Cathay: free WiFi for business class, top-tier frequent flyers

More Cathay Pacific travellers will soon enjoy complimentary Internet access.

By David Flynn, January 4 2024
Cathay: free WiFi for business class, top-tier frequent flyers

High flyers in Cathay Pacific first class already enjoy free WiFi on the airline’s flagship Boeing 777 jets, and they’ll soon be joined by business class passengers and card-carrying Diamond members from the Cathay loyalty program.

(But not Oneworld Emeralds, alas – this perk will be reserved for Cathay’s own most loyal customers.)

Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam today revealed the next stage in keeping passengers connected above the clouds will extend free WiFi “to our Cathay Diamond members and business class passengers by mid-2024.”

That timing also marries up to the launch of Cathay’s latest Boeing 777 business class and premium economy, so Lam clearly has some busy months ahead.

The free WiFi deal will of course also extend across Cathay’s Airbus A330, A350 and A321 fleet.

Under current pricing, a ‘flight pass’ from beginning to end of a Cathay flight costs up to US$20 depending on the length of the flight (for trips of less than six hours, the tariff is US$13), with a single hour charged at US$10.

On flights under six hours there’s also a US$4 messaging package for text messages (but not photos) on WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, LINE and the like.

21 Apr 2017

Total posts 46

This is good news! An overdue but nonetheless very welcome change!

27 Sep 2023

Total posts 4

Cathay is still playing catchup while other airlines are offering free wifi even for economy class passengers

05 Mar 2015

Total posts 416

There aren't THAT many international airlines offering fee Wi-Fi for everyone. Some, yeah, but this is hardly 'playing catchup'.

27 Sep 2023

Total posts 4

They are though. When airlines were offering free wifi to business class passengers, they were only doing it for first class. Now that airlines are offering it to economy, they just started it for business class passengers. 🤣🤣 

05 Jan 2024

Total posts 1

Great news for sure, but I've paid for it many times as a DM member and 9/10 it doesn't work past 1998 internet standards and for about 5mins during a 17hr flight. Most importantly also update the out of date tech like others that are using Mr Musk's tech. 

21 Apr 2017

Total posts 46

I’ve found it fairly reliable on HKG-Aus legs but highly variable elsewhere eg. non-existent to/from India.

05 Jan 2024

Total posts 2

Excellent move, Cathay. 


Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Cathay: free WiFi for business class, top-tier frequent flyers