced or impossible to fly?
Very rare to get two at a time, but I’d book one in F and one in J and hope a second F seat opens.
I genuinely appreciate the response. I’ve done that lots of times, always successfully, in the past but have read BA bloggers who say that Cathay doesn’t open up award space within 2 weeks anymore.
That is indeed the trend, but still worth trying. Do you have AMEX points you can transfer to AsiaMiles?
I do. My idea was that I’d book one set of flights with Alaska miles and book the second in J with Cathay miles, switching to F when close in. I’ve heard that Cathay opens up more space to their own members so I recently joined. Problem is, Cathay apparently isn’t opening F space close in and I want to travel with my wife. Previously I had a 100% success rate. I’d live with less than that but below 75% it’s not a good use of points for me.
No need for this. Use the money to upgrade the soft-product instead. F will only be viable on a handful of routes post Covid in any event.
I never seen a new seat/suite concept as pointless as these. It doesn’t provide anything new that current 1st class suites such as new Singapore suite, Emirates, Etihad Apartment not to mention the Etihad Residence which was introduced years ago provides. I don’t get the point of the open suite concept. I want private suite with fully closed door, nothing less. I will take Q suite over these if it means more availability. Or Delta One suite even.
Absolutely stunning, If this comes to be it’s now on my aspiration list up there with SQ Suites.
The only thing I would say is that the garage door looks clumsy and awkward. Really, a simple curtain like with Air France would be fine. But I guess with the seats being so close they needed a way to give privacy to solo travelers.
Way out of your league. A realistic aspiration for you would be a Big Front Seat on Spirit while holding a couple of BuzzBallz.
Cathay Pacific’s biggest challenge will be to survive.
There are no questions to CX’s survival, being 30% owned by CA literally means being owned by the CCP. They don’t let things die, just tie a string around you so tight you wished you’d died.
The top picture looks like a huge room but it really isn’t. Still, all the concepts are nice.
In the world of politics, the recent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be unable to enjoy this CX first class unless he flies the few CX TPE-Japan routes, if they offer it there, which is doubtful. Pompeo has a new lifetime ban from Hong Kong due to the mainland Chinese government putting him on their sanctions list.
Who cares? Seriously. no one cares. Not even Pompeo cares. Stop ruining the internet.
Meanwhile Joe and Hunter will be welcome with China with open arms.
So sorry. Let me know if deleting this would fix the internet and I will try to fix it.
I’m not a fan of the first design. It feels cramped looking down from above and I suspect that the the Ethiad Apartments it would actually be that comfortable in the seat. It doesn’t look like they left enough space to deeply recline the seat which to me is mandatory. It’s like they assume you will either sit full upright or be in the bed sleeping.
The second design is far more appealing. Yes I lament the lack of a paired Honeymoon seat but the upside is that the design looks like it would be very easy for two people to dine together. That design allows you to recline very comfortably if you wish and offers a generously sized bed when flat. Plus with a curtain or door you’d have all the Privacy you could want.
Holy cow I really need to edit before hitting post. That sentence should read
“and I suspect that like the the Ethiad Apartments it wouldn’t actually be that comfortable in the seat.”
None of the 2 new designs is appealing – at all.
1/ Let alone as some folks mentioned above that the seat is keeping you away from the windows but the very important aspect of privacy is actually removed. This is a big turn off.
2/ The gigantic seat offering is always one of the signature features in CX first class and this has boldly taken away from the new designs.
3/ The fully flat bed on the 4-window design looks good but privacy is still a big concern. Wondering how the bed will be laid flat on the 3-window design.
4/ The rolling shade from top to bottom is absolutely stunningly wried.
CX should look into what other airlines are doing and offering such as Singapore Airlines and Etihad and Emirate. Continuous improvement on seat designs is appreciated but should they be getting better and better! Sorry for my criticism but I am just saying whatever I have on my mind.