In February 2025, I flew to Tokyo, Japan, for a last-minute, week-long break from my busy work schedule. Four weeks before my departure, I happened to come across affordable return flights on Cathay Pacific from Manila to Tokyo Haneda via Hong Kong. I shared this with my aunt, and without hesitation, I was tasked with booking the tickets. In less than four weeks, my aunt and I planned the entire trip, and the Tokyo adventure was set.
We flew with Cathay Pacific from Manila to Tokyo Haneda, with a quick stopover in Hong Kong. This flight report will focus on the first leg of the journey – the Manila to Hong Kong segment on flight CX 930. Read on to find out how my experience with Cathay Pacific went, and why I consider this flight perfectly timed.
In case you missed it, I also flew with Cathay Pacific in December 2023 on both legs of the Manila to Hong Kong route. I wrote flight reports for both sectors, which you can check out: CX 912 from Manila to Hong Kong and CX 901 from Hong Kong to Manila.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, commonly known as Cathay Pacific, is Hong Kong’s flag carrier. According to the airline’s website, two ex-Air Force pilots founded the airline in Hong Kong in 1946. Five years later, the airline acquired its rival Hong Kong Airways and gained additional routes to Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Since then, the airline has expanded to more routes in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. It has emerged as one of the world’s leading airlines and lifestyle brands, connecting the world through Hong Kong.
Today, Cathay Pacific is primarily owned by Swire Group, a diversified Hong Kong-based corporation, Qatar Airways, and Air China. The airline flies to over 80 international destinations using close to 180 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 60 more in order. It also has airline subsidiaries, namely Cathay Pacific Cargo, Air Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Express, the region’s budget airline. Cathay Pacific is based and headquartered in Hong Kong International Airport.
Cathay Pacific is a 5-star full-service airline. It offers a free checked luggage allowance, premium amenities, meals and snacks, and personal entertainment systems onboard. The airline is one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance with the likes of Qatar Airways, Qantas, American Airlines, and British Airways. It has a loyalty program called Cathay Membership Programme, where members can gain status points (previously Marco Polo Club) and Asia Miles when flying the airline or through its non-airline partners.
In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.
Airfare & Inclusions
I booked the ticket just four weeks before the intended flight date, and it cost me only USD 235.20 for a round-trip. I am not sure exactly how much that was in Philippine pesos because my relatives paid for it. This price covered all four flights: Manila to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong to Manila.
The economy light fare also included a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, 23 kilograms of checked luggage, inflight meals, personal entertainment screens, and world-class onboard service on all four flights.
This Cathay Pacific ticket was an absolute bargain, especially considering it was booked just four weeks before the flight dates, and I was flying with one of the world’s top full-service airlines, offering its award-winning economy class product.
Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.
Travel Requirements
Regular Philippine passport holders can enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without a visa for up to 14 days. Anyone staying beyond the visa-free period must apply for a visa to enter Hong Kong.
In my case, since my final destination was Tokyo, Japan, I had to comply with Japan’s entry requirements. Regular Philippine passport holders are required to obtain a tourist visa to enter Japan for leisure purposes. The Japanese Embassy in the Philippines recently opened the Japan Visa Assistance Center (JVAC), operated by VFS Philippines, Inc. All Japan visa applications are now processed through this center.
Additionally, the Japanese government mandates that all incoming passengers complete immigration and customs arrival procedures via the Visit Japan website. Upon arrival, all passengers must present their issued QR codes at immigration and customs for scanning. Tourists can obtain their QR codes up to two weeks before their intended arrival date.
Locally, the Philippine government requires all departing passengers to fill out online departure forms and obtain a departure QR code from the eTravel website.
Before The Flight
One week before the flight, Cathay Pacific sent an email advising passengers to prepare for their upcoming journey. The airline reminded passengers to review their baggage allowance and confirm that their contact details were correct and up to date. They also offered additional services, such as paid preferred seats, business class upgrades, and travel insurance.
Two days before the flight to Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific sent another email notifying passengers that online check-in was now available for both flights to Hong Kong and Tokyo Haneda. The email also included information about the inflight entertainment system, as well as magazines and newspapers available onboard.
I selected a seat (for free) on both flights and checked in online. However, I did not receive a digital boarding pass and was advised to collect it at the airport during bag drop. On the day of the flight, the airline sent a final email with details about the departure terminal, flight time, assigned check-in counters, boarding time, and the designated boarding gate.
Aircraft & Flight Information
The Manila to Hong Kong flight on Cathay Pacific was operated by a 13-year-old Airbus A330-343X aircraft (at the time of the flight). Delivered to the airline in February 2012, the plane is registered as B-LAN. It features 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and 223 standard economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.
Flight CX 930 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:56 p.m. and landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 2:39 p.m. There is no time difference between Manila and Hong Kong, and the flight duration was 1 hour and 43 minutes.
Airport & Ground Experience
Cathay Pacific operates from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
CHECK-IN & BAG DROP
Cathay Pacific occupies one side of Counter E for check-in and bag drop, with dedicated counters for business class passengers, those requiring assistance, and passengers traveling in groups.
I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:45 a.m. and immediately lined up to pay the travel tax. I started queuing for check-in at 9:01 a.m. and finished around 9:15 a.m. The ground staff was efficient and friendly.
PRE-DEPARTURE
After check-in, I met up with my relatives, and we all went through immigration and the final security check before spending the rest of the pre-boarding time at A Lounge. I used my Security Bank credit card to access the lounge.
BOARDING
We left the lounge around 11:45 a.m. and walked to our assigned gate – Gate 107. Priority boarding began at 12:00 noon, starting with business class passengers, airline status holders, and those traveling with infants. Economy class passengers boarded according to their assigned seats and boarding groups.
At 12:34 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors, and the entire boarding process was completed in 34 minutes. The plane pushed back at 12:39 p.m. and made its way to the runway for takeoff.
Inflight Hard & Soft Product
SEAT FEATURES
The Manila to Hong Kong flight on Cathay Pacific was operated by a 13-year-old Airbus A330-343X aircraft (at the time of the flight). It features 39 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and 223 standard economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.
The business class section follows a reverse herringbone configuration, with each seat offering aisle access. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a pitch of 45 inches and a width of 21 inches. The seats also feature large entertainment screens, a generous footwell, a console with remote and seat controls, noise-canceling headphones, and a power outlet.
The economy class section follows the 2-4-2 seating layout. According to SeatGuru, each economy seat has a pitch of 32 inches and a width of 18.2 inches. Economy class seats are equipped with thick seatback padding, an adjustable headrest, a touchscreen personal entertainment system with a USB port, a foldable tray table with a cup holder, a coat hook, a seat pocket containing the aircraft safety card and a magazine, and a small stowage space under the screen. The seats do not have personal air vents but include individual reading lights and cabin crew call buttons. Passengers are also provided with headphones, a soft pillow, and a blanket.
I chose window seat 42A for this quick hop to Hong Kong. I particularly liked the thick seatback padding on Cathay’s economy class seats. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a pillow and blanket on the seat, especially considering the flight was under two hours. Cathay Pacific prioritizes passenger comfort.
INFLIGHT MEAL
Cathay Pacific serves inflight meals on all their flights, and despite the flight being less than two hours, the airline served a hot meal on this journey. After takeoff, the cabin crew distributed the lunch meal, which had only one option—pork with steamed rice and vegetables. The meal was served on a small tray, accompanied by a bottle of water and metal cutlery.
After the meal service, the crew collected the used trays. The entire meal and clean-up process was completed within 30 minutes after the seatbelt sign was turned off. The crew did not offer a second round of drinks; instead, drinks were available on demand.
INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Cathay Pacific’s entertainment system on the Airbus A330 offers a decent selection of movies, television shows, and music options. While the choices may not be as extensive as those available on their Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, they are sufficient for shorter flights like this one to Hong Kong. The system also features a moving inflight map that shows the flight’s exact location.
Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy the entertainment as my system was faulty. It crashed a few times and only worked intermittently, displaying the inflight map, which was functional. Additionally, prior to landing, the cabin crew announced that connecting gate information would be displayed on the screens. However, these details were nowhere to be found.
INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY
Cathay Pacific offered paid wireless connectivity on this flight to Hong Kong. First class, business class passengers, and Diamond members receive complimentary access, while other passengers must pay to use the service. The lowest tier is priced at USD 3.95, which includes a messaging pass with 30 MB of data. An hour of access costs USD 9.95, while the full flight pass is priced at USD 12.95.
I did not bother connecting to the onboard Wi-Fi since the flight was less than two hours. The airline’s rates are in line with industry standards, but I did not feel it was worth it for short flights like this one.
LAVATORY
I did not visit the lavatory during this short flight to Hong Kong.
Cabin Crew Service
The cabin crew service on this flight was quick and efficient. The meal service felt a bit rushed, but this was completely understandable given the short duration of the flight. I also noticed the crew made several rounds to check on passengers and see if anyone needed anything.
Disembarkation
The plane landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 2:36 p.m. and taxied to Gate 30 for disembarkation. Passengers disembarked by section, with business class passengers exiting first, followed by the front economy class passengers, and finally, those from the rear economy class section.
I did not clear Hong Kong immigration. Instead, I walked to the transit area, cleared security, and proceeded to the departures hall for my connecting flight to Tokyo Haneda.
Flight Experience
It was another wonderful flight experience with Cathay Pacific. While not perfect, it was certainly a great one. Allow me to share both the standouts and the misses of this flight.
Let us start with the positives. First, the return fare from Manila to Tokyo Haneda via Hong Kong was both affordable and valuable. I secured the return ticket for just USD 235.20, only four weeks before the flight, and enjoyed all the amenities and perks of flying with a full-service airline. It was a win.
Second, Cathay Pacific ensured that all passengers were well-informed, from ticket inclusions and the opening of online check-in to flight boarding times and assigned gates. The airline sent multiple emails and mobile notifications with these details. Third, the schedule for CX 930 is perfect for a trip to Hong Kong. There is no need to arrive too early at the airport, and you can head straight to hotel check-in once in Hong Kong.
Fourth, Cathay Pacific’s economy class seats are comfortable, thanks to the thick seatback padding and adjustable headrests. I hope they do not remove these features in the future. Fifth, the airline served a hot meal with a bottle of water on this quick (less than two hours) hop to Hong Kong.
Lastly, Cathay Pacific has now equipped their Airbus A330 aircraft with Wi-Fi connectivity. I flew the same aircraft type back in December 2023, and there were no inflight connectivity options at that time. Kudos to Cathay Pacific for rolling this out to their A330 regional aircraft.
As mentioned earlier, this flight was not without its misses. First, the entertainment system on my assigned seat (42A) kept crashing. I ended up using it only for the inflight map instead of the usual movies or music. Second, the connecting gate information, which the crew announced would be available on the inflight screens, was nowhere to be found.
Lastly, this is not really a “miss,” but it is something I missed on this A330 aircraft: individual air nozzles. The cabin had a centralized air conditioning system, leaving the seats without individual nozzles. I prefer having my own air vent so I can adjust it and ensure continuous air circulation at my seat.
Nevertheless, it was another lovely flight with Cathay Pacific. I will always consider flying with them, especially when there are great deals like this one. I am also looking forward to trying their Airbus A350s, premium economy, and, hopefully, their business class product.
Here is a summary of this quick hop from Manila to Hong Kong onboard Cathay Pacific:
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Flight Date: 13 February 2025
Flight Number: CX 930
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR (HKG)
Duration: 1 hour and 43 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 42A
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343X
Aircraft Registration: B-LAN
Engines: 2 x Rolls Royce Trent 772B-60
Age: 13-years-old
Delivered: February 2012
This concludes my recent flight experience with Cathay Pacific from Manila to Hong Kong on flight CX 930. Have you flown with Cathay Pacific before? How was your experience with the airline? Are you considering booking with them for your next trip? If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to leave a comment below or send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I would be happy to respond!
I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Qantas, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.
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PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.