Cathay Pacific upgrades Singapore – Bangkok ‘fifth freedom’ flights to A350s

Back in early February we reported on Cathay Pacific restarting a popular “fifth freedom” flight between Singapore and Bangkok, with this daily service back on the roster from late March 2024 after a four-year hiatus, offering Oneworld redemptions using the likes of Asia Miles and Avios points.

Initially flights were loaded using the carrier’s older Airbus A330 aircraft, but the airline has now upgraded its plans for this service, before it has even started.

Airbus A350s will be used

Right from the start of this newly restored link, Cathay Pacific will operate its larger 280-seat Airbus A350-900 aircraft, as opposed to the original plan to use 262-seat Airbus A330-300s.

That brings the service in line with its pre-COVID operation, when A350-900s were also used, based on December 2019 schedules.

The news means that the airline’s newer flat-bed Safran Cirrus III seats will be featured in Business Class, rather than the Cirrus II version on the A330.

There’s also the addition of a 28-seat Premium Economy cabin, a class that isn’t installed on the A330s.

In Business Class, seats are still 20.2 inches wide, as they are on the A330, but storage and space around the seat is much improved on the A350.

This includes a larger privacy wing at head height compared to the A330, plus a a new side storage compartment and dedicated water bottle holder under the armrest.

There is also a significantly improved 18.5-inch HD in-flight entertainment screen, with the Panasonic eX3 system installed on these aircraft, plus a hand held video handset that allows you to track flight progress, for example, while watching something else on the main screen.

Here’s how the seat map looks on the A350-900 in Business Class.

The Airbus A350 also has Wi-Fi connectivity, which doesn’t feature on the A330.

Singapore Airlines offers free Wi-Fi in Business Class on all its Bangkok flights, but currently on Cathay Pacific you’ll have to select from one of the following paid options on this route:

• Message Pass: US$3.95
  Send and receive text messages on Wi-Fi using apps such as WhatsApp, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, LINE and WeChat
• 1 hour Pass: US$9.95
  1 hour of continuous use with no data limit
• Flight Pass: US$12.95
  Full flight use with no data limit

The schedule

Here’s how the schedule looks during the northern summer season, including this flight’s continuation to and from Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific
Singapore – Bangkok – Hong Kong
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	CX712 A350-900
SIN 13:25		BKK 15:15
	CX712 A350-900
BKK 16:25		HKG 20:15

Note that this service does not operate on:
8-10 April
20-26 April
7-31 May

From Singapore this 2-hour 50-minute “fifth freedom” service departs Changi just before 1.30pm, for arrival in Bangkok shortly after 3pm, thanks to the one-hour time gain.

It potentially allows you to take only a half day off work and still arrive in Bangkok in time to check in to your hotel and then go out for dinner.

Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong – Bangkok – Singapore
31st March 2024 – 26th October 2024

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	CX717 A350-900
HKG 09:00		BKK 10:55
	CX717 A350-900
BKK 11:55		SIN 15:25

Note that this service does not operate on:
8-10 April
20-26 April
7-31 May

In the Bangkok – Singapore direction this service departs at 11.55am, for a mid-afternoon arrival into Changi at 3.25pm after a 2-hour 30-minute flight, which is perhaps a little early for many of our readers looking to maximise their Bangkok trip, but does get you back to the Lion City in ample time, if you have dinner plans for example.

Lunch is served in both directions on these services.

The newly reinstated Singapore – Bangkok service is also loaded for operation in the northern winter season, with slight timing adjustment and new flight numbers used (CX630/619), however availability has not been added beyond 26th October 2024 at the time of writing.

Award pricing

Cathay Pacific is loading generous award space on Singapore – Bangkok flights based on our searches, with two immediately confirmable seats in Business Class and four in Economy Class on most flights using Asia Miles or Avios points.

Here’s how the redemption rates look.

Cathay Pacific
Singapore – Bangkok award rates

FFP	Travel Class
	Economy	Business
	9,000 + S$67	16,500 + S$67
	10,000 + S$104	28,000 + S$104
	12,000 + S$104	30,000 + S$104
	12,500 + S$84	22,500 + S$84
	14,000 + S$104	30,000 + S$104
	26,000 + S$104	55,000 + S$104

As you can see, it’s Avios points where you’ll get the best value when redeeming Cathay Pacific flights on this short hop to and from Bangkok, starting at 9,000 points in Economy Class and only setting you back 16,500 points in Business Class.

Unfortunately, British Airways has devalued its own Avios awards on Cathay Pacific since this route last operated, not once… but twice!

That’s why, as you can see from the table above, it’s Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios you need to be redeeming on this route, with the programme retaining those competitive original rates.

You can transfer your BA Avios to and from Qatar Avios at a 1:1 ratio whenever you like for free, and as we recently noted, the lower award rates for Cathay redemptions using Qatar Avios works a treat.

With Qatar Avios, you’re getting a significant saving on the 13,500 KrisFlyer miles Singapore Airlines is charging in Economy and 24,000 miles in Business for a Saver redemption on its own flights between Singapore and Bangkok.

Cathay Pacific lounges in Singapore and Bangkok

One great thing about flying with Cathay Pacific in Business Class, or with lounge-worthy status in a Oneworld programme in lower cabin classes, is the airline’s excellent lounges.

At Singapore Changi Airport, Cathay has a great lounge in Terminal 4, which we comprehensively reviewed back in late 2017, shortly after it opened.

Over in Bangkok, Cathay Pacific reopened its own dedicated lounge in March 2023, with a light ‘refresh’ of the furniture and fittings.

This lounge not only has a tended bar, but also a noodle bar (just like the Singapore one), and during our visits over the years certainly provides a great serene experience away from the hustle and bustle of Suvarnabhumi’s main concourse.

Cathay Pacific is reintroducing its popular “fifth freedom” flights between Singapore and Bangkok next week, after a long four-year gap in service due to the pandemic.

The great news is that newer Airbus A350-900s will be deployed on the route, rather than the previously-planned Airbus A330s, and that means a better cabin experience especially in Business Class.

This was our go-to redemption for Bangkok trips before COVID-19 using Avios points, and it’s really great to see it back on the A350, with good award space loaded up too.

Unfortunately the easiest redemption via British Airways Executive Club is now uncompetitive, but you can lock in a great value award with Qatar Airways Avios via a slightly convoluted online form, having checked availability using the BA site in the first instance.

Will you be using Cathay’s Singapore – Bangkok flights once they restart? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Cover Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock)