Review: SkyTeam Lounge Hong Kong Airport

Generally I agree, but I find the Skyteam lounge still better than the *A options.. SQ lounge is an even darker cavern.

keitherson - got you but United Club is great option in HK. I’ve been to SkyTeam lounge many times and breakfast really sucks. Lunch and dinner options are a bit better and noodle bar helps it so much. They have Moet in the bar area however the lounge crew is too slow replacing empty bottle for a new one. The showers are okay too. It’s nothing bad but nothing good.

I feel really sorry for the folks travelling from HKG airport with Sky team and/or Star Alliance Airlines. Oneworld airlines offers such a better experience overall with fantastic lounges. And you don't even need to buy a First class ticket (as I do each week) to enjoy them. The Pier Business or the Qantas lounges are decent enough

Delta used to use the Virgin lounge, which was great. Then they switched to this one, which is depressing. I suppose it doesn't matter now as they're killing off the SEA-HKG flight.

Agreed that the lounge is not that good at all. I use this lounge frequently as I depart from HK quite often. Sometimes, I just rather use AMEX Centurion lounge instead. Not sure is SkyTeam lounge better than the Plaza premium lounge or just about the same...what do you all think?

@Stanley
Plaza Premium opened a new "Plaza Premium First" lounge in HKG, and based on the description and photos on loungereview(dot)com, I'll gladly pay the $25 as a PP member to get in.

While I made an exhausting run to peek at the Centurion Lounge, my wife was wondering who the guy taking all the pictures in SkyTeam is. Fun to see you. Agree on the lounge as middling. She approves of the fish ball soup and the rice rolls.

@ Stanley -- Definitely think the Centurion Lounge is nicer. Haven't visited the new Plaza Premium First Lounge, but I imagine that's nicer than this. Am curious to check it out the next time I pass through Hong Kong.

Lucky, I’m curious what you needed to show at the Korean Air transit desk for them to issue boarding passes. I’ve landed in Hong Kong before on separate itineraries with the incoming on Cebu Pacific and the outgoing on Cathay. The CX transit desk said they don’t support issuing boarding passes if you arrive on another airline. So I had to enter Hong Kong and go to the ticket counter. Are there certain airlines/airports that we can’t expect to use a transit desk to get a boarding pass? My guess is this is related to low cost carriers but I can’t figure out why it would matter

I realize that’s not the subject of your post, but it would be nice to know how to take advantage of it

Couldn't agree more, the dungeon feel is depressing. Plaza Premium is a great option...

Aside from the rather paltry options at the sandwich bar, I found it amusing they felt the need to publish instructions on how to make a sandwich. I've been to several countries in Asia and have not found sandwich-making skills to be lacking in any of them.

Wait... the ingredients go *inside* the bread? I've been making my sandwiches wrong my entire life!

Ben there was an airside traffic desk for KE? Are the airside traffic desks @ HKG before you clear security again or after clearing security when coming off a flight on a different ticket? This process is more convenient in SIN where there is no security upon exiting the aircraft and only security upon entering the gate. Thanks!

Sorry airside transit*** desks

@ happyprime23. If you only have hand baggage there is no reason at all Cathay cannot issue a boarding pass at the airside counters. It performs the same function as the landide check in with the same system and printers The agent performs the same entries
If you have separate tickets then cebu Pacific should not check bags to your final destination on CX. In that case you have to collect them and check in again However that’s pretty quick at HK although you have to take the train from the satellite.
If Cathay is refusing to issue a pass with hand luggage whilst airside I would ask them for explanation based on my comments above as they have no reason to refuse

I'm surprised that you think this is worse than the Skyteam KAL lounge at LAX - or else you forgot about that one! The buffet here at least looked expansive!

@ Mike -- The Korean Air Lounge LAX is operated by Korean Air, and while it's accessible by SkyTeam passengers, it's not a lounge run by SkyTeam. SkyTeam has lounges in London, Dubai, Vancouver, etc., but Los Angeles isn't one of their lounges.

Agree the Skyteam lounge falls below expectations, the new Plaza
Premium First class lounge is much better, I hope VS don't switch and direct us to the Skyteam offering!

Hi Lucky,

I’m thinking of trying Saudia B787 business class out of Istanbul airport around the time of the move between the “old” and the “new” airport. Do you (or someone else who’s reading this) have any expierence with newly opened airports (like within the first few days) like this? It seems like a fun way to see two airports in one go without spending miles/cash on an additional trip. Thank you:)

@Chub I am still deciding on whether I should pay to try out the new Plaza Premium Lounge First. I would have to wait on a full review and some comments on it. Hehe.

@Lucky I hope one of these days, I can have such an honor to bump into you at the AMEX Centurion Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge or SkyTeam Lounge.

For all you Star Alliance fans, I found the Thai Airways to be quite nice. It’s a huge lounge but partitioned all over so you can find a private alcove throughout. I still preferred the food at AmEx Centurion.

Skyteam is the junk alliance so you get the junk lounges.

If you think this is bad then visit the amex lounge in SYD, at least in this dungeon the food looks edible and you may even get a seat.......

Hong Kong is one of my favourite (if not favourite) airports to travel and even with no lounge it is still great. Apparently the Sky Team Sydney lounge is one of the better ones.

@Stanley
I’m not sure if this counts as a review in your book, but https://loungereview.com/lounges/plaza-premium-first-hkg/

The KAL lounge at LAX could be so much better. It needs a refurb. It’s fine but nothing special unlike the other lounges in the terminal
The new midfield concourse will have room for 2-4 lounges and an wondering which ones I also believe there’s space for a new lounge at the “ gateway “ which will be the access point between the main building and concourse.
The 2 delta skyclubs at LAX are not good
So potentially with all the rebuilding and expansion LAX could host a top noch SkyTeam lounge. Let’s see

@chub thank you

@ nice article and also found out that they also have this concept at Kuala Lumpur as well.

@ Chub nice article and also found out that they also have this concept at Kuala Lumpur as well.

It's worth mentioning that this used to be the Qantas Business Class lounge when it first opened. Qantas decamped to the current location (the former BA lounge) only 2 years later - I guess they shared the view that open views are paramount.

From the pictures, the layout looks quite similar, but the decor is quite different.