Cathay Pacific’s swanky Aria Suite will make its big US debut next month
It’s one of the most alluring new airline seats in the world — and it’s set for its U.S. debut next month.Beginning in January, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific will begin flying its brand-new Aria Suites to the U.S.The spiffy lie-flat business-class cabin — currently rolling out on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet — will appear on Cathay’s nonstop flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).That news came from Cindy Lam, Cathay’s senior vice president for the Americas, while speaking at the Skift Aviation Forum in Fort Worth on Wednesday.Read more: Cathay Pacific just launched its stunning Aria Suites in North America — and we got an inside lookELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUYIt’s an exciting new development for travelers who can get past the eye-popping cost of the luxurious, new onboard suites — or who have enough miles for a transpacific redemption.Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites: What to knowCathay’s new Aria product includes sliding privacy doors and 24-inch 4K entertainment screens with the option for Bluetooth headphone connectivity (though the carrier provides wired headphones, too). The suites are also equipped with some innovative and experiential features.The airline surrounds its seat with an impressive “soft product,” too, that includes luxurious amenities like Bamford bedding and top-notch dining.ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYThe carrier’s 777s offer 45 of these enclosed suites in two cabins laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, so each seat has direct aisle access.1 US route, with more to comeUntil now, the carrier has only flown Aria-equipped aircraft — which began flying about a year ago — on flights to Hong Kong from London and Vancouver, British Columbia.But it’ll swap the aircraft in for its flights from California’s Bay Area next month, with other American cities to come “eventually,” according to Lam.Itinerary detailsThe Aria Suite’s U.S. debut will come right as 2026 kicks off. It’ll be on certain SFO-HKG flights beginning Jan. 1.Here are the flights the product will appear on:FlightItineraryDays<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>SFO-HKG (CX873)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Departs 10:50 p.m. PST, arrives 6:15 a.m. local time (two days ahead)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Every day but Thursdays</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>HKG-SFO (CX872)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Departs 1 a.m. local time, arrives 9 p.m. PST (one day prior)</span><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Every day but Fridays</span>Booking Cathay Pacific with points and milesYou can book Cathay Pacific flights using its Asia Miles loyalty program, which is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also book redemptions through Cathay’s Oneworld alliance partners — but award space is often at a premium.Related reading:The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfareThe best airline credit cardsWhat exactly are airline miles, anyway?6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayedMaximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flightsThe best credit cards to reach elite statusEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
