For the first time in several years, Cathay Pacific will be opening an all-new lounge, as flagged by Executive Traveller. However, it won’t be at an airport.
In this post:
Cathay Pacific opening lounge at ferry terminal
In August 2023, Cathay Pacific will be opening a lounge at the Shekou ferry terminal, which is part of the port of Shenzhen, China. Why would Cathay Pacific be opening a lounge at a ferry terminal, rather than at an airport?
Well, Shenzhen is the closest city to Hong Kong in mainland China, and it’s only a short distance away. Cathay Pacific doesn’t fly between Shenzhen and Hong Kong (the airports are only 24 miles apart), but the airline still wants to be an attractive option for travelers from this incredibly important business hub.
There is frequent ferry service between Shenzhen and Hong Kong Airport, which takes just 30 minutes. To make the whole experience more seamless, Cathay Pacific will be opening a lounge there. The lounge will be styled after Cathay Pacific’s existing lounge motif.
We don’t know how extensive the food and beverage selection will be, and if this will be comparable to Cathay Pacific lounges at airports, or a bit watered down (I’d assume the latter).
We also don’t yet know what entry requirements for the lounge will be. Logically, I would assume that entry requirements will be the same as at Cathay Pacific’s lounges at the airport, meaning they probably follow standard oneworld lounge access policies. That could mean that oneworld first and business class passengers, as well as oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, have access.
However, it’s also possible that entry will be limited to Cathay Pacific premium passengers and elite members, since I’m not sure partner airlines want to pay for lounge access at a ferry terminal.
Hong Kong Airport’s impressive ferry service
Many people don’t realize that Hong Kong Airport has the SkyPier, offering ferry service to all kinds of points across the Greater Bay Area.
What’s cool about these ferry services is how seamless the whole process is. If coming from mainland China, you can check your bag at the ferry terminal, obtain your boarding pass for your flight, and then basically arrive at Hong Kong Airport as if you’re a connecting passenger. It works just as seamlessly in the other direction.
It’s nice to see Cathay Pacific trying to further improve these kinds of transfers.
Bottom line
In August 2023, Cathay Pacific will be opening a lounge at Shenzhen’s port. Shenzhen is an important market, and is just a 30-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong Airport. Cathay Pacific already offers check-in at the ferry terminal, and soon there will even be a lounge.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific opening a lounge at a ferry terminal?
Given the contempt HKers have for mainlanders, I think this lounge will just turn into another example of why we can’t have nice things.
I think it will be similar to that lounge in the Middle East that is more for the transfer than a lounge. It will be very watered down considering people will not be spending any length of time there. The real value may be in the details such as if they can offer some sort of priority seating on the ferry or what additional services they can offer when you arrive at Hong Kong Airport, etc.
Wish the same would open up in Macau as well.
Sadly, the frequency between HKIA and Macau ferry services have cut down dramatically as currently only 3 boats a week operate between the two, otherwise there used to be around a dozen every day before pandemic.
The direct bus only runs 3x a day so not enough to fit everyone’s schedule.
What are you talking about, there are presently dozens of ferries every day between the 2 cities. Do you live under a rock?
Hiro was specifically referring to between *HKIA* (HK International Airport) and Macau. Schedules are on the TurboJET website.
Before you denigrate someone, perhaps improve your reading comprehension first.
"and if this will be comparable to Cathay Pacific lounges at airports, or a bit watered down"
I see what you did there
Do they accept priority pass members? That would be nice
FYI, I'm not so sure you can check a bag at the ferry for a flight to the USA (like the Cathay City Terminal). Maybe things have changed, but at one time you could not.
USA bound flights are always excluded even with CX’s own in town check in in Hong Kong. USA will always make it difficult.
I was denied checking in SQ2 to SFO at the ferry terminal. I thought it was a SQ limitation, now I know it is a USA thing.
@Justin
I vaguely remember you could check in for US bound CX flights at the downtown MTR station. But that was before the pandemic.
@Justin - You are correct. I’ve checked my bag at Central before. You may need to check in at the airport to get your boarding pass - I don’t recall. But I did check my bags through from Central.
It's a combination of airline and US-bound flights thing. Not every airline participates in the upstream check-in, e.g. KE and PR both have flights out of HKG, but aren't on the list. But notice that (at least according to this chart), United Airines flights ARE allowed to do upstream check-in.
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/transport/mainland-connection/airline-check-in-at-prd-and-macao.page
It's likely similar to that extra security screening at the gate of US-bound international flights. My guess is that the US authorities...
It's a combination of airline and US-bound flights thing. Not every airline participates in the upstream check-in, e.g. KE and PR both have flights out of HKG, but aren't on the list. But notice that (at least according to this chart), United Airines flights ARE allowed to do upstream check-in.
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/transport/mainland-connection/airline-check-in-at-prd-and-macao.page
It's likely similar to that extra security screening at the gate of US-bound international flights. My guess is that the US authorities don't have oversight/won't sign off on the security of the other airlines at the ferry ports, but deemed UA to have enough security measures in place to do so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Even without the upstream check-in, taking the ferry is great: it's fast and not crowded at all (this could depend on the time of day and if there are enough sailings to keep up with flights). The SkyPier has its own check-in area right after you get off the boat that is fast and convenient.
This is brilliant!