During my long journey to Abu Dhabi, I had the chance to check out several lounges at Hong Kong Airport, including the Chase Sapphire Lounge Hong Kong, which opened in October 2022.
Continue reading: Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge Hong Kong Airport (HKG)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
HKG has historically been an important hub for business travel, but its passenger traffic still still only half of what it was pre-covid (and coincidently, before the CCP extradition law). Seems like an odd place for Chase to open their 2nd lounge.
The reason for the lounges on the right hand side of the terminal not to be signposted at the left hand side escalator is that there is an identical escalator at the root of the right terminal arm, which I guess is the official route to the AMEX, United and Chase lounges (no need to cross that bridge over the main concourse).
At the moment, this is my favorite Priority Pass lounge in the world. Certainly, it's better than any Centurion Lounges.
Ben, how was the air temperature when you were there? I visited this lounge in early October, and it was unbearably hot. I suppose the air conditioning in the terminal is optimized to be comfortable at the main floor level, so as a result an open space closer to the terminal ceiling can get very warm.
I also spent time in the Boston lounge on the same trip, completely agree that HKG lounge is not nearly as good as Boston in almost every aspect except crowding.
Had the pleasure of visiting 6 of the lounges there in May.
They were all great. This Sapphire was the best one of the 3 that did not belong to any airline. We visited the Centurion and the Plaza Premium lounge as well. Those were not as good as the Chase lounge.
But I agree, the CX lounges are by far superior. Especially those noodles in there. We went to all 3 of the lounges, and always had a bowl of the noodles at each one.
FWIW, past visits to The Wing near Gate 4 (also at the top level of the terminal) were hot - especially in the late afternoon.
Seems like a design 'feature' of the terminal.
Chase Sapphire lounges look great. I just don't understand their lounge strategy. Why HKG before so many other US airports? Chase Sapphire Reserve is a US based card. Sure, this is accessible to all Priority Pass members, but realistically, Chase Sapphire lounges need to compete w/ Capital One and Centurion lounges.
I actually like the strategy of letting Priority Pass get one visit a year, it let's them get a taste of the experience and will encourage more people to sign up. I just don't see why they aren't prioritizing the major US airports more. BOS makes tons of sense. But then you have airports like CLT, LAX, etc. that are starved for lounges and it would make a ton of sense to focus on those.
I visited this lounge last year and was very impressed. There was a good selection of hot and cold food and it was of good quality; there was also a bartender mixing cocktails. There's plenty of space and I particularly liked the balcony area where i felt more private and airy. Of course it's no competition with any of the CX lounges but it is an excellent Priority Pass lounge nonetheless. On the other hand, the Plaza Premium Lounge across from it was absolutely dreadful. Horrible atmosphere that resembled a dental office with terrible food and very cheap wines.
Agreed though these lounge contracts would be signed years in advance.
Wouldn't the target locations be affluent US airports with no Centurion or Cap One lounges?
I'm confused - isn't there a Sapphire Terrace lounge at AUS? This article says Boston is the only other Sapphire lounge.
The name is the key - it's the Sapphire Terrace, not a full-blown Sapphire Lounge. It's 85% outdoors and in the sun (guess how well that works six months out of the year) and the offerings are tiny - some canned drinks, one or two kinds of beer, and cold food out of (free) vending machines that are empty more often than not. My last visit there was at opening and they hadn't filled the vending machines so there was basically nothing of interest.
Oh, and for whatever reason it doesn't open until 10AM which is pretty worthless if you're travelling in the morning.
I do *not* like Priority Pass members get access, because we pay good money for that card and letting others in dilutes what can be offered to the people who pay for the privilege. Everyone and their dog has Priority Pass.