The seats
Cathay is known for having some of the best premium economy seats. Our plane is the Airbus A350 and there are 32 seats in premium economy, four rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. The design of the seat is excellent. Sure, it’s not a flat-lay bed like you might get in business, but the seat had a full-length calf rest and leather-padded footrest that was a treat ergonomically, as it essentially cradles your body, making sleep much more achievable.
Do keep in mind that the armrests are set and can’t be lifted. So if you are lucky enough to score poor man’s business class (aka the seat next to you is vacant), you can’t lift the armrest and lie across the seats.
There is also a generous recline here. 40-inch pitch (101.6 centimetres) which is six inches more than economy. The pitch means anyone in a window seat can actually step past the person in the aisle seat to get out to the bathroom without having to wake them. The seats are 20 inches in width, and you may end up needing the generous width, as the meals are generous …