Review: Dragonair G16 Lounge Hong Kong Airport

Lucky, KA is not a LCC...it was established as the premium carrier from HK to mainland China. CX ultimately bought them outright because, among other things, KA's product is superior to CX's and the local business community - ie, mainly finance professionals shelling out heaps for tickets - prefer KA. Now it's CX's feeder airline to smaller airports in CX's network plus heaps of mainland Chinese cities. Any CX regular will tell you we generally prefer KA, not CX, to mainland Chinese cities, particular in J and F where catering is vastly superior on KA.

Since Dragonair flies to regional destination, I am not surprised you may not find those food appetizing from its look. As a person in South-East Asia region, and from the food name you post I find those appetizing though, and I don't find a lot of food you find in western lounge appetizing.

Guess it is just culture difference and how the lounge is cartered to to its intended user.

and by way of background, that lounge used to be called the "Dragonair Lounge". It got changed to the (lame) name of G16 as Cathay doesn't want to distinguish it as the KA lounge.

KA flies the bulk of CX's frequencies to PEK and PVG. Most of us in HK try to swap for KA on PEK/PVG flights - the KA flight attendants are far more used to battle stations with the mainlanders than CX FAs, and as mentioned previously catering is significantly better on KA than CX regionally.

FWIW, they still serve Haagen Daaz in economy class.

Hey Lucky

"Dragonair is Cathay Pacific’s low cost subsidiary"

are you 100% sure with that, I always thought that KA is a subsidiary for CX that holds operating rights for mainland China since originally CX was allowed to operate to mainland China.

@ bobtrial @ Kevin -- My mistake, thanks. Fixed the post.

Ben, you'll be pleased to know that CX is considering a make-over for the G16 lounge, although understandably it's not highest priority.

@ bobtrial @ Kevin -- Good catch, thanks. Fixed the post.

The main advantage to G16 is that it actually stays open until the last flight leaves. CX lounges close well before, and if you find yourself on a 2am flight, G16 may be your only choice, CX ticket or not.

Lucky,
As a KA passenger, you do get all the standard benefits like oneworld loung access like you otherwise would on any other OW carrier

Lucky,

I just happened to be in Hong Kong flying on Dragonair to Kunming! I didn't even use the G16 lounge, as I went for the wing. So to answer your question, if you're flying in business class on Dragonair, you can use any of Cathay's lounges. In fact, they tried to direct me to The Cabin lounge when they gave me my boarding pass and I asked if I could go to the wing or the bridge, and they said "of course“。

Dragonair passengers get access to all oneworld lounges per the same cabin class rules as parent company Cathay Pacific.

KA is very highly regarded by passengers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China. I suggest that you try a flight with them and compare them with CX. Their food and service tends to be superior to Cathay on the same routes. Their reputation was cemented when there were several accidents involvement CAAC planes in the 1980's and 1990's and many HK people would gladly (and still gladly) pay a premium to fly them.

I agree that the G16 lounge looks dumpy but I do like their traditional Chinese offerings. They have really good noodles (try them next time) and their dim sum selection is different from the Wing. Authentic and tasty.

Oh, and KA cabin crew have a reputation for being prettier than CX too. Another reason to choose them.

Fwiw, when I flew KA F last year, I had access to the Wing or Pier F lounge. I forgot which lounge I visited, as only 1 of the F lounges was open due to construction.

Dragonair passengers do have access to other OW lounges.

And from what I read somewhere, the G16 lounge was 'acquired' when CX took over KA, but they just never got round to refurbishing it. They used to try directing KA passengers there instead of the Wing, but I guess that policy has now changed, it (probably) having been quite ineffective as everyone knew about the vastly superior CX lounges.

One dispenses a measure of liquor by pushing up on the bottom plastic nozzle with their glass. Not "with those handles you twist to dispense a shot."

The lounge appears to be much like the other CX lounges, and has much the same food. There are minor variations from lounge to lounge, nothing big.

But it is interesting to hear that KA is considered better than CX. I have only flown KA to/from Kolkata, and on this route they use their worst plane and serve the worst food, even in J. Both in Y and in J, they try to conserve their alcoholic drinks, you have to demand it.

"The main advantage to G16 is that it actually stays open until the last flight leaves" I did an overnight @HKG last fall, and enjoyed this open-late lounge (after enjoying the Bridge) then had 3 hours in main terminal seating (I had a book) until the Wing opened up.

@ Chuck Lesker -- Surprised as well to hear that Dragonair is considered better than Cathay Pacific. I learn something new every day!

I have flown KA many times PVG to HKG, very good service on all classes. Yes CX is great on long haul F and C but KA dominates regional travel. The noodles at the G16 lounge are great.

@Lucky Calling the bathroom tired seems a little harsh, looked nice and clean to me. Is it because it has wood rather than marble panelling that caused you to say so?

Opps - calling the bathroom depressing I mean (not tired) seems harsh. I like the lighter wood, brightens up the space more.

The G16 lounge is an awesome place to wait for the late evening flights on CX. The Bridge, Wing and Pier are usually packed with people (even on the F side) waiting for the midnight departure bank. G16 usually has one or two people in the entire lounge. The noodles are the same ones you get in the other lounges and there is nothing wrong with the upside down booze bottles, I prefer a measured shot to eyeballing my pours. Sure the lounge is a bit out of the way from the gates where the long haul CX departures leave from; but it's worth the extra walk for some peace and quiet before a long flight.

No offense Lucky, but from reading your blog, it seems that you just don't like Chinese food as much. This would explain many of the puzzling things I'm reading here. I'm ethnic Chinese, so I'll explain things from how a Chinese person would judge the offerings:
1) you dislike the food offerings in the KA lounge, whereasmany people here disagree - I haven't been to this or the Qantas lounge, but from reading the menus, I'd like the KA selection very much. The Qantas selection seems very salad heavy, which many Chinese do not like.
2) you dislike the Air China Lounge in Beijing - I agree it's not a great lounge by any means, but you actually rated it below domestic lounges in the US?! That can't be right. The Air China lounge has far better food compared to US lounges, like noodle soup and an extensive dim sum selection. I think just the fact that the food choices are hot places the lounge far above whatever cheese bits and cookies on offer in most US lounges.
3) your reviews of Chinese airlines in general - Again, they're not great, but I think they're better than what you may give them credit for. Service-wise, the flight attendants are great when you speak Chinese. The Chinese food options are generally good. While the wine is usually cheap, the variety of teas available is a big plus. And for economy class passengers (the vasy majority of passengers), they're better than American airlines hands down: free checked bags (2 bags in domestic!), meals on even short flights, recognition as an elite FFP member (flight attendant will find your seat and address you by name referring to your status), etc.

@Jim I second your thoughts.

Apparently he puts much more emphasis on the visuals (and prestige) than the substance, when it comes to Asian food and decor designs to say the least.

But I still appreciate the reviews. I just can't help laughing sometimes.

I realise this was written many years ago, but this article seems very dismissive. Perhaps that is because you deliberately chose to sneak in an extra lounge visit at the end of your connection time. I haven't used this lounge, but IMO the furniture was more appealing than the plastic (looking) industrial junk you raved about in the QF lounge. The food offering seemed superior to most lounges in the US or Canada.

Come to drop down a comment on updates on the G16 lounge -

G16 has been closed in 2016, renovated and renamed as "The Deck" under Cathay Pacific's branding in 2018. Still sitting at the same location and has just opened it's doors again since COVID begin. Lucky has indeed reviewed "The Deck" and I will attach a link for those who somehow come in and wish to learn about this lounge current state.
https://onemileatatime.com/cathay-pacific-deck-lounge-review/

By the way, I remember G16 are not particularly well received among reviewers, local frequent flyers and even Cathay themselves given the huge difference in overall quality. Cathay don't particularly mention this lounge due to the small size, underwhelming offerings as well as G16 history - G16 actually is a lounge inherited from Dragonair rather than a fully Cathay designed lounge. The decors and food offerings are some indications to these differences. Since Cathay are rather busy on other projects by then they just left G16 to rot until they closed it down and refurbished it for good.