The Wing First Class Cathay Pacific Lounge, Hong Kong Review

Cathay Pacific have two dedicated First Class Lounges in Hong Kong. The Wing First Class lounge is the quickest Cathay lounge to get to after passing through security and offers an excellent experience.

We’ve previously reviewed The Pier which is Cathay’s other First Class lounge. After such a positive experience, we had high hopes for The Wing First Class lounge as well.

Cathay Pacific have no shortage of lounges. Indeed, they have 4 other lounges which are accessible to business class passengers, or oneworld Sapphire members.

The Wing First Class lounge is accessible if you have oneworld Emerald status, or if you’re travelling in First Class with a oneworld airline.

Location

The Wing is located on the same level as the check-in zone, above gates 1 and 2. It’s well signposted and easy to find. Hong Kong is a huge airport, so if you have a flight departing from a higher numbered gate, you’ll need to allow enough time to get there after leaving the lounge.

The Space

The lounge is divided into a number of different spaces. First, you’re greeted by the champagne bar. After this, you’ll come to the main seating area. In addition, there are two dining areas. One is self-serve, the other, known as ‘The Haven’ offers a sit-down a la carte menu. There’s also a workspace, as well as private cabanas which you can book on arrival.

We had about three hours before our flight and wanted to secure a cabana for part of our stay. We decided to book this when we arrived, but during our visit this wasn’t necessary and there was no wait. I’d advise you do check availability as soon as you arrive though, as this is unlikely to always be the case.

The interior is very different to that of The Pier. Due to its location and outlook over the tarmac, the lounge feels fairly light and airy. It’s a different sort of feel, and while I prefer the interior of The Pier, that’s not to say that The Wing isn’t also fitted out to an extremely high standard.

The private cabanas are the main highlight of The Wing. Essentially, they’re a private space to relax with a daybed, ensuite, and bathtub. In reality, however, you’re not able to spend a great deal of time in them. Upon entering you’re asked to limit your stay to 90 minutes. Still it’s a nicer place to freshen up than the standard shower rooms. The cabanas are spacious enough for two people if you want to spend an hour or so away from the main lounge.

The main lounge also has plenty of seating areas. There are also shower rooms available if you’re not able to get a cabana, or don’t require the additional space.

Food and Drinks

The champagne bar is the natural place to start. There are three different champagnes to choose from, including one Rosé. At the far end of the main seating area there’s a tendered bar if you’re wanting a freshly made cocktail, or to try out some of the wines on offer.

We didn’t try out the main restaurant, however, if the food is anything like that served in The Pier, I’m sure it’s to a very high standard. Instead, we opted for the lighter self serve selection. Here you’re able to sample a range of different sweet and savoury finger foods. As is consistently the case with Cathay Pacific, the food was to a very high standard and of excellent quality.

The main feature of the self serve dining area were the high tables overlooking the airport. Sitting here means you have a fantastic outlook as you dine.

Conclusions

I consistently rate Cathay Pacific as having the best lounges of any airline – this is the case whether you have access to their First Class or Business Class lounges. Unlike Qatar’s flagship lounges in Doha, Cathay have managed to create a space which is both intimate and impressive. It doesn’t feel pretentious and genuinely feels like a relaxed place to chill before grabbing a flight. It’s also considerably better than Malaysia’s First lounge in Kuala Lumpur, or that of British Airways at Heathrow or Gatwick.

Both The Pier and The Wing First Class lounges offer an extremely impressive design and range of facilities. If you have three or so hours before your flight I’d recommend heading to The Wing  First Class lounge first to see if you can get a cabana. After this, I’d then head over to The Pier, which I think is a slightly nicer space. But essentially, we’re talking about two of the most impressive lounges in the oneworld network.