Cathay Pacific

Pros

• Professional, calm, and kind cabin crew even in stressful situations.
• Superior seat recline and legroom on long-haul flights compared to many competitors.
• Generally lenient enforcement of carry-on weight for backpacks and small bags.
• High availability for award travel bookings.
• Quality in-flight entertainment and food service.

Cons

• Peanuts are a standard snack on most long-haul routes, posing risks for severe allergy sufferers.
• High taxes and fees associated with award flight redemptions.
• Mobile app is reportedly unreliable for generating boarding passes on certain sectors like US-to-India.

Caveats

• Passengers with peanut allergies must submit a physician's statement at least 72 hours before departure.
• Document checks at the airport desk are often required for international flights even if checked in online.
• Carry-on leniency is not guaranteed; staff generally expect heavy items to be checked.

Best for

• Transpacific travelers seeking a higher standard of service than Western airlines.
• Award travelers looking for better seat availability.
• Passengers with long layovers in Hong Kong who wish to explore the city.

Avoid if

• You have a life-threatening peanut allergy, as they are served frequently and residues are occasionally reported in seats.
• You want to minimize out-of-pocket tax costs on award tickets.