The best Oneworld lounges at Hong Kong

Hong Kong has long offered passengers on Oneworld airlines an enviable choice of airport lounges, thanks mainly to the city being Cathay Pacific’s home hub.

Of course, Cathay’s lounges welcome first and business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers on the many Oneworld member airlines which fly to Hong Kong – a roster which includes British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Qatar Airways.

Add the return of the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge and there’s even more choice and variety those flying to or through the Asian metropolis.

And things could get even better next year, with Cathay now scoping out an all-new ‘flagship lounge’ and perhaps the return of an arrivals lounge as other airlines shift to the redeveloped Terminal 2 in 2024-2025, giving Cathay more room to quite literally spread its wings.

But for now, here’s a snapshot of the Hong Kong loungescape for Cathay Pacific and Oneworld travellers.

Tip: Cathay’s Hong Kong lounges are ‘silent lounges’ where no boarding calls are made, so check how long it’ll take to walk to your departure gate and set an alarm on your phone – you can also download the Cathay Pacific app or Hong Kong Airport app or sit near a departures screen to keep a watchful eye on your flight.

Cathay Pacific The Wing First lounge

Open from 5.30am until the last CX departure

One of Cathay’s two flagship lounges, The Wing First is handily located barely a minute’s stroll from Hong Kong Airport’s immigration and security checkpoint nearest the Cathay Pacific checkin desks.

Cathay Pacific's The Wing First lounge.

As a first class lounge, The Deck welcomes

• Cathay Pacific and Oneworld first class passengers
• Cathay Diamond and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers

Most visitors head to The Haven restaurant for a meal from the à la carte menu, which is why the dining room becomes very busy – and rather noisy – during peak hours.

Other favourite spots of frequent flyers include the Champagne Lounge at the entrance and – if you can snare a booking – the spacious Cabana private suites with a ‘rainforest’ shower, full-sized bath and a divan where you can stretch out and relax.

Cathay Pacific's The Wing First lounge.

Tip: If you have access to The Wing First and arrive at the airport before a departure gate is assigned to your flight, park yourself at The Wing to wait in comfort and style until you know you flight’s gate number and can then decide if you need to relocate to another lounge such as The Pier.

Cathay Pacific The Wing Business lounge

Open from 5.30am until the last CX departure

The sprawling business class section of The Wing, which encompasses two floors – including a section adjacent to The Wing First – is also back, and remains the best choice for eligible flyers ahead of Cathay and Oneworld departures from the ‘top’ of Terminal 1 up to around Gate 30.

The Long Bar takes advantage of the 'open air' design with views to the airfield.

As a business class lounge, The Wing Business welcomes

• Cathay Pacific and Oneworld business class passengers
• Cathay Diamond and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers
• Cathay Gold and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers

Familiar offerings include the lounge’s signature Noodle Bar, along with a buffet selection of Chinese and Western dishes plus self-service drinks, and The Loft cafe with its coffee, tea and pastries.

Dining at The Noodle Bar.

Cathay Pacific The Deck lounge

Open from 5.30am to 12.30am

The Deck is the newest member of Cathay's Hong Kong lounge family, debuting in March 2018 and quickly becoming popular to the point of over-crowding, especially for morning departures to mainland China.

As a business class lounge, The Deck welcomes

• Cathay Pacific and Oneworld first class and business class passengers
• Cathay Diamond and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers
• Cathay Gold and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers

Of course, travellers in first class or holding Cathay Diamond or Oneworld Emerald status can also visit The Deck.

Cathay Pacific's The Deck lounge.

Wrapping around the northern corner of T1 (and thus at the opposite end to The Wing), The Deck overlooks Gates 6 through 9.

The standout feature is an open L-shaped verandah with views of the airport’s apron, taxiways and northern runway.

Cathay Pacific's The Deck lounge.

Like all Cathay Pacific business class lounges, The Deck features a Noodle Bar serving freshly-prepared Asian delights – the dan dan noodles and wonton noodles are reliable go-to dishes.

When we most recently visited the menu also included chicken congee and a range of dim sum (such as chicken siu mai, steamed BBQ pork buns and steamed custard buns); the Champagne on hand was Piper-Heidsieck. 

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge

Open from 7.30am until 11pm

Located across from gates 5-6 and adjacent to Cathay Pacific’s The Deck, the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge is near the gates typically used by Qantas’ evening flights back to Australia.

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge.

In Qantas parlances this is a ‘premium’ lounge, meaning it’s a single lounge for pretty much everyone – the door list is as follows:

• Qantas and Oneworld first class and business class travellers
• Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, and Oneworld Emeralds
• Qantas Gold frequent flyers, and Oneworld Sapphires
• Qantas Club members

As before, highlights include the char siu Chinese barbecued pork bar, which is one of several plates of the day from the à la carte menu...

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge.

... and a yum cha trolley of local pre-flight delights such as dumplings and mango tarts plus Qantas’ signature salt and pepper calamari.

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge.

PS Grab a wine or cocktail at the bar, and don’t skip the buffet, if only for the popuar caramel cheesecake.

But what makes the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge unique among its CX siblings is that even when busy and buzzy yet also relaxed and welcoming in what can only be vaguely described as ‘that Aussie vibe’, while the staff – many of whom are from the original lounge team – are friendly and attentive.

Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge

Open from 5.30am to 12.30am

Cathay’s The Pier first class and business lounges sit at the ‘bottom’ end of Terminal 1, at gates 63-65, making them well suited to flights departing from a gate in the 30s or higher.

You can catch the airport’s Automated People Mover to where T1 splits into a Y-shape, and then veer right for another five minutes’ stroll to The Pier First – or you can stretch your legs for a good 20-minute walk all the way.

(If you’re ‘lounge hopping’ and your flight leaves at the top of T1, note that the Automated People Mover is a one-way service which doesn’t provide a return leg, so allow plenty of time to get back to your gate.)

Cathay Pacific's The Pier First lounge.

An utterly elegant space which oozes character and style, The Pier First is the pinnacle of Cathay’s new-look lounge project undertaken by feted London designer Isle Crawford, and its warm residential aesthetic is a world away from the sharper commercial influences which shaped The Wing First.

As a first class lounge, The Pier First welcomes

• Cathay Pacific and Oneworld first class passengers
• Cathay Diamond and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers

Most visitors to The Pier First will take a meal in the large dining room and then settle into the bar area – if not at the horseshoe-shaped bar itself – for a drink or two.

Dining and drinking at Cathay Pacific's The Pier First lounge.

If you have a long layover, reserve one of the day suites – tucked away in a very quiet part of the lounge, these private nooks are ideal for a few hours’ gentle napping or just relaxing to the fullest.

Cathay Pacific's The Pier First lounge.

Cathay Pacific The Pier Business lounge

Open from 5.30am until 12.30am

Completed in the same Ilse Crawford style as the neightbouring The Pier First, The Pier Business is Cathay Pacific’s largest lounge and easily rates among as the world’s best business class lounges.

Cathay Pacific's The Pier Business lounge.

As a business class lounge, The Pier Business welcomes

• Cathay Pacific and Oneworld first class and business class passengers
• Cathay Diamond and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers
• Cathay Gold and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers

The deli-style Food Hall is currently in Mediterranean mode, serving up slices of pizza alongside antipasto, a charcuterie of cold cuts and assorted deli delights, although at the self-serve buffet you’ll find local treats such as BBQ pork buns.

Cathay Pacific's The Pier Business lounge.

Just past that is the signature Noodle Bar – a familiar mainstay of all Cathay business class lounges – where roasted and BBQ pork have been added to the menu of noodles and dim sum.

The Pier Business also has a unique Tea House serving up varieties of Jing tea and sweet treats in a calm and relaxing atmosphere; and for something stronger, there’s an always-buzzing tended bar.

Cathay Pacific's The Pier Business lounge.

If you’d prefer to really wind down, especially during longer stopovers, head for one of the 14 shower suites and stretch out on a low upholstered lounger in the relaxation room – or try a different type of stretching in the yoga room.

Are you headed to Hong Kong? Here’s how your Australian passport can be used to skip the immigration queues at Hong Kong Airport via the automated e-Channel lanes.