Review: Cathay Pacific lounges, Hong Kong

At its home airport Chek Lap Kok, Cathay Pacific has one of the most extensive lounge offerings of any airline, with four departure lounges: The Wing, The Pier, The Bridge, and The Cabin (there is also an arrival lounge, less imaginatively named The Arrival). The Wing, located on level 7 after security and immigration, is the flagship lounge with both a business class and first class section. It is an outstanding lounge, with extensive seating areas (featuring the fantastic pod-style Solus chairs you’ll find in many Cathay lounges), a sit-down restaurant in the first class section and detour-worthy noodle bar over in business class, as well as a range of other facilities. Getting access to The Wing requires a business class ticket on Cathay Pacific or another Oneworld carrier, or a Oneworld Sapphire equivalent card in any of the Oneworld frequent flier schemes. To move into the first class section, you’ll need a first class ticket or a Oneworld Emerald card – and there is one element of The Wing that makes that move into first class particularly interesting: the five private Cabanas.

In addition to twelve, already very lovely, shower suites, The Wing has five Cabanas, available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Like your own little private airline lounge, each Cabana has a wet area with full-size bathtub and rain shower, a daybed, desk, wardrobe, separate vanity, and private toilet.

I love the design of the Cabana, which is dominated by light wood and marble. The glass wall with the lattice work at the far end, with the pebbles behind it, successfully creates a sense of airiness while being in a windowless room. There are robes and slippers, as well as giant soft white towels and toiletries in large dispensers. You are asked to limit your time in the Cabana to 90 minutes, so that there is a chance for others to enjoy it too.

With most European-bound flights leaving Hong Kong towards midnight, it allows for the perfect pre-flight routine: I plan my arrival for about 730-8pm, which means getting through security without any stress. A leisurely dinner in the sit-down restaurant, or some noodles and pork buns over in the business class section, and towards 9pm I try and grab a Cabana.

That leaves an hour and a half to relax – or do some work – in a perfectly quiet space, then I take a shower right before I head to the gate to board. Once in my seat, I take a bottle of water if it is handed out, recline and go straight to bed, trying to sleep all the way through to breakfast before landing in Europe.

Naturally, the lounge has free WiFi access that you can use on multiple devices. There is a wide range of alcohol available, as well as champagne, but I tend to steer clear of alcohol when flying.

Any of the Cathay Pacific lounges at Chek Lap Kok will be an agreeable space to spend your pre-flight time. If I had to make a choice among the business class options, I’d have some noodles and pork buns in The Wing, and then head over to The Bridge – The Wing is a “balcony lounge”, which means it is open to the terminal below; The Bridge can be a bit quieter. When in first class, or with a Oneworld Emerald card in your hand, The Wing Cabanas are a no-brainer. It is one of the nicest lounge experiences there is.