Cathay Pacific does an incredible job with its lounges, and in particular, I’d argue the airline sets the industry standard when it comes to lounge design. For quite some time now, Cathay Pacific has been renovating The Wing First Class Lounge, which is one of the carrier’s two primary first class lounges at its Hong…
Continue reading: Gorgeous: Cathay Pacific Unveils New Flagship First Class Lounge, The Wing
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Very disappointed that the shower and bath cabanas are gone...thats more of a setback than limiting access to non CX oneworld members.
I'm at a complete loss to understand why Ben isn't sobbing over the removal of the Cabanas. I am. Smuggle in some French foam bath, draw a bath in the huge tub, hang clothes in the two-sided closet and settle in. Clothes are pressed while one luxuriates. By far my best lounge experience worldwide. The mountain of bacon at the buffet afterwards is a plus too.
The Champagne bar! (for those who imbibe) gone too? Excellent tea selection for nondrinkers like me. I'm sure many of these will continue, or may be improved in the new setup. I'm sure the new one will be great. The pics are.
By any rational assessment of lounge offerings, surely the Cabanas were among the best. I'm very sad to see them go.
The access policy is not inconsistent with certain first class lounges of other airlines.
Waiting for Cathay Pacific to reveal their new first class suites to be installed on the Boeing 777-9. Not sure when the 777-9 will be certified though.
It's hilarious that these type of airline ads show well dressed business people when the actuality is sometimes so far removed with travellers in shorts, wife beaters, flip flops and all manner of sloppy dress.
Woah! It'd almost be worth handing over all my data to the CCP to get to experience this!
(That's what Xi said...)
Disappointed as a OWE, but I can understand the first few weeks will be busy with peak seasonal travel. Better to have a great experience for some than an overcrowded rubbish experience for all.
@Ben/Lucky/whoever, may you clarify, for access, would a regional international flight, like, HKG-HND, sometimes operated on 773 with First, qualify? I see CX also operates HGK-PEK (sorta kinda international/domestic, nod nod, wink wink), also, sometimes via 773 with actual First, would that also qualify?
Looks awesome. I've been fortunate to go through HKG twice prior to pandemic and the experience at pier and wing was incredible. One of the times I scheduled on purpose an 8hr layover during the day and split time between the two (Pier/Wing) Best times for sure. There are still showers but no cabanas which is unfortunate. Who argues there's a better setup than the old Cabana? What is it? I've been to dxb, auh, EK, EY, SIN SQ, JAL and in terms of lounges in F I don't think I experienced anything quite like the Wings old Cabanas. Just wondering. Oh wait I forgot the AA Flagship! Rogghtt....NOT.
Have only been to The Pier lounges. Noticed the HKG airport ceiling in these pictures. Is this lounge acoustically isolated from the terminal?
On the no OWE access, I wonder what the new JFK access policy will be?
I don’t think it’s a huge issue that initially they are limiting to CX F and Diamond passengers. While the new Wing is new and shiny and may be slightly elevated from the Pier, it’s not like it’s a radically different concept with very different offerings.
It might be frustrating for some passengers depending on where their departure gates are (and the Wing definitely has a more convenient location for more gates), but since the Pier has opened it’s either been a superior option to the Wing in terms of offerings or the Wing has been closed, so most people who can’t get into the Wing now were used to going to the Pier anyways.
Oh, well, depending on your preferences, maybe access to more readily available showers during peak times is more useful. I get it, though; the cabanas were unique.
Correct me if I’m wrong: For J, Greenwich, unless OWE, then Soho; For F, Chelsea, right?
The fine dining concept is certainly a step up since the first and second iteration of the lounge with the tablecloth and upgraded F&B offerings. And the finishes are a nice change as well. Hopefully we can expect the same finishes and F&B offerings onboard.
The Cabana was a nice concept, it just took up too much space and certainly not enough! And the massage option is certainly nice, I just wish they had tables for a full body massage which I'm sure won't take up too much space!
While the lounges are nice (and looking forward to what they come up with at JFK, NRT and possibly SFO), what I'm really looking forward to is the full reveal of the Aria Studio on the A330, Economy, as well as what they decide to do on the A350s as they're due for an upgrade.
Was wondering about the new JFK Terminal 6 Cathay lounge with an area dedicated to first class. Opening this year (reportedly).
Ben, there's also a "lounge within a lounge" for First Class passengers (and Diamond Plus) only. It's called "The 18". Not much detail, but the first time Cathay has done this!
Oh, woah, almost forgot about that. Yes, that will be exciting! I read it's supposed to be 10K sq. ft., The Bridge (for First/Diamond), Noodle Bar, shower suites, and direct boarding from lounge. Oohlala!
This is an exciting update from Cathay Pacific—the redesigned Wing First Class Lounge truly looks like a game-changer. The blend of residential-style comfort, elegant materials, and enhanced privacy feels like a natural evolution of their already industry-leading lounges. I especially like the addition of wellness spaces and refined dining. That said, it’s a bit disappointing to see the iconic cabanas go and access temporarily restricted. Still, this clearly raises the bar for premium travel experiences.
Read the review by David Flynn of Executive Traveller. He was actual flown to HKG for the lounge unveiling, so writes first hand.
There's also The Deck for OWE as well.
The food offerings are a little more limited, but it basically never gets crowded
are these shower suites new? they look strangely familiar from my visit of one of the lounges at HKG pre-CoVid? Very nice of course but just asking if there was renovation work there?
Parts of it look like the old lounge - Hmm, it's ok.
Let's hope people stop using "elevated" in every other story...it's already more played out than "Game-changer"
Cathay lounges are some of the best and this renovation looks nice. I’m glad I had a chance to experience the cabanas before they disappeared. It was a wonderful experience.
Very disappointing that One World Emerald does not get access right now - I am skeptical it is just temporary. May be a test to make The Wing and The Pier more exclusive.
I'm hoping I get to try it at as an Emerald, at some point in the future. The other lounge (Pier) is really excellent in the meantime...
Also, two trips ago I noticed the Qantas business lounge (granted not first-class) was much better than I expect for business lounges everywhere. It's on the wrong end of the airport for cathay flights, but they had a huge bar, airy high ceiling, and a dimsum cart service! I'd recommend trying it if you have access and haven't been there yet...
For anyone who cares...I did actually make it there (the Wing); true First, like 773, qualifies, even if short-haul; long-haul J, even as OWE, does not.
Wrong. It's actually beautiful. New shower facilities, dining area, massage space, all excellent. Needs to be actual true First, like on 773, even if short-haul; J with OWE does not qualify.
Tested this out myself. 773 true-First got access; J long-haul OWE did not (at Wing), but still works for The Pier. Of course, there's always The Bridge if mere J without OWE.