Cathay Pacific's new London Heathrow airport lounges open Monday
Cathay Pacific's new but much-delayed first class and business class lounges at London's Heathrow Terminal 3 will open their doors to travellers on Monday November 28.
Photo gallery: see the first photos of Cathay Pacific's new London lounges
The revised date marks a full year since the facilities were closed in November 2015 for the make-over, with the target opening date of August slipping month by month.
“With any construction projects of this nature and high design specifications, there will always be a chance of delays," a spokesperson for the airline offered in a prepared statement.
Monday's 'soft opening' will be followed by an official ribbon-cutting on December 7.
The Cathay Pacific London Business Lounge will be available to all Cathay Pacific business class travellers along with Marco Polo Club Gold members and their Oneworld equivalents (including Qantas Gold and British Airways Silver), plus business class passengers of other Oneworld airlines departing from Heathrow Terminal 3 (including Qantas and BA).
The Cathay Pacific London First Lounge lays down the welcome mat to first class travellers with Cathay Pacific and other Oneworld airlines from T3 (including Qantas and BA), Marco Polo Club Diamond members and their Oneworld equivalents (including Qantas Platinum and British Airways Gold).
PREVIOUS | Cathay Pacific will open all-new first class and business class ‘flagship’ lounges at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 in September, reflecting London’s position as Cathay’s most popular international destination.
The combined footprint of both lounges has been increased by 30% from the previous facilities by expanding into space previously occupied by Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris lounge, which last year shifted into Terminal 2 (along with almost all other Star Alliance airlines).
And of course, the new spaces will take their design cues from the warm residential vibe created by CX lounge designer Ilse Crawford.
Cathay Pacific General Manager Product Leslie Lu hints that the first class lounge will be a scaled-back version of The Pier First Class Lounge at Hong Kong (below), and should include a small dining room and bar.
The business class lounge will borrow cornerstone elements from The Pier Business Class Lounge as well as the newest ‘outport’ lounges such as at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Manila, Bangkok and Taipei.
First photos: Cathay Pacific's new The Pier Business Class Lounge
These will include a tended bar, the signature Noodle Bar (below) dining room, a 'Food Hall' servery and Bureau workspace.
“It’s not a small lounge but it’s not generous either, so we have a lot more limitations to balancing seating capacity and facilities like showers” Lu told Australian Business Traveller at a preview of The Pier Business Class Lounge, which will re-open in early June after extensive renovations.
A taste of London
The London lounges will also introduce some local elements into the established Cathay Pacific mix.
“The Noodle Bar is a signature element of our business lounges, but for each location we will try to bring a local flavour as well, so we will look at what are popular items in the London market,” explains Sabrina Klick, the airline’s Product Manager for Worldwide Lounges.
“There could be some sort of curry dish and of course fish & chips will be on the menu, and burgers as well.”
“At The Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong we’ve introduced a craft beer selection with a Hong Kong beer, so for London we could pick a local craft beer partner,” Klick adds.
Cathay Pacific's London Heathrow first class and business class lounges will be located adjacent to the new Qantas London Lounge (below), slated to open in March 2017.
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21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Fantastic!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 211
CX would do well to inform it's F travellers departing T3 LHR of the lounge options available. Currently you get an invite to the No. 1 Traveller Lounge which can also be accessed by anyone with GBP35 to spare. The F section is 'Reserved' and no bigger than the average livingroom. Also after the first comp drink and snack, it appears everything comes at a (hefty) price! Other option is the BA F lounge, and while being 100% eligible for entry you are not especially welcome and may need to acquaint the door dragon with OW rules. The final option is the AA Flagship lounge. CX could do a much better job in making sure their F pax are instantly welcomed at each of those lounges to avoid unneccessary confrontations!
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 13
Hi David,
Do you have any further details on when Cathay expect to reopen the J & F lounges at Heathrow T3? Flying back on June 2nd & getting nervous!
Qantas - P1 Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2013
Total posts 45
The lounge sounds great and it looks like it will be up to the same standard as the excellent lounges in Hong Kong. The article does mention that the lounge is not huge. Does this mean that there will be restrictions on OW emeralds entering the First lounge if they are not flying with Cathay? I'm asking this from a slightly selfish point of view. I'm QF Plat and am flying on QF10 in September. I know that Emeralds may have the right to enter - but the lounge can also decline.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
I think you have answered your own question there, mem2001. All Oneworld airlines have the right to limit lounge access to their own travellers should the lounge become over-crowded, so while eligible Oneworld flyers (including Qantas Gold and Platinums on QF2 and QF10) will have access to Cathay's new London lounges just as they would to other CX lounges, the airline could decline entry in the lead-up to busy periods.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Super, Will be Flying Qantas F to LHR return over Christmas so look forward to checking this out.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Aug 2014
Total posts 501
Let's see who wins the LHR lounge battle out of QF and CX!
02 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
is there any update on the grand opening as yet ?
not too fussed if there is a delay as we don't travel until October.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2432
Hi Dave, this article was updated and republished only on Thursday last week, so no, there have been no updates since then.
When there is an update and an opening, we'll cover it here on AusBT. :)
02 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
thanks for the prompt response . i love this site
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Which is it, August or September? At teh bottom of the AA arrivals lounge story it says CX lounge opens in September, the article above says August.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
It's now been pushed back to September.
07 Sep 2016
Total posts 1
Can anyone advise if the Cathy Business lounge in Heathrow is open yet, we're due to fly with them this weekend ?
02 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
this is the reply I got from Cathay UK today:
Thank you for your email, please note that we have not been yet notified of the opening date for our lounge at Heathrow.
May we suggest that you check either on our website or contact us nearer the time.
Kind regards
Afaf
The Customer Sales Team
Cathay Pacific Airways
02 Aug 2016
Total posts 11
well it wasn't September and this was the poor response I received this morning :
Dear Mr Adams,
Thank you for your email,
We do not have an opening date for our
New London Heathrow Lounge.
Sorry I could not assist you further.
Kind Regards
Michaela
Cathay Pacific Airways
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Flying to Europe Qantas F over Christmas. I am hoping that this lounge is open for the return leg as the BA F in Terminal 3 is nothing to write home about.
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