After an amazing trip travelling the west coast of Australia, which you can read separately, it’s now time to travel home — and that means experiencing Cathay Pacific’s latest premium cabin, the Aria Suite business class, on the long-haul journey from Sydney.

This Cathay Pacific Aria Suite review takes a detailed look at the full experience, from check-in and lounges to the seat, privacy, comfort and how it compares with Cathay Pacific’s older business class on the A350.

Cathay Pacific Business Class Check-In at Sydney Airport

Check-in at the Cathay Pacific business class desk at Sydney Airport is smooth, efficient and reassuringly calm. Staff are professional and welcoming, and the process is completed quickly.

Thanks to fast-track access, security and immigration take only minutes, making the whole ground experience feel seamless — exactly what you want before a long-haul business class flight.

Cathay Pacific Lounge Options at Sydney Airport

Cathay Pacific currently relies on partner lounges at Sydney, giving business class passengers a limited choice of facilities before boarding.

Qantas Business Lounge Sydney (Temporary Location)

Our first stop is the Qantas Business Lounge, currently operating from a temporary location while refurbishment work takes place. The space dates back to what was originally a Qantas lounge more than 20 years ago — and it feels its age.

The lounge is tired, with low ceilings and dated interiors, and it can feel busy and noisy at peak times. However, one positive is that the wine offering here is of noticeably better quality, with a stronger selection than expected.

Food is buffet-style and perfectly acceptable, but overall this lounge doesn’t create much of a premium pre-flight atmosphere.

Amex Centurion Lounge Sydney (Credit Card Access)

We also visited the American Express Centurion Lounge, which was accessed via an eligible credit card and not through Cathay Pacific.

Food here is also buffet-style and broadly similar to the Qantas Business Lounge, rather than a step up in catering. Where the Centurion Lounge stands out is in atmosphere.

It is far more relaxing, with fewer people, lower noise levels and a more modern layout. While the wine selection isn’t as strong as Qantas, the calmer environment makes it a better place to unwind before a long-haul flight. It’s worth noting this is not an official Cathay Pacific lounge, but a useful alternative if you have access.

Boarding the Cathay Pacific Aria Suite

Boarding is efficient and well organised, and once onboard, the contrast with the ground experience is immediate. The Cathay Pacific Aria Suite cabin feels modern, calm and unmistakably premium.

Soft lighting, muted colour tones and high-quality materials give the cabin a refined, contemporary feel. This is clearly a step forward from Cathay Pacific’s previous business class in terms of design and presentation.

Cathay Pacific Aria Suite Seat Review: Design, Privacy and Storage

Each Aria Suite business class seat features a fully closing sliding door, offering a high level of privacy without making the space feel claustrophobic.

The seat itself is wide, plush and extremely comfortable, suitable for dining, working or relaxing. Storage is one of the biggest improvements, with generous space for laptops, headphones, shoes and personal items, all neatly integrated and easy to access.

A large side console works well as a workspace, while multiple power points and a wireless charging pad make staying connected easy. The high-definition entertainment screen is sharp and responsive, paired with intuitive controls and excellent noise-cancelling headphones.

I also really like the small side display which as well as being used to adjust the seat, also showed how long was left on the flight.

Sleeping in the Cathay Pacific Aria Suite

When it’s time to rest, the Aria Suite converts smoothly into a fully flat bed with high-quality bedding.

The enclosed design helps reduce light and noise, creating a cocoon-like environment that works particularly well on overnight long-haul flights. Combined with Cathay Pacific’s polished cabin service, it’s easy to get proper rest and arrive feeling refreshed.

Aria Suite vs Older Cathay Pacific A350 Business Class

While the Cathay Pacific Aria Suite is undeniably modern and luxurious, I personally felt that the older business class seats on the Cathay Pacific A350 offered slightly more overall space.

Despite not having closing doors, the older seats felt more open, particularly around the footwell and sleeping area. Importantly, privacy was still perfectly adequate thanks to the staggered layout and high seat shells — especially at the window seats.

The Aria Suite trades that open feeling for greater enclosure and visual privacy. Many travellers will prefer this, but those who value space above all else may still appreciate the older A350 layout.

Cathay Pacific Aria Suite Review: Final Verdict

While the lounge experience at Sydney Airport is mixed, everything changes once onboard. The Cathay Pacific Aria Suite represents a significant evolution in the airline’s business class offering.

This is not just a new seat — it’s a rethinking of the long-haul experience, combining modern design, improved privacy and refined comfort in a way that feels understated rather than flashy.

As a way to travel home after an unforgettable Australian adventure, the Aria Suite delivers exactly what you want: calm, comfort and genuine rest. While the older A350 seats still have their strengths, the Aria Suite clearly signals Cathay Pacific’s future direction in premium long-haul travel.

If you want to check out the Sydney to Cairns road trip you can do so here :

Sydney to Cairns: An East Coast Journey