Cathay Pacific vs Ryanair — Compare Airlines

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy	Cathay Pacific	Ryanair
Cabin baggage	Included	Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit.
Checked baggage	1×23 kg economy international	Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm).
In-flight Wi-Fi	Partial (messaging/select routes)	None
Economy seat pitch	32"	28"
Loyalty programme	Asia Miles / Marco Polo Club	Ryanair Prime
Lounge access	Cathay Pacific lounges; oneworld Emerald	None
Changes & refunds	Flex fares allow changes; Light restricted	Flexi Plus allows changes; Basic restricted

Individual profiles

Editorial profiles

Hong Kong · CX/CPA · #1 in this comparison

Cathay Pacific

Life Well Travelled

#3 Global 5-Star

8.7 / 10

Quick Answer

Cathay Pacific scores 8.7/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.6/10), ranking #3 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is Cathay Pacific a good airline?

Cathay Pacific scores 8.7/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #3 globally with a safety score of 9.6/10. Cathay Pacific excels on transpacific routes with refined cabins, strong wine programs, and one of Asia's best business class products. See full profile →

Overall 8.7 Excellent

Safety 9.6 Maximum Safety

Service 9.0 Cabin crew & ground

Value 8.2 Fare vs product

Star rating 5★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

9.0

Seat Comfort

9.1

Food & Beverage

8.8

In-Flight Entertainment

8.5

On-Time Performance

8.7

Value for Money

8.2

Key facts

Hub: Hong Kong (HKG)
Alliance: oneworld
Founded: 1946
Fleet: 180 aircraft
Region: asia pacific
IATA / ICAO: CX / CPA

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage	1×23 kg economy international
In-flight Wi-Fi	Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only
Economy seat pitch	32"
Lounge access	Cathay Pacific lounges; oneworld Emerald
Changes & refunds	Flex fares allow changes; Light restricted
Loyalty programme	Asia Miles / Marco Polo Club

Strengths

The Pier business lounge
Strong premium economy product
Excellent wine selection

Weaknesses

HKG hub congestion at peak hours
Economy seat pitch varies by aircraft

Awards & recognition

Best Economy Class Asia
Best Airline Lounge Hong Kong

Ireland · FR/RYR · #2 in this comparison

Ryanair

Low Fares Made Simple

#45 Global 3-Star

6.8 / 10

Quick Answer

Ryanair scores 6.8/10 on FlightLogic (safety 8.8/10), ranking #45 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is Ryanair a good airline?

Ryanair scores 6.8/10 (Good) on FlightLogic, ranking #45 globally with a safety score of 8.8/10. Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passengers, offering unbeatable fares with a no-frills model and improving reliability metrics. See full profile →

Overall 6.8 Good

Safety 8.8 Excellent Safety

Service 6.5 Cabin crew & ground

Value 9.5 Fare vs product

Star rating 3★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

6.5

Seat Comfort

5.8

Food & Beverage

5.5

In-Flight Entertainment

5.0

On-Time Performance

8.5

Value for Money

9.5

Key facts

Hub: Dublin & 80+ bases
Alliance: Independent
Founded: 1984
Fleet: 560 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: FR / RYR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit.
Checked baggage	Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm).
In-flight Wi-Fi	Not available
Economy seat pitch	28"
Lounge access	None
Changes & refunds	Flexi Plus allows changes; Basic restricted
Loyalty programme	Ryanair Prime

Strengths

Lowest base fares in Europe
Extensive route network
Improving OTP scores

Weaknesses

Strict baggage policies
Tight 28-inch seat pitch
Ancillary fee structure

Awards & recognition

Best Value Airline Europe

FAQ

Which is better — Cathay Pacific or Ryanair?

Cathay Pacific scores higher on FlightLogic at 8.7/10 vs 6.8/10 for Ryanair. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Cathay Pacific or Ryanair include a carry-on bag?

Cathay Pacific: Included. Ryanair: Personal item only (max 40×30×20 cm). Must fit under the seat. No weight limit..

Which has free Wi-Fi — Cathay Pacific or Ryanair?

Cathay Pacific: Partial (messaging/select routes). Ryanair: None.

Does Cathay Pacific include checked baggage?

Cathay Pacific checked baggage: 1×23 kg economy international.

Does Ryanair include checked baggage?

Ryanair checked baggage: Not included on basic fares. Paid options: 10 kg (max 55×40×20 cm) or 20 kg/23 kg (max 80×120×120 cm)..