Accessing CX "Wing" lounge in HK while flying Qantas

[Ghostdunks]

Just a quick question....I'm a WP flying Premium Economy on a Qantas flight tomorrow out of HK back to Melb... Can I access the CX "Wing" first class lounge tomorrow or because there's a Qantas First class lounge in the airport, I can only go to that one?

Just heard a lot of good things about the "Wing" lounge and wanted to see it for myself.

Thanks!

 

[QF029]

You can access The Wing and any other One World F lounge.

 

[gpr49697]

this is my favourite hangout at HKG whether i am flying QF, CX or Dragonair.

i am not sure how good the QF lonuge is, would be interested to hear what people think that have been in both?

 

[tyrolean]

this is my favourite hangout at HKG whether i am flying QF, CX or Dragonair.

i am not sure how good the QF lonuge is, would be interested to hear what people think that have been in both?

The wing is great. I love the cabañas! Taking a bath when spending a bit of time between the flight is just relaxing! Much better than the QF/BA-Lounge.

 

[Ghostdunks]

Typing this from the QF First Class Lounge at HKIA...My impressions of both are:

QF First Class Lounge:
So so..limited food selection at the "buffet". Ubiquitous congee and some pork buns, along with some sandwiches. One of those grab food from the selection and go sit in the lounge somewhere to enjoy your food as opposed to a sit down affair. Seems to be quite wide variety of alcohol available, although I'm not a heavy drinker, so I wouldn't be able to attest to the quality. Lounge itself seems to be quite spacious, and not many people actually using the lounge. This is the second time I've been here, and both times, its been quite quiet. Service has been pretty good

Wing:
I would definitely rate this higher than the QF First class lounge... Food selection is much much better, with the choice of doing the "buffet" or having a sit down meal. There were two different sit down meal areas, Havana bar and Noodle bar.. I tried the Havana bar, and food choices there were quite reasonable(definitely larger selection than QF). The lounge area itself is huge, I would save at least twice if not 3x the size of the QF lounge. Was also a LOT more people in the lounge(to be expected as this is CX home port I guess), but this didn't stop me getting a table easily for a meal. One area where it definitely had an edge over the QF lounge was the "cabanas" available in the first class area(the Wing is made up of both first class and business areas, unlike the QF one, where they seem to be different lounges). These cabanas were pretty cool, with a shower, tub you could soak in and relax, and a sun lounger deck chair. Although not very useful for me, as I just came from a HK apartment where I had a shower beforehand(as I'm assuming most people do, before a flight!!), I can see the benefits if you were in HKIA for a transit stop before catching the next flight, would be nice to have the shower and relax in the tub.

Both lounges offered free internet too, which I guess is also to be expected nowadays.

So in summary, would rate the CX First Class lounge(Wing) over the QF First class lounge at HKIA. Both, however, would be surpassed by both the Melb/Syd QF First Class lounge offerings, mainly due to the free spa treatments and the quality of the meals available at the restaurant area of the lounge.

 

[dk4]

...would be interested to hear what people think that have been in both?

Of the two mezzanine level, First Class lounges; IMO, Cathay's is vastly superior to Qantas' (from efficient in-seat waiter service, to the elevator in the lounge giving easy access to the departure concourse level below, not to mention the range of food options).

Qantas lounges, however, are located closer to the gates that Qantas tend to use, with the dungeon-style Business lounge being the most proximate - so my plan would be to spend most of the time with CX F, until its gets close to boarding time, then make my way down and across to QF's J lounge, for a pit stop on the way to boarding. (Or if you want to add the QF F lounge into the lounge-crawl, then do it straight after the CX F lounge, as they are on opposite ends of the same mezzanine level, then head down to the J lounge to await the boarding call.)

 

[anat0l]

There were two different sit down meal areas, Havana bar and Noodle bar.

Unless they changed the name, I think you'll find the substantial buffet "restaurant" is called The Haven.

The Haven has food provided to it by The Peninsula Hotel.


I agree that the CX Wing beats the QF/BA lounge, but sometimes it can depend on what mood you are in.

For J lounges, I'd almost say that all of the CX Wing J, CX Pier J and QF/BA J lounges draw even. The first of those has an open atmosphere, the second has windows and the last of them has neither, but otherwise they're all pretty much the same. Food selection tends to be extensive during the day in the CX lounges, whereas for the QF/BA lounge it's time-of-day dependent.

As for the F lounge variety, definitely CX Wing F for The Haven (although The Haven at CX Pier F is a bit brighter) and the cabanas. That is, if you can get a cabana, otherwise the shower suites in CX Wing F are small. On the other hand, the CX Pier F has no cabanas but the shower suites are very big.

The CX Wing concierge (and probably similar at CX Pier) can also take care of some secretarial tasks - e.g. sending faxes - for you. And then there is the Long Bar (now if only they could mix coughtails).

The QF/BA F lounge has a rather Victorian look about it (the lounge decor coupled with the paintings and so on), which contrasts a lot with the more stony, down-to-earth-ish look of the CX lounges (particularly the Wing). It is also open top so that may suit some others that need a different mood to relax.

Ironically, the popularity of the CX lounges sometimes results in them being crowded. Not overcrowded that you couldn't find a seat (certainly, plenty of room always on the Long Bar, of which QF/BA do not have a bar), but the noise just might get to you. The irony of the QF/BA lounges (particularly F) not being as popular as the CX lounges also lends itself to being, at most times, quieter than the CX lounges. Again, that may suit some people.

Another irony? The shower suites in the QF/BA J lounge are bigger than those in the QF/BA F lounge. Go figure :-| :shock:

 

[Ghostdunks]

Thanks for the correction on "Haven" Its too early in the morning for my eyes to focus here....!

 

[Ozvirginuk]

I've not yet had the pleasure of experiencing the CX Wings F lounge, but I'm looking forward to doing so later this year.

As for the QF/BA F lounge, I'm afraid the best way to describe it is pathetic. It's fairly large, sure, but that's about the extent of the good bits. The food is practically non-existent and there was very limited choice of wine when I was last there. Given the price BA and QF charge for F class, and the fact that there are a not insignificant number of daily flights operated by the 2 carriers combine, it's really not good enough.

Hopefully at CX's homebase you'll have a more luxurious experience in the Wings lounge.

Oz

 

[JohnK]

i am not sure how good the QF lonuge is, would be interested to hear what people think that have been in both?

All First Class lounges in HKG are quite OK.

The QF First Lounge is spacious, quieter most of the time with very different clientelle to the CX Lounges, has a wide variety of self serve alcohol and has an adequate selection of self serve food. Both of the last 2 points are extremely important to me as I do not want to be waited on hand and foot and I want to decide what I want and how much I want.

I forget which of the CX First Lounges I visited last time (Wing or Pier) but they had this beautiful smoked salmon on offer but I could not get my hands on it. It was served by the person behind the buffet who would only put a small piece on the plate each time and I kept asking for a second piece. That is all I was asking for and went back about 3-4 times to get some more but I felt like a beggar so gave up.

Some of these things may not be important to some people but they are to me. I want to be able to eat and drink as much as I like of whatever is on offer not be rationed by some stingy employee.

 

[connieguy]

All First Class lounges in HKG are quite OK. I forget which of the CX First Lounges I visited last time (Wing or Pier) but they had this beautiful smoked salmon on offer but I could not get my hands on it. It was served by the person behind the buffet who would only put a small piece on the plate each time and I kept asking for a second piece. That is all I was asking for and went back about 3-4 times to get some more but I felt like a beggar so gave up. Some of these things may not be important to some people but they are to me. I want to be able to eat and drink as much as I like of whatever is on offer not be rationed by some stingy employee.

Hi John, I'm with you on the smoked salmon. Never enough available. Not in any lounge.

I do prefer self serve but would add the SYD/MEL QF F lounge sit down meal service is very good. AND they will give you as much as you want to eat with a smile and a polite ask. Their Salt and Pepper Squid just melts in your mouth.

Greg

 

[oz_mark]

I forget which of the CX First Lounges I visited last time (Wing or Pier) but they had this beautiful smoked salmon on offer but I could not get my hands on it. It was served by the person behind the buffet who would only put a small piece on the plate each time and I kept asking for a second piece. That is all I was asking for and went back about 3-4 times to get some more but I felt like a beggar so gave up.

Some of these things may not be important to some people but they are to me. I want to be able to eat and drink as much as I like of whatever is on offer not be rationed by some stingy employee.

You don't think there is a reason it was being rationed out like that?

I have no doubt they have experienced what happens if it is made freely available.

 

[JohnK]

You don't think there is a reason it was being rationed out like that?

I have no doubt they have experienced what happens if it is made freely available.

That is not my problem really. Don't have smoke salmon on offer if it is too expensive. By the way all food was being served by the person behind the counter. And I could have gone back 64 times but I got bored.

I prefer self serve and in my opinion the QF lounge gets a higher rating. Plus it is much quieter.

 

[anat0l]

I can't remember a time when food was being served by a person at The Haven restaurants at either CX lounge. Was this a long time ago?

As far as I can remember, everything was self-serve buffet. In saying that, I'm sure there are some people out there who like to indulge in their culinary obsessions (whether it be seafood, chocolate, sweets, cheese, etc.), but the lounge food never seems to run short at any time, and when it does it is timely replaced.

That is not my problem really. Don't have smoke salmon on offer if it is too expensive.

Well, if they made it freely available to take, then I'd be hoping to beat you to the salmon first so I could get at least some before you took the remainder.

 

[anat0l]

I'm with you on the smoked salmon. Never enough available. Not in any lounge.

That's crazy. How can smoked salmon be so popular?

In my experience there is always a lot of smoked salmon left on offer.

And if it was so desired then what is wrong with putting in a kind request to the staff to find some more salmon for yourself and then perhaps to replenish the buffet?

Personally I very rarely come across a good smoked salmon that will have me going back for more. Something sitting out on a lounge buffet is not an immediate attention draw point either.

 

[Ghostdunks]

I do prefer self serve but would add the SYD/MEL QF F lounge sit down meal service is very good. AND they will give you as much as you want to eat with a smile and a polite ask. Their Salt and Pepper Squid just melts in your mouth.

Greg

I'm partial to their pork belly myself...had quite a few repeat servings of that recently