Cathay Pacific launches Aria Suite in North America and adopts new Vancouver-Roycon route

For those who call North America home and enjoy something better in life (and in the air) you are lucky: Cathay Pacific has just launched its first route to North America’s luxury aromatic suite offering.

This month, the brand announced that it will start three return flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia from June 5 to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Flights on this route are equipped with ARIA suites, as well as new premium economy seats and standard seats in the economy.

This is the third long-haul route to introduce Hong Kong Services to Hong Kong and Sydney in London.

In October 2024, the ARIA Suite commercial-grade experience debuted, on the then-Cathay Pacific 777-300er aircraft, the biggest update of the brand’s commercial-grade product in more than a decade, marking an important step forward in the airline’s development.

“We are proud to continue to be committed to providing unparalleled comfort and convenience by bringing our highly anticipated ARIA Suite to our North American customers,” the airline’s Airline’s senior vice president of America, Chris Van Den Hooven said in a statement. “Just 40 years ago, Vancouver was our first long-distance passenger route between North America and Hong Kong. We are pleased to introduce Aria Suite to the Americas through Vancouver, further demonstrating the importance of the region to Cathay Pacific.”

So, what is a 13 1/2 hour trip from Vancouver to Hong Kong? Fortunately, TPG is one of the first media outlets to test the product’s new route. Here is an internal observation of the Aria Suite experience from Vancouver to Hong Kong.

At the airport

YVR’s Cathay Pacific is located at the International Terminal 3 at the check-in counter of YVR. Travelers can check in for four hours before booking a departure.

ARIA Suite passengers will enjoy priority check-in, up to 70 pounds per checked bag, lounge (Cathay Pacific Lounges and Oneworld Partner Lounges) and priority boarding. At YVR, passengers in the ARIA Suite can go directly to the smooth Cathay Pacific Lounge and relax before boarding.

Since leaving after 1 a.m. on June 8, I arrived at the airport around 9:30 p.m. so that I could maximize my presence on the airline’s highly respected lounge (located on the Gate D70). There, I had to get at least a bowl of famous peanuts Dan Dan Noodles, and everyone I know recommended those who passed any Cateay Pacific Lounge. (I can confirm that they are delicious and offer the ideal front-flying snack.)

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The lounge features the iconic noodle bar (you can guess where I spend most of my time) as well as several spacious seating areas with a variety of comfortable armchair configurations and separated from the dining area by a series of attractive windows. There is even a small room called “The Bureau”, which comes with desktop Apple and printers for those interested in being particularly productive. Additionally, there is a space for luggage storage and you will find several shower kits with Aesop toiletries.

Car products

As for the “product” or actual seating – Cathay Pacific’s aria kit, each kit is a 21-inch wide 78-inch lounge chair, configured in a 1-2-1 layout.

Like other ARIA Suite products TPG reviewed (such as the London-6-minute route), the suite features wraparound seating design, with doors closed for maximum privacy. Thoughtful touch beds such as soft leather headrests and a wool-lined recliner provide you with exceptionally comfortable experience and high-tech features, including wireless phone charging and a sleek touchscreen seat control interface, meaning entertainment, work and sleep are simple choices during flight.

Speaking of technology, guests can expect to browse a variety of movies and TV shows on a 24-inch touchscreen TV. (Bluetooth headphone connectivity is an option, but each kit comes with a set of wired headphones from those who need them.) I also love exploring the world of interactive maps.

The touch screen allows passengers to check which restrooms at any given time. On the right side of the seat, guests will find another small touch screen that allows you to control the seat’s movement up and down as well as the lights, call for help, and keep an eye on how much time left in the trip.

A lot of storage means it’s easy to store books, wallets and small items in the suite, while larger suitcases can be placed in overhead bins (each suite has its own).

Without hesitation, I checked the leather toilet filled with Bamford’s candy, as well as the dental kit, the dental mask with “airplane mode” (cute) and a set of earplugs. There are also comfortable slippers waiting for you in your suite.

Meals on board

Cathay Pacific’s faithful to form, indeed dining on board. After boarding, passengers in the ARIA Suite will provide a variety of champagne, cranberry juice, and still or glittering water, and can then read the food and beverage menus carefully and place breakfast orders. You can even point out if you wish you weren’t awake to attend the breakfast service, which I found was great.

For dinners that arrive shortly after takeoff, I like to use chili garlic lobster paste with Bok Choy, Shietake mushrooms, steamed jasmine rice, pork and green bone marrow soup. Although the soup is not particularly delicious, the shrimp is delicious and the jasmine rice is fluffy. I chose to choose my dinner choice with Cathay Pacific’s refreshing signature cocktail, Cloud Nine (made from vodka, CO2, Schotrey, Sprite and lemon juice).

The dessert involves three cheeses (Edam, Triple Cream Brie and Manchester), as well as seasonal fresh fruit. I also selected a bright fruit from the impressive Discovery Wine menu and cittrus-ford-ford-ford-ford-ford-citrus-ford-ford-ford-ford-tiitterranean White-l’Hospitalet Grand Vin Blanc.

During the flight, business-grade passengers also have the option to order from the “all-day” menu and I’ve heard good news about egg noodle soup (with roasted pork and chicken sum). This is ideal for warming after a medium snack.

A few hours before landing, friendly cabin staff came to deliver breakfast. I love orange juice, coffee and “healthy” breakfast options that include seasonal fresh fruit, warm pastries (a bit boring) and strawberry yogurt with granola and a delicious berry cake.

How to book Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite from Vancouver to Hong Kong

The cash rate for ARIA suites business-grade tickets from Vancouver to Hong Kong varies by the time of year, travel and length of demand, but I see the return tickets for the next three to four months are about $3,660. To maximize your purchase, consider booking your flight through the credit card travel portal or using a card that earns air ticket purchase bonuses.

Unfortunately, even through Cathay Pacific’s Asian Myers Program, business-grade rewards on this route are available. However, if you do happen to find availability, you can expect to receive a one-way uninterrupted commercial-level reward from Vancouver to Hong Kong, when you can book through several popular programs:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Starting from 75,000 miles
• American Airlines AADVANTAGH: 70,000 miles
• Cathay Pacific Myers: Starting from 88,000 miles
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 104,500 p.m. booked on or before August 4 (125,400 p.m. booked on August 5)
• Qatar Airways Privileges Club: 92,750 Avios

Of course, these rates are just the key points you need to redeemed, mileage or Avios, so you also need to pay the taxes and fees for the rewards. Also, remember that you may not find availability through each OneWorld Alliance member, as Cathay Pacific may not share reward availability with some or all of its partners. Therefore, it is important to choose transferable rewards that you can transfer to a program that has rewards.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Cathay Pacific Pacific business class has been very limited in availability between Hong Kong and North America. So the best option to ride a new ARIA suite might be to book a paid ticket or look for reward supplies on other routes equipped by Cathay Pacific at Aria Suite (London to Hong Kong and Sydney to Hong Kong).

Finally, to ensure you end up on a plane in your new Aria Suite, cross-check your flight with the Cathay Pacific site to see which plane is running. Not all operators have suites for 777-300 people, but on the schedule on the Cathay Pacific website, it does represent it as “77J” and has 45 commercial-level seats on the ship.

Remember that even if you booked flights 777-300er with your new ARIA Suite, Cathay Pacific can exchange your aircraft type anytime before departure. So consider setting up an expert Flyer (owned by TPG’s parent company Red Ventures) aircraft change alert so you can notify you of any configuration changes.

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