After more than 3 years, one of the best lounges in the world has reopened: The Pier Cathay First Class
Hong Kong, along with China have been the two most reluctant destinations to reopen their borders and once they opened [...]
Cathay Pacific
Oneworld
HKG
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, along with China have been the two most reluctant destinations to reopen frontierand and once they opened in early 2023, they slowly began to return to normal.
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The best bonuses
In recent days, exactly on July 19, there has been one more step toward a return to normalcy: Cathay Pacific has reopened its best lounge the one that is most exclusive, most beautiful, and most admired by frequent flyers the world over. I was lucky enough to go through it a few days later, on July 30. Here is my review
Location
This lounge is located at theEnd of the international terminal, near gate 63. Impossible not to notice it as the golden signs indicate the escalators to be taken to access this small sanctuary.
Access
Entering this lounge is not for everyone, but as always the beauty of being loyal to an alliance is that you are rewarded even when you travel in economy, although this is not the case for me since I travel business class today with a ticket paid for with points and a handful of euros.
To enter you must travel first class with Cathay Pacific or one of the oneWorld companies. The alternative is Have the highest status in the Marco Polo loyalty program, or Have a status equivalent to Emerald in one of the oneWorld companies and travel aboard one of them.
Translated if you have Emerald status and travel BA in economy you get in, if you have status but travel Lufthansa you save your way and go to another lounge such as the Centurion or one of the many Plaza Premium lounges there.
The lounge
The special feature is that unlike all other lounges at this airport, The Pier is not located on the floor above the gates and is not open to the terminal, Here we are downstairs in a decidedly more intimate setting.
Since passing the reception one has the impression of being in a boutique hotel and not an airport lounge. Actually, there is nothing at all except the view that reminds you that you are a passenger and not a guest. Just the corridor dividing the lounge areas alone makes it clear that you are in an above-average location. The fact that it is uncrowded also contributes to the feeling of exclusivity.
Instead of continuing down the corridor if you turn immediately left you enter the bar area, and here it feels like one of those 5-star bars in New York.
The circular bar, elegant décor and displayed bottles erase the residual memory of being in a waiting room. The wine list is as important as the cocktails.
From the bar we enter the relaxation area, here there are different types of seating all with a spatial view of the runway, or rather the fingers. We are at the same height as the nose of the airplanes, it almost feels like looking into the eyes of the pilots.
Then there is a small galley, an area to get a drink, a savory or some sweets.
I had to snack, so I treated myself to two maccarons, two pastries and a glass of champagne.
Along the corridor you reach the SPA area, showers and cabanas.
On the opposite side, on the other hand, there are micro offices with iMac27″ and telephone, here one can work undisturbed and in case also print thanks to the A3 printer available in the common room.
Moving on you come to the gem of the lounge, the restaurant.
Services
The first thing I did as soon as I arrived was to head to the spa, I expected long waits for a massage but instead "now? " so I treated myself to 15 minutes of intense shoulder and neck massage.
The other options were an eye treatment, perhaps given my dark circles under my eyes it made more sense this, or a classic Thai-style foot massage.
I worked a little bit in the office station, but then I couldn't resist and got assigned a cabana.
Again, I thought there was a line, but instead they were all free.
Granted, it is not a bedroom, as Swiss's first class lounge offers, for example, or other lounges around the world from Qatar to Oman or even Riga's PrimeClass, however, it is perfect for secluding yourself, working on your PC, and enjoying the private view of the runway.
Of course, if you want you can lower the electric curtain and be protected from prying eyes.
Food & Beverage
Of the bar and snack I mentioned, the restaurant is therefore missing from the roll call.
As the bum, scrounger and crasher that I am, I couldn't help but sit down at the table to eat at least a couple of the dishes prepared under the supervision of one of Hong Kong's best chefs.
In conclusion
This time I was lucky, had I walked by the week before, I would have found the door closed, and instead I was able to experience the service of this lounge in person. Of course it won't be as huge as Qatar's in Doha, it won't be La Premiere in Paris, but it is definitely In the top 5 best lounges in the world.
Pro
- The location
- The restaurant
- Le cabane
Against
- None