Best oneworld First lounges - HKG, SIN, LHR

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Nick85

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Apr 22, 2010
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Hi everyone,

Sorry if this has been asked before....

I am OW Emerald and have a few trips to Europe/Asia coming up. All my travel will be in Y.

So, would appreciate any advice for the best OW First lounge options for the following..


HKG - Normally id head straight to the Wing, but I understand the First Lounge is now closed for renovations until the end of the year (J Wing is now open) - can anyone confirm? If it is closed, which is the best option, QF or CX Pier?

LHR - T3? and, is access to the BA Concorde room in T5 for F passengers only?

SIN - CX First lounge, QF First Lounge or Skyview?

Thanks for you help,
Nick
 
For HKG I would suggest either the J Wing or the Cabin. The J Wing has a similar feel to the F Wing, but IMHO the showers are poorly designed with no ventilation.
When I was at the Pier a month or so ago it looked and felt a bit worn and dingy.
The QF first lounge is not too bad but food selection poor.
I actually prefer the QF J lounge for work and food, then head to the F lounge for sunlight and a few drinks before the flight.

Going through SIN I'm usually flying *A, so I can't be much help there.
 
It would help to know where your are headed out of LHR and the time of day for SIN.

CCR at LHR T5 is for F PAX and those who have a CCR pass.

No "CCR" at T3, but there is a special (Dining?) area for F PAX/CCR pass holders.
 
No "CCR" at T3, but there is a special (Dining?) area for F PAX/CCR pass holders.
I saw this room the other day...not that I tried to use it as it was in the morning, but can a QF WP travelling in J use this room?...your post seems to infer "no"
 
I saw this room the other day...not that I tried to use it as it was in the morning, but can a QF WP travelling in J use this room?...your post seems to infer "no"
I believe F pax, CL, CCR only

Also the CCR is nothing to get excited about.. food IMHO is not as good as QFlounge in MEL/SYD

Have not found any use of the concierge service or cabanas (T5 CCR)

The all important bubbly selection was the same as in Galleries First (they had the bollinger rose then - yum!)

Enjoy your trip
 
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If F lounge is important to you, don't go via SIN if possible. The QF F lounge is severely underwhelming, but it is the only OW F lounge as such. The QF J lounge is a reasonable transit lounge, with a big crowd during the evening peak hour rush. CX doesn't have its own lounge as such, but uses the Skyview. Again, nothing special there.
 
My take:

HKG

I feel the best oneworld lounge in HKG is the CX F Wing, however with it under renovations that's not an option. I would go to the CX Lounge which is closest to the gate of your next flight (i.e. for the lower gate numbers or gates 500+, go to the J Wing; for mid-ranged gates, go to the Cabin; for high numbered gates, go to the F Pier).

If you need a shower, I can recommend the F Pier showers, which aren't bad. They do get quite steamy if you go for a hot shower since they are not as well ventilated as the F Wing cabanas (then again, if you're unfortunate at the F Wing to get a regular shower, then the F Pier showers win hands down since they are more spacious). The F Pier also has small personal relaxation rooms that have a recliner and a TV, so you can sit and watch some TV in peace, or use it to have a little nap.

The Cabin does not have showers.

The QF lounges are not bad but not as good as the CX ones. If they are not as popular as the CX ones then possibly they may be quieter.

If I had to take my pick, the QF F lounge is nice for atmosphere and the lounge environment itself, but the QF J lounge has larger shower rooms. Food is about par for the course on both (you can get a selection of two noodle dishes on demand in the QF F Lounge, or head a little further to the KA Gate 16 Lounge or the J Wing for a different noodle bar).


LHR T3

No real options here - BA lounge, which has a F and J (Club) side. As a QF WP you should be eligible for an Elemis spa appointment. Shower rooms are the same block for both lounges.

Entry to the special dining area in the BA F lounge is only for ticketed F passengers (on QF or BA), CCR holders, QF CL and BA Premiers.


I've read that the other two oneworld lounges - CX and AA - are both pretty average. If you want to lounge hop, go for it.


LHR T5

No access to the BA CCR unless you are flying BA-operated F services. QF codeshares on BA metal in F I think are OK, but QF F flights (even with BA codeshare) are not OK. Also, I believe you can gain access to the CCR if you have arrived into LHR on a BA-operated F ticket.

Otherwise, best lounge is T5 Galleries First South (main lounge complex). Can't really complain on this one. Showers located outside of the lounge near Elemis spa (in between Galleries First and the CCR).


LHR Arrivals

AA lounge in T3 only for ticketed QF F or QF J.

The QF website implies no access for QF elites or oneworld elites that are not on F or J tickets, however anecdotally it's been said that QF WPs have been able to get into the AA arrivals lounge.

Access to the BA T5 arrivals lounge is only for BA F or BA J pax.

It's important to note that arrivals lounges are not oneworld registered lounges, so all access arrangements outside of the carriers who operate the respective lounges are purely by agreement.


SIN

IMHO the QF/BA F Lounge is quite decent. It certainly doesn't have great food (except in the late evening when they start passing around little plates of food), they got rid of the water feature in the lounge and it can get crazy busy as all the QF flights start to get ready to go in the evening, but it's not all that bad.

Showers are decently sized, are located adjacent to the lounge entrance and are busy at the best of times. Be prepared to "get in line" at the shower reception and take a buzzer with you.

CX use the Skyview lounge, which is a step up from the QF/BA lounges, however I don't necessarily like it all that better because it is farther away from the gates used by QF/BA (not a problem if your onward is on CX), the food isn't leagues better (just more Chinese snacks, e.g. dim sum, and random rice dishes) and since it is an open lounge, you get the noise of the hubbub below the lounge. The Skyview lounge is 24 hours, so if you need to crash and don't feel like ponying up for the transit hotel or what not, you might be able to get away with it here.
 
LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

CCR has the prestige but IMO failed to back it up with food, amenities or service when we visited 3 months ago.

The cabana's are depressing in style, noisy & showing extreme wear & tear.....broken glass, ripped carpet & plumbing that needs to be experienced to be believed - think Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter

The dining room has a silo appearance where you are totally shut off from the lounge experience.

The service appears to be overrun with Eastern Europeans that have a manner & style that would not be amiss in a Gulag.

BA T3 Flounge is beset with rules, invitations & paperwork that IMO takes away from what a Flounge is suppose to offer....also the dining room is similar to CCR but does have a better view. However, the food is not First Class.
 
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Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

Elemis Spa is only available for BA J or A customers flying long haul
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

Elemis Spa is only available for BA J or A customers flying long haul

Is available to QF and BA metal and PAX flying A and J at both T3 and T5.

Re: food CCR and Galleries lounges are catered for Euorpean and UK style of eating, who would consider SYD/MEL QF flounge a more casual style of eating.
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

Is available to QF and BA metal and PAX flying A and J at both T3 and T5.

Re: food CCR and Galleries lounges are catered for Euorpean and UK style of eating, who would consider SYD/MEL QF flounge a more casual style of eating.

Did not realise QF J/A got access to Elemis......but OP is flying Y so does not apply anyway
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

Did not realise QF J/A got access to Elemis......but OP is flying Y so does not apply anyway

OP wont' be able to use the dining rooms either as traveling in whY......QF are very generous to OWE and BA are outright stingy.
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

There is still on demand food available in Galleries F, just not the type we see in QF F lounge (unless you fly F)
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

Great run down at #8, anat01.
Only comments I would add to those above are:
1) There is anecdotal evidence that OWE does give access to LHR T5 Arrival Lounge, under certain conditions.
Not confirmed since recent schemozzle on QF Lounge Access website, perhaps.
2) Lots of examples that AA Arrival Lounge, LHR T3, is not available to OWE travelling other than J or F, so be prepared for refusal.
3) LHR T5 F is excellent. Only drawback is that showers are outside and do require booking and queuing and, in my experience since T5 opened, a reasonably long transit time, other than at very quiet flight times.
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

T3 and T5 F lounges are both at the better end of the lounge spectrum. Not getting access the dining room is not a deal breaker - unless you prefer your food served with a whif of condecension. I had 4 hours lounge hopping T3 OneW in December and the BA offer is hands down the best. CX is small, but does offer a valid food option if you fancy some spicy stir fry stuff instead of the more traditional BA fodder.

The BA/QF lounge in Sing, as everyone points out, is a real let down. It can be very busy, the food is a waste of time and the wine selection dull.
If you have a few hours you are much better spending a few $ and buying food at on eof the excellent hawker type food stalls in the main concourse, then retirng to the lounge for a few anaesthetics before the flight.
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

My experience
SIN QF J is better than QF F Lounge.

Didn't the lounges get ear-marked for upgrades in the last QF releases on the asx?
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

My experience
SIN QF J is better than QF F Lounge.

Didn't the lounges get ear-marked for upgrades in the last QF releases on the asx?
Disagree with the first; Flounge has Champagne ... and they bring around small plates of food such as satay sticks and beef rendang during the evening peaks.

Yes, a new Newsonised Flounge was announced in the last year or so.
 
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Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

I guess it just comes down to timing.
When l was in the SIN F lounge, there was only cold snacks and the usual beer options.
SIN J lounge had hot food options and the same beers as the F lounge.
Champagne isn't a determining factor for me.
 
Re: LHR CCR & T3 Flounge

I guess it just comes down to timing.
When l was in the SIN F lounge, there was only cold snacks and the usual beer options.
SIN J lounge had hot food options and the same beers as the F lounge.
Champagne isn't a determining factor for me.
Have never been in SIN F Lounge when there has not been a hot food offering of some sort, so you must have been unlucky. They do seem to respond well if you ask for something that is usually available but not on display.
However, the Champagne is very ordinary! (And that IS a determining factor for me. :D)
 
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