Which CX HKG Lounge?

[ramboflyer]

Later this year I will have my first trips to HKG airport with 2 long transits going out from MEL and back again. The first is a bit over 9 hours and the other 5 hours. Both departing flights out of HKG are between midnight and 1 am. Flying with CX both times in J (oneworld award booking) and have mrs ramboflyer with me the first time.

I've had a look at the CX web site and there are 5 lounges to choose from. As far as I can see I am eligible to access all 5.

I am partial to an alcoholic drink from time to time (medicinal purposes only ) but would like a lounge that caters for all drinks and a good selection of foods and maybe not too busy. A shower would be nice as well. There is a limited information on the CX site.

The Wing - Business looks ok but closing time is "last departure" so may not suit
The Pier - Business is open to 00.30
The Bridge is open to 00.30
The Cabin is open to 00.45 but seems to be about juices and smoothies (maybe they are alcoholic?)
The Arrival is open to midnight and has shower suites which could be useful between long flights

Any suggestions on what would suit? Maybe it's a case of visiting more than one depending on needs?

 

[ermen]

I assume you have no OWE status - otherwise, the Pier F wins hands down.

Still, yes CX have many J lounges. I rank them in this order

CX Pier J
CX Bridge
CX Wing J / CX Cabin

For alcos and to relax I would go Pier J
For food, i think CX Pier J > CX Bridge > CX Wing J / Cabin

So you see I am partial to the Pier J

FWIW, you should also check out the QF J lounge if you have time its not too bad actually (a few beers on tap). And normally have a made to order dish. And that poor pork hanging behind the bar - well it doesn't taste too bad actually


PS: If you have a 9 hour transit - I wouldn't hang around the airport... I would go out to see HKG a little bit...

 

[OZDUCK]

Last year we used the Wing J and the Pier J. The pier J wins by a large margin. We spent about 8 hours there very pleasantly - the "Relaxation Room" is excellent.

 

[JohnK]

Visit all 6 lounges you can visit in that time and you can decide your favourite.

My favourite is Wing First lounge with the food buffet and the Qantas lounge. Usually I'd end up at the lounge closest to my gate.

 

[yohy?!]

I would be heading to The Pier and just staying there, it is the most newly refurbished lounge (and probably largest) and includes the most extensive range of food and drinks with showers and also a resting area. it will be pretty sparsely populated at the midnight hour and you'll be able to pick between a full-length resting bed or a runway view from a large sofa chair. (do bear in mind the lounge is located in the 60s gates and you can only walk back to the low gate numbers via travelator is required).

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
Any suggestions on what would suit? Maybe it's a case of visiting more than one depending on needs?

That's the AFF spirit!! Lounge-hopping-R-us; its a well established and noble concept.

I think ermen has given very sound advice. Definitely get out of the airport for the 9 hr transit. Have you been to HKG before? VERY efficient rail to Kowloon and Central and lots to do very easily in those areas, can be in air con shopping centres if needs be, and lots outside as well. Very efficient rail back. Immigration in and back but again, very efficient. You can count on 5 hours net of immigration and decent lounge time .

Do a lounge-hop and see which lounge suits you, then settle in.

 

[blackcat20]

We had a five hour layover at Christmas, and visited all of the CX J lounges and the QF lounge. One the way back we stuck with the Pier.

 

[ramboflyer]

Visit all 6 lounges you can visit in that time and you can decide your favourite.

My favourite is Wing First lounge with the food buffet and the Qantas lounge. Usually I'd end up at the lounge closest to my gate.

I dont have any status so as I understand it on my J CX flight I only have access to the 5 business lounges and no first class lounges or the Qantas lounge. Happy to be told otherwise!

 

[TomVexille]

I dont have any status so as I understand it on my J CX flight I only have access to the 5 business lounges and no first class lounges or the Qantas lounge. Happy to be told otherwise!

You have access to the QF lounge as you are on a oneworld J flight.

My take on the J lounges based on relatively short visits:

QF: Nice food, a couple a la carte options, good bar
Wing: Noodle bar, otherwise was rather uninspiring IMO
Cabin: Nice place to relax with a good bar
Bridge: Again a nice bar, didn't try the food
Pier: Clearly the star. Haven't been to enough lounges around the world to be definitive, but possibly the best J lounge in the world. Great bar, noodle bar, teahouse, it covers the bases.

I'd go and try them all and decide for yourself which you like best

Agree with the others that you should head into HKG on the 9 hour transit

 

[ramboflyer]

You have access to the QF lounge as you are on a oneworld J flight.

Pier: Clearly the star. Haven't been to enough lounges around the world to be definitive, but possibly the best J lounge in the world. Great bar, noodle bar, teahouse, it covers the bases.

I'd go and try them all and decide for yourself which you like best

Agree with the others that you should head into HKG on the 9 hour transit

Sounds like there are 2 clear pieces of advice:

The Pier Business Lounge is the pick of the bunch and take a look outside the airport while we have enough time.

Will probably visit the Qantas lounge as well to hear some Aussie voices, particularly on the way home after mixing it with Italians, Greeks and Americans for 5 weeks!

 

[yohy?!]

the airport express is good value with a same day trip return costing the same as a single trip - they also often have group discount tickets sold at the service desks

 

[codash1099]

Lounge hop, and wind up at the one closest to your flight gate.

 

[JohnK]

I dont have any status so as I understand it on my J CX flight I only have access to the 5 business lounges and no first class lounges or the Qantas lounge. Happy to be told otherwise!

You'll have access to Qantas, Wing, Cabin, Bridge and Pier as well as the Arrival lounge. I forgot G16 lounge is under renovation otherwise you'd be able to use that as well.

Visit them all otherwise there could be something you'd miss out on.

 

[pauly7]

Hit up the Qantas Lounge first is my advice as it is right after security, have some drinks and nibbles (they do much better desserts than the CX lounges if you are that way inclined).
Then head to the Pier as it's the best CX lounge. Honestly I wouldn't really bother with the other CX lounges anymore, but if you want to Explore check them all out

 

[ermen]

Sounds like there are 2 clear pieces of advice:

The Pier Business Lounge is the pick of the bunch and take a look outside the airport while we have enough time.

Will probably visit the Qantas lounge as well to hear some Aussie voices, particularly on the way home after mixing it with Italians, Greeks and Americans for 5 weeks!

Ah depending on the time of the night, may be filled with ze French! QF lounge clears out of Aussies (IIRC) ~8pm once all the main QF flights leave...

 

[blackcat20]

Hit up the Qantas Lounge first is my advice as it is right after security, have some drinks and nibbles (they do much better desserts than the CX lounges if you are that way inclined).
Then head to the Pier as it's the best CX lounge. Honestly I wouldn't really bother with the other CX lounges anymore, but if you want to Explore check them all out

The QF cheesecake was to die for!

 

[Jonova]

The QF cheesecake was to die for!

+1000 I love the salted caramel cheese cake at QF lounge, always go out of my way to go there for a slice or two

Like the others have said, I am a big fan of the Pier J lounge

 

[exceladdict]

Sounds like there are 2 clear pieces of advice:

The Pier Business Lounge is the pick of the bunch and take a look outside the airport while we have enough time.

Will probably visit the Qantas lounge as well to hear some Aussie voices, particularly on the way home after mixing it with Italians, Greeks and Americans for 5 weeks!

I normally find the accent grating after being away for that long - I sometimes forget we have an accent!

I'm another in the try them all camp - I did this towards the end of my 21 flights TR below if you want my take on them Mrs Excel and I decided not to go in to town, but I think I managed to fit 3 showers in to the stopover?

 

[blackcat20]

+1000 I love the salted caramel cheese cake at QF lounge, always go out of my way to go there for a slice or two

Like the others have said, I am a big fan of the Pier J lounge

How good is that cheesecake? Unfortunately when we went through early this year our gates were up the wrong end and we stuck with the Pier...next time I'm heading straight for the cheesecake.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I'll have 4 hours between flights here on July 1. Flying Cathay J from Sydney to San Francisco. Anyone have any updates/recent experience other than the very good advice already provided so far?