For those who call North America home and enjoy the finer things in life (and in the air), you’re in luck: Cathay Pacific just launched the first North American route for its luxurious Aria Suite product.

This month, the brand announced that it would launch three return flights per week, starting June 5, from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). The carrier’s flights on the route feature the Aria Suites, as well as new premium economy seats and refreshed standard seating in economy.

This is Cathay Pacific’s third long-haul route for the new Aria Suite product, following its introduction on the carrier’s London to Hong Kong and Sydney to Hong Kong services.

The debut of the Aria Suite business-class experience in October 2024, on Cathay Pacific’s then-new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, was the biggest update to the brand’s business-class product in over a decade, signaling a significant step in the airline’s evolution.

“We are proud to continue our commitment to offering an unparalleled level of comfort and convenience by bringing our highly anticipated Aria Suite to our North American customers,” Chris van den Hooven, the airline’s senior vice president of the Americas, said in a statement. “Just over 40 years ago, Vancouver was our first long-haul passenger route between North America and Hong Kong. We are thrilled to introduce the Aria Suite to the Americas via Vancouver, further demonstrating the importance of the region to Cathay Pacific.”

So, what is the 13 1/2-hour trip from Vancouver to Hong Kong like in the comfort of an Aria Suite? Luckily, TPG was one of the first outlets to test out this new route for the product. Here’s an inside look at the Aria Suite experience from Vancouver to Hong Kong.

At the airport

Cathay Pacific’s check-in counter at YVR is in the international terminal at Departure Level 3. Travelers can check in up to four hours before their scheduled departure.

Aria Suite passengers will enjoy priority check-in, two checked bags up to 70 pounds each, lounge access (Cathay Pacific lounges and Oneworld partner lounges) and priority boarding. At YVR, Aria Suite passengers can head straight to the sleek Cathay Pacific lounge to relax before boarding.

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ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

Since my June 8 flight departed just after 1 a.m., I got to the airport around 9:30 p.m. so I could maximize my time at the airline’s highly regarded lounge (located at gate D70). There, I had to get at least one bowl of the famous peanuty dan dan noodles, which come highly recommended from everyone I know who has passed through any Cathay Pacific lounge. (I can confirm that they are delectable and make for an ideal preflight snack.)

The lounge features the signature noodle bar (you can guess where I spent most of my time), as well as several spacious seating areas with various configurations of comfortable armchairs, separated from the dining area by a series of attractive paned windows. There is even a small room called “The Bureau,” equipped with desktop Apple computers and printers for those interested in being especially productive. Additionally, there is a space to store luggage, and you’ll find several shower suites with premium Aesop toiletries.

Onboard product

As for the “product” — or the actual seat — Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites, each of which is a 78-inch recline lie-flat seat that is 21 inches wide, are configured in a 1-2-1 layout.

Like the other Aria Suite products that TPG has reviewed (such as the London-to-Hong Kong route), the suites feature a wraparound seat design with a door that slides closed for maximum privacy. Thoughtful touches like a soft leather headrest and a wool-lined lie-flat bed make for an exceptionally comfortable experience, and high-tech features, including wireless phone charging and a sleek touchscreen seat control interface, mean that entertainment, work and sleep are all easy options during the flight.

Speaking of technology, guests can look forward to browsing a wide range of movies and TV shows on a 24-inch touchscreen TV. (Bluetooth headphone connection is an option, but each suite comes equipped with a set of wired headphones for those who need them.) I also enjoyed the ability to explore where in the world we were with the interactive map.

The touchscreen allows passengers to check which restrooms are open at any given time. Along the right side of the seat, guests will find another small touchscreen that allows you to control the seat going up and down, as well as the lights, calling for assistance and keeping an eye on how much flight time is left in the trip.

Plenty of storage space means it’s easy to stow books, purses and small items within the suite, while larger luggage pieces can go in the overhead bin (each suite has its own).

I wasted no time checking out the leather toiletry bag filled with goodies from Bamford, as well as a dental kit, an eye mask that says “airplane mode” (cute) and a set of earplugs. There are also cozy slippers waiting for you in your suite.

Inflight dining

True to form, Cathay Pacific really delivered on inflight dining. After boarding, Aria Suite passengers are presented with a selection of Champagne, cranberry juice and still or sparkling water and can then peruse the food-and-drinks menu, as well as place a breakfast order. You can even indicate if you’d prefer not to be woken up for the breakfast service, which I found to be a nice touch.

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ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

For supper, which was served shortly after takeoff, I enjoyed prawns with chilli garlic lobster sauce, served with bok choy, shiitake mushroom, steamed jasmine rice and pork and green marrow soup. While the soup wasn’t particularly flavorful, the prawns were delicious, and the jasmine rice was very fluffy. I opted to pair my dinner selection with Cathay Pacific’s refreshing signature cocktail, Cloud Nine (made with vodka, Cointreau, Sprite and lemon juice).

Dessert involved three cheeses (edam, triple cream brie and manchego) alongside seasonal fresh fruit. I also selected a bright fruit-and-citrus-forward Mediterranean white — Chateau L’Hospitalet Grand Vin blanc — from the impressive “Discovery Wines” menu, which showcases a collection of lesser-known wines from around the world.

During the flight, business-class passengers also have the option to order from the “All Day” menu, and I’d heard great things about the egg noodle soup (with barbecued pork and choy sum). It was the ideal warming postnap, midflight snack.

Several hours before landing, the friendly cabin crew came around to serve breakfast. I enjoyed orange juice, coffee and the “wellness” breakfast option, which included seasonal fresh fruit, warm pastries (these were a bit lackluster) and strawberry yogurt with granola and a delicious berry compote.

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

Cash rates for an Aria Suite business-class ticket on Cathay Pacific’s route from Vancouver to Hong Kong vary depending on the time of year, the length of the trip and demand, but I see return tickets from around $3,660 over the next three to four months. To maximize your purchase, consider booking your flights through a credit card travel portal or with a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases.

Unfortunately, business-class award availability on this route is currently nonexistent, even through Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program. But if you do happen to find availability, here’s what you can expect to pay for a one-way, nonstop business-class award from Vancouver to Hong Kong when booking through several popular programs:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Starting at 75,000 miles
• American Airlines AAdvantage: 70,000 miles
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Starting at 88,000 miles
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 104,500 points for bookings on or before Aug. 4 (125,400 points for bookings from Aug. 5)
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 92,750 Avios

Of course, these rates are just the points, miles or Avios you’ll need to redeem, so you’ll also need to pay taxes and fees on your award. Also, keep in mind that you may not find availability through every Oneworld alliance member, as Cathay may not share award availability with some or all of its partners. So, it’s important to have a selection of transferable rewards you can transfer to the program that has award availability.

Cathay Pacific business-class availability between Hong Kong and North America has been extremely limited since the coronavirus pandemic. So, your best bet for flying the new Aria Suite may be to book a paid ticket or search for award availability on other routes Cathay Pacific serves with Aria Suite-equipped planes (London to Hong Kong and Sydney to Hong Kong).

Finally, to make sure you end up on a plane with the new Aria Suites, cross-check the flight you are on with Cathay Pacific’s site to see which aircraft is operating it. Not all of the carrier’s 777-300ERs have the suites, but the ones that do will be denoted as “77J” on the schedule on Cathay Pacific’s website and have 45 business-class seats aboard.

Remember that even if you book a 777-300ER flight with the new Aria Suites, Cathay Pacific could swap your aircraft type at any point before departure. So, consider setting up an ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) aircraft change alert so you’re notified of any configuration changes.

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On May 21, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) relaunched a long-haul flight connecting Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) with Copenhagen Airport (CPH) after a 16-year-long pause. The flight will operate five days per week during the SAS summer schedule—but I was lucky enough to snag a business-class seat on the first flight.

“The Seattle-Copenhagen route has been a highly requested destination,” Paul Verhagen, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Scandinavian Airlines, tells Travel + Leisure. “Washington State has deep Scandinavian roots, with many residents tracing their heritage to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. This creates natural demand for both leisure and family travel.”

As any business class journey should, my excursion began with a visit to the lounge. While there isn’t an SAS lounge in Seattle, the airline is a part of the SkyTeam airline alliance, so I got access to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport’s Delta Sky Club. The lounge has views of Mount Rainier and the runway, and you can plane spot while enjoying small bites like clam chowder, chicken sliders, and caprese salad from the buffet or a drink from the bar.

Although the Delta Sky Club was located in Concourse A and the flight was scheduled to depart from Concourse S, it was easy to move between terminals, thanks to the SEA Underground—trains leave every three minutes and there was no need to go through security again.

The inaugural festivities kicked off with a celebration near the gate, featuring historic pictures of the original inaugural SAS flight from Seattle to Copenhagen.

Boarding was quick and easy (admittedly, being in zone one didn’t hurt), and we soon found ourselves on an Airbus 350-900, considered one of the best modern wide-body planes. It’s much quieter than most other planes in its peer group, and the air pressure is lower. It only ever feels like you’re, at most, an altitude of around 5,500 feet. That all means a more comfortable experience with less jet lag. 

After a send-off from the local fire department and the airport staff, our flight was soon in the air, making its way across the Rocky Mountains, through Canada, and finally across the Atlantic.

I’ve always flown economy so let’s just say that in SAS business class, some socks were knocked off. 

The business class section was in a 1-2-1 formation, and I found myself in the middle aisle. The units were generously sized, and the seat was large and cushy, with buttons that could adjust the height, angle, and level of cushion in the chair. There was plenty of overhead storage, as well as a nifty area to store other items near my feet. I also appreciated having a shelf (with a drink holder, no less) to store odds and ends that I had with me during my flight. 

There were over-the-ear headphones for watching movies on the very deluxe, oversized entertainment console. Entertainment selection was broad, with new movies like “Nosferatu,” “A Complete Unknown,” and “The Brutalist” available to watch as well as classic flicks like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “Cool Hand Luke,” and “Dumb and Dumber.”

But perhaps one of the coolest perks of flying in an A350-900 is the tail-view camera, where you can watch mountains, rivers, and oceans pass you by during your flight from the comfort of your seat. The internet service, however, was pretty spotty during this particular flight, and it was hard to load a browser page, much less get work done.

In addition to the usual business class swag bag—packed with an eye mask, face cream, a toothbrush, and socks—passengers on this inaugural flight also received a small bag filled with things like Scandinavisk-branded hand cream, white chocolate truffles, and a commemorative luggage tag. Passengers also got a “boreal forest” soy wax candle by Skog, which did indeed smell like a brisk walk through the pines.

As far as airplane food goes, it would be hard to find fault in Scandinavian Airlines’ business class fare, which truly goes all out with fresh, Scandi-inspired fare. For each meal, flight attendants began service by “setting” the table by laying down a napkin on the tray table.

Dinner was a four-course event consisting of a starter, a main, a cheese plate, and a dessert. I opted for the burrata salad for a starter, a spring-y arrangement of tomatoes, basil, and burrata with a sweet balsamic reduction on the side. I then had the grilled miso chicken, which was served with piping hot jasmine rice and perfectly cooked radishes and bok choy. There was fresh fruit and a cheese plate for dessert, featuring a generous slice of very nice blue cheese.

Breakfast was a simple affair with overnight oats, a smoothie, and a poached egg with shashuka. Bedding down in a comforter from the luxe Swedish linen brand Dux made it easy to catch some shut-eye, too.

With the multiple feasts and plenty of movies to watch, I soon found myself in Copenhagen. Since I felt so well-rested from my flight, it was easy to hit the ground running—and that’s exactly what SAS intends.

Copenhagen Airport is a major hub to other Scandinavian destinations and a gateway to all that northern Europe has to offer. After this flight, I hopped on a couple of short plane rides to Bergen, Norway (a direct route from Copenhagen to Bergen is available), and spent a few days exploring the country’s breathtaking fjords by car—the transition from one of the region’s most bustling cities to one of the most remote and idyllic areas was smooth and easy.

“The route is among the fastest and most seamless transatlantic connections, offering travelers an efficient and smooth journey between North America and Europe,” Verhagen says. “Schedules have been designed to maximize connectivity with the rest of the SAS network, offering one-stop access to and from 39 European cities via Copenhagen.”

For West Coast and Pacific Northwest residents, that means Northern Europe is once again, just one short (and very luxurious) flight away.