Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
THE HONG KONG LOUNGE GUIDE
Our comprehensive rundown of lounges on offer at Hong Kong International Airport
ONEWORLD MEMBER AIRLINES CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE BRIDGE
Where is it? By Gate 36, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and Oneworld carrier business and first class passengers; Marco Polo Club Silver tier members (on a Cathay Pacific/Dragon flight); Marco Polo Club Gold tier members and above (on a Oneworld carrier flight); and Oneworld Sapphire tier members and above.
What’s it like? Opened back in 2013, The Bridge is one of six lounges offered by Cathay Pacific at its home hub – four of which business class passengers can access. With the closure of The Cabin lounge on the Departure area’s main thoroughfare last year, The Bridge is now arguably the best-placed option for passengers departing from Gates 28-50. Key facilities The Bistro, Coffee Loft, manned Long Bar, the Bakery, shower suites, IT zone
Opening hours 5.30am-12.30am
CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE DECK
Where is it? Near Gate 6, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Same as above. What’s it like? The newest of Cathay Pacific’s lounges at Hong Kong airport opened in March 2018, replacing the former Dragonair G16 Lounge at the same location. It’s small, but it does have a unique feature – The Terrace, an open-ceiling, L-shaped “verandah” taking advantage of the lounge’s balcony location on the eastern side of Terminal 1, and offering good seating for those who want to get a view over the rest of the building. Key facilities Shower suites, Noodle Bar, buffet
Opening hours 5.30am-12.30am
CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE PIER BUSINESS CLASS
Where is it? Near Gate 65, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1 Who gets access? Same as above. What’s it like? Large, with plenty of seating, a wide variety of F&B options and a modern atmosphere. Cathay added a dedicated 700sq ft yoga and meditation space within the lounge called The Sanctuary in February 2019, opened in partnership with gym operator The Pure Group.
Key facilities Shower suites, Noodle Bar, buffet, manned bar, Teahouse, business centre
Opening hours 5.30am-12.30am
CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE PIER FIRST CLASS
Where is it? Near Gate 63, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Cathay Pacific and Oneworld carrier first class passengers (+1 guest); Marco Polo Club Diamond tier members; Oneworld Emerald tier members.
What’s it like? The lounge has a suave, atmospheric feel – credit to the work done during its refurb back in 2015 – with the manned bar especially worth a visit. There’s good service, top-quality drinks and smooth jazz playing in the background, while à la carte dining is available at the restaurant, and there is a small room reserved for breads, cheeses and other small buffet items.
Key facilities Shower suites, à la carte dining, buffet, manned bar, spa (First Class lounge only)
Opening hours 5.30am-12.30am
CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE WING BUSINESS CLASS
Where is it? Near Gate 2, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? See The Bridge and The Deck above.
What’s it like? It can get crowded at some times of the day but the open-ceiling design of the lounge and natural light through the huge windows of the airport terminal helps lessen any claustrophobia. Key facilities Shower suites, buffet, Noodle Bar, Long Bar, Coffee Loft, IT zone, work “pods”
Opening hours 5.30am-last flight
CATHAY PACIFIC LOUNGE – THE WING FIRST CLASS
Where is it? Near Gate 2, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Cathay Pacific and Oneworld carrier first class passengers (+1 guest); Marco Polo Club Diamond tier members and Oneworld Emerald tier members.
What’s it like? The second of Cathay’s dedicated first class lounges, the Wing is geared towards unwinding and relaxing in seclusion, exemplified by the lounge’s Cabanas – five private areas with their own large bath and rain shower, day bed and working space.
Key facilities Private Cabanas, shower suites, Champagne bar, à la carte dining at The Haven, buffet, workstations Opening hours 5.30am-last flight
QANTAS – THE QANTAS HONG KONG LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 5 after the Departures (North) immigration and security clearance area, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Qantas, Emirates and Oneworld member airline first and business class passengers; Gold tier Qantas Frequent Flyer members and above; Sapphire tier Oneworld members and above; Emirates Skyward Gold tier members and above; and Qantas Club members.
What’s it like? This is a spacious lounge, aided by its open-ceiling design and railings looking down to the gates. Seating is plentiful, but it’s the lounge’s F&B offerings that are perhaps most notable. Key facilities Showers, buffet, yum cha trolleys, à la carte dining, manned bar, barista service
Opening hours 7.30am-11.59pm
STAR ALLIANCE MEMBER AIRLINES THAI AIRWAYS – ROYAL ORCHID LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 40, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Thai Airways and Star Alliance member airline first and business class passengers; Royal Orchid Plus Gold tier members and above; and Star Alliance Gold tier members and above.
What’s it like? Occupying some 715 sqm, Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Lounge is one of three Star Alliance member airline lounges at Hong Kong Airport. All three have separate areas for first and business class passengers, with the Royal Orchid Lounge splitting these into 20 seats in the first class area and 120 in the business class section. Key facilities Buffet, self-serve alcoholic beverages, massage chairs, children’s game zone
Opening hours 6am-11pm
SINGAPORE AIRLINES – SILVERKRIS LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 5, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance first and business class passengers; KrisFlyer Elite Gold tier members; PPS Club members and Star Alliance Gold tier members (business class section only); Star Alliance Gold tier members; Solitaire PPS Club members (first class section).
What’s it like? The SilverKris Lounge is technically a single lounge but it does have separate areas for first and business class passengers. In the main business class section, guests will find a manned bar, ample space, showers, sleek private work pods, and a pretty good buffet selection. Its only major downside is that it is entirely indoors rather than open-air, making it feel a bit less spacious and brightly lit than some of the other lounges in Hong Kong.
Key facilities Shower suites, buffet, manned bar
Opening hours 6am-12.30am
UNITED AIRLINES – UNITED CLUB LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 60, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? United and Star Alliance airline first and business class passengers; MileagePlus Premier Gold and Star Alliance Gold tier members. What’s it like? As with the other two Star Alliance member airline lounges at Hong Kong Airport, the United Club lounge has separate areas for first and business class passengers. This is a decent-size lounge, made all the better by its open-ceiling format that provides views over the terminal and ample lighting. That said, its facilities are somewhat limited – food is buffet only, and seating isn’t quite as varied or plentiful as Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris lounge, for example. United has previously suggested the opening of a dedicated section within the existing lounge that will be set aside exclusively for its Polaris business class passengers – two of the airline’s three Hong Kong services, to San Francisco and New York (Newark), are operated by aircraft with Polaris business class seats. Key facilities Shower rooms, business centre, buffet, self-serve alcoholic beverages Opening hours 6am-11.59pm
SKYTEAM MEMBER AIRLINES SKYTEAM EXCLUSIVE LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 5, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? SkyTeam Elite Plus members; business class passengers travelling on flights operated by Aeroflot, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Air. What’s it like? Large, modern and not all that busy considering it is the only lounge catering to all SkyTeam member airlines flying out of Hong Kong (unless you’re flying with Xiamen Airlines, in which case you also get access to the CNAC VIP Lounge – more on that below). The design of the lounge is bright and modern – it only opened in late 2015 – with the large wooden divider between the busier dining area and quieter seating space a particularly welcome feature.
Key facilities Showers, business centre, bar, yoga room, noodle bar, cooked-toorder cuisine
Opening hours 5.30am-1am
NON-ALLIANCE LOUNGES EMIRATES LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 40, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Emirates first and business class passengers; Emirates Skywards Gold tier members and above. Paid access is not available.
What’s it like? While it may seem a little old-fashioned at first, the Emirates Lounge in Hong Kong shouldn’t be written off your list. The food in particular is fantastic, offering a lovely selection of tasty pan-Asian and Middle Eastern dishes at the buffet. It’s also relatively uncrowded, meaning guests don’t have to tussle to secure one of the generously spread-out seats. Staff are pleasant and attentive, too. The lounge is also open-ceiling, giving it ample lighting, though a facelift could be warranted, particularly to provide all guests with power outlets by their seats, something that is noticeably lacking in the current space. Key facilities Showers, business centre, buffet, self-serve alcoholic beverages Opening hours 4.50am-7.20am/3.25pm12.05am
HONG KONG AIRLINES LOUNGE – CLUB BAUHINIA
Where is it? Near Gate 23, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Hong Kong Airlines, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Drukair, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Philippine Airlines, S7 Airlines business class/elite passengers; Fortune Wings Club Silver tier members and above. What’s it like? The older of Hong Kong Airlines’ two lounges, Club Bauhinia isn’t the largest space you’ll find at Hong Kong airport at 506 sqm, but it is one of the most “local” in feel. Expect to find a number of typical Hong Kong favourites such as soybean curd dessert, Hong Kong-style milk tea, egg puffs and dim sum. Like its younger sibling Club Autus, Club Bauhinia serves as one of the “de-facto” business class lounges for a number of other airlines as well. For Club Bauhinia, this even includes a few carriers that also have access to lounges operated by members of their airline alliances, chiefly American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Eva Air and Finnair.
Key facilities Shower suites, buffet, self-serve alcoholic beverages, rest area, workstations
Opening hours 6am-1.30am
HONG KONG AIRLINES LOUNGE – CLUB AUTUS
Where is it? Near Gates 201-230, Departures Level 7, Midfield Concourse Who gets access? Hong Kong Airlines, Aurora Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Fiji Airways, Juneyao Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, S7 Airlines, Sky Angkor Airlines, VietJet Air and Virgin Australia business class/elite passengers; Fortune Wings Club Silver tier members and above; and lounge voucher holders (HK$350/US$45).
What’s it like? The newer – and significantly larger – of Hong Kong Airlines’ two lounges at its home hub, Club Autus opened in September 2017 following a HK$35 million (US$4.5 million) investment. Club Autus is about twice the size of the older Club Bauhinia lounge – the word “Autus” in Latin means “enlargement” – and features an open-ceiling setup that provides ample lighting. F&B comprises an extensive buffet with live cooking stations as well as a bar. The lounge has six secluded chaise longues with power outlets nearby. There are also some workstations with a printer and two computers.
Key facilities Buffet, live cooking stations, alcoholic beverages, rest area, workstations Opening hours 6am-1.30am INDEPENDENT LOUNGES
PLAZA PREMIUM FIRST
Where is it? Near Gate 1, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Plaza Premium and Priority Pass members (with additional fee); and Virgin Atlantic business class passengers.
What’s it like? This is the Plaza Premium Group’s newest addition to its Hong Kong lounge offering – a more premium (and slightly more expensive) option designed to more closely rival an airline’s first class lounge offering. Located next to the group’s core Plaza Premium Lounge (East Hall), Plaza Premium First is quieter, less packed and offers a distinctly elevated experience.
Key facilities Whisky bar, à la carte dining, shower suites, spa facilities, draught beer
Opening hours 24 hours daily
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (EAST HALL)
Where is it? Near Gate 1, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Plaza Premium and Priority Pass members; business class passengers travelling on Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Jet Airways,
Malindo Air, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Shenzhen Airlines and Turkish Airlines. What’s it like? A reopening and redesign of this lounge in 2017 means it is modern and new, with some private “cubicle” seats that are good for solo travellers. The buffet section is extensive, and the shower suites are clean, large and modern. Note that this is the first of Plaza Premium’s lounges that most visitors see, and so it gets very busy. If you’re departing closer to Gate 40, head to the less crowded West Hall lounge instead.
Key facilities Shower suites, bar, buffet, work cubicles
Opening hours 24 hours daily
PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE (WEST HALL)
Where is it? Near Gate 40, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Plaza Premium and Priority Pass members; plus business class passengers travelling on Air India, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Jet Airways, Malindo Air, Philippine Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Shenzhen Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Smile and Turkish Airlines.
What’s it like? Take the tram shuttle one stop to get to it, though note it can also get busy and for some carriers, notably Air India, ANA, El Al Israel Airlines, EVA Air, SAS, SriLankan Airlines and Thai Smile, the West Hall lounge is the de facto facility, not the East Hall lounge.
There are some seating capsules at the back with small desks, or head down the corridor beside the buffet to a secluded area with armchairs and its own small buffet. It’s often empty, but does get closed off depending on the time of day. Key facilities Showers, spa facilities, self-serve alcoholic beverages, buffet Opening hours 24 hours daily
THE CENTURION LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 60, Departures Level 7, Terminal 1
Who gets access? American Express Platinum Card and Centurion members. What’s it like? This was the first Centurion Lounge from American Express in Asia when it opened in October 2017, located close to the Plaza Premium Lounge (West Hall), Emirates Lounge, United Club Lounge and Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Lounge. Given its young age this is an especially contemporary-looking lounge, and while it has a sophisticated dark colour scheme it’s an “open-air” lounge meaning there’s plenty of light. A private area is exclusively available for Centurion members and their guests.
Key facilities Shower suites, reading room, phone room, staffed bar, buffet Opening hours 5.30am-12.30am
CNAC VIP LOUNGE
Where is it? Near Gate 25, Departures Level 6, Terminal 1
Who gets access? Premium passengers on Air China, China Southern, Myanmar National Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. What’s it like? Run by the China National Aviation Corporation, the CNAC VIP Lounge is open to passengers on a number of Chinese airlines – and, curiously, Myanmar National Airlines. Key facilities Self-serve alcoholic beverages, workstations, buffet Opening hours 5.30am-8.30pm