Cathay Pacific boosts Diamond frequent flyer perks

Cathay Pacific is burnishing the benefits of its top-tier Diamond frequent flyers with access to Hong Kong’s exclusive members-only club The Refinery.

The new partnership sees Cathay Diamond members welcomed at this hide-away for the well-heeled.

Nestled into Quarry Bay’s business and commercial hub Taikoo Place – which, like The Refinery, is owned by Cathay parent Swire – is described as “a cultured retreat appealing to Hong Kong's remarkable community of modern professionals” and “a luxurious haven to unwind and socialise with the best and brightest in the business world.”

The dining room at The Refinery.

Highlights of The Refinery include an à la carte dining room, a chic bar and relaxing lounge space with an all-day menu (all catered by The Peninsula Group) plus a relaxed outdoor terrace and a fitness centre.

The Bar at The Refinery.

However, the popular dining room is available to Cathay Diamond members only from 4pm to 11pm weekdays and all day on Saturdays (the club itself is closed on Sundays) and the fitness centre is out of bounds.

The Lounge at The Refinery.

Cathay Diamond access to The Refinery is broadly equivalent to The Refinery’s Social Membership package, which sells separately for HKD500 per month with an additional HKD880 minimum monthly spend on food and drinks – around HKD16,560 (A$3,290) per year – making this an excellent addition to the Cathay Diamond proposition.

This will be especially appealing as a “third place” for Cathay Diamonds who live or work around Quarry Bay, and as Diamonds are allowed to bring a guest to The Refinery, it’s also a great place to host a friend, colleague or client visiting from overseas.

The Terrace at The Refinery.

Just make sure you follow The Refinery’s smart casual dress code (no torn jeans, shorts, singlets, sandals or sportswear of any kind)  and “ensure your electronic devices are muted at all times,” the club insists.

“Mobile phones generally cannot be used, but if you must take an important call, please do so on the Terrace.”

To visit The Refinery as a Cathay Diamond member, contact The Refinery to make your reservation and provide your Cathay membership number, and then present your Cathay Diamond membership card upon arrival.

Note that this is exclusive to Cathay Diamond members – it doesn’t extend to equivalent Oneworld Emerald members such as British Airways Golds or the Platinum tiers of Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Qatar Airways, for example.

Other special Cathay Diamond perks

Beyond conventional top-tier perks such as lounge access, boosted baggage allowance being first in line for upgrades, Cathay Pacific has also lined up a few other privileges for its most frequent flyers.

Cathay Diamond members can use the Courtesy Channel lane when departing from HKG.

One of the most practical is use of the fast-track Courtesy Channel at Hong Kong airport, provided you swing by the adjacent first class check-in area to collect your Courtesy Channel pass (and that’s worth doing, even if you’ve checked in online).

Then head to the Courtesy Channel lane at the far right of the Departures South entrance just beyond the Cathay Pacific check in desks.

Cathay Diamond members can use the Courtesy Channel lane when departing from HKG.

This not only bypasses the queue of travellers having their passport and boarding pass checked before going ‘airside’, it also jumps you ahead of the line for the security scan, and in no time at all you’ll be zipping through passport control (especially if you have access to the automated e-channel gates) and on the way to your favourite Oneworld lounge.

Cathay Diamonds also enjoy a little extra VIP treatment when staying selected Peninsula Hotels across Asia – these are the group’s flagship properties at Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as well as Tokyo, Bangkok and Manila.

Cathay Diamond members also enjoy VIP treatment at selected Peninsula hotels.

The specific benefits depend on each Peninsula property but here’s the core set of sweeteners.

Complimentary room or suite upgrade to next category: this is of course subject to availability upon check-in and will depend on the room you book, but for example, at The Peninsula Hong Kong you can expect to be upgraded from a Deluxe Room to a Deluxe Courtyard Room, from a Superior Suite to Deluxe Suite, or from a Deluxe Suite to Superior Harbour View Suite.

Early check-in and late check-out: arrive as early as 6am and check out as late as 10pm, and also enjoy the convenience of in-room check-in (no standing around at the reception desk).

Complimentary one-way airport transfer by hotel limousine: this requires a stay of 2-3 nights, depending on the property, and booked into a specific room type.

Complimentary daily breakfast for two: don't rush! Take the time to enjoy a languid breakfast while you read the morning papers.

Some hotel-specific benefits include complimentary lounge access at The Peninsula Manila (so you’re covered for everything from breakfast and afternoon tea to evening cocktails) and a complimentary bottle of Champagne with dinner at the Peninsula Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo.