How I booked everything
American Airlines Flagship Dining Room DFW
Etihad First & Business Class Lounge LHR
Etihad A380 First Class Apartments LHR-AUH (Video)
St. Regis Abu Dhabi
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge DOH (Video)
Qatar A380 First Class DOH-BKK
Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge (Video)
Cathay Pacific 777-300ER First Class HKG-LAX
Cathay Pacific has long been known for some wonderful lounges at Hong Kong International Airport. They have nice amenities, lots of amazing food, and creatively-designed spaces. The Wing, a First Class Lounge, has long been considered one of the aspirational lounges in the world, mainly for its private cabanas (which are great). Recently, though, Cathay Pacific re-opened the First Class side of The Pier (Business Class will follow in 2016). I’d read great things so decided to pay it a visit for a Cathay Pacific Pier review!
The lounge is located at Gate 63 at HKG. If you’re using the First Class check-in area, you should take the quick train ride over to the 60-80 gates. Like many of the lounges at HKG, there’s signage at the gate level and the actual lounge is below (you can either take an escalator or elevator).
The Pier signage
Entry escalator
I saw the wood-paneled logo behind the check-in desk and realized that this lounge was going to have a completely different feel to it than The Wing.
Wooden logo
After the check-in desk I found myself in a long, carpeted hallway with enormous wooden tables (with cool light fixtures) and a serpentine couch. The marble walls complemented the carpet and decor very well.
Long hallway
Wooden table and light fixture
The services available in The Pier are pretty solid: foot massages, private day rooms (with exclusive views of the tarmac), and a fantastic dining room with catering by The Peninsula hotel group, just like at The Wing.
I went over to the foot massage area, having never had an actual foot massage before.
Foot massage menu
I was handed a pager and hung around the lounge for a bit before being called into the foot massage area.
Foot massage booth
There were four or five different foot massage booths available during the crowded times, but that day I think there was only masseuse (the lounge wasn’t too busy).
Foot massage stuff
The foot massage was…interesting. She used a little wooden block to really dig into my actual bones my feet and work out soreness or stress or something. She alternated between a little bit of pressure and WHOA PRESSURE I CAN’T ACTUALLY SEE ANYTHING BUT STARS RIGHT NOW and kind of giggled when I said ow. I will say, though, that at the end of the massage my feet felt great.
I made my way towards the dining room but first stopped at The Pantry, which had some coolers of soft drinks and beer then a big table full of myriad fruits, pastries, and desserts.
Desserts
Pastries at The Pantry
From the Pantry I made my over to the Dining Room, which was beautifully decorated in wood paneling and dark green leather seating. It almost seemed like a 1970’s smoker’s lounge but it totally worked. Everything was on theme and very tasteful, not gaudy at all (kind of like the comparison I made between the Qatar A380 First Class and Etihad/Emirates and their showers on the A380s).
I had a glass of champagne with my lunch and a small meal of a beautiful salmon dish and a chocolate mousse and cream dessert.
Champagne
Salmon entree
Mousse/cream dessert (it looks kind of weird but it was delicious)
After I ate, I walked down the long hallway again to the other side of the lounge where they had the main bar area along with a wide variety and style of seating areas. The seating areas weren’t designed to cram as many people as possible into a space but be comfortable for small groups. (I didn’t get any great pictures of this space, I’m planning a return visit though so don’t worry)
Main Bar
This place is amazing
If you’re traveling in First Class or are a Oneworld Emerald, you need to visit this lounge. It’s one of the best lounges in the world. I’m going back soon and look forward to checking out the day rooms and getting some better pictures of the main seating areas, but honestly I actually want to contact Cathay and be able to bring in a tripod and some lighting gear, few lounges make me want to do that! I could’ve stayed and just shot detail images for days.
Bathroom
Wooden table detail
Fantastic pictures! What camera/lens do you use?
Thanks! For this post I was using my Sony a7rII and the Zeiss 55mm at f1.8
Dessert looks like a Mont Blanc — a French chestnut pastry
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the review, it’s my first time here and I really like your blog!
By the way, I have a question, I will fly Cathay First class SFO-HKG. Can I access the Wing first class lounge upon arrival in HKG? or it is only for those who depart from HKG?
Thanks for stopping by and the kind comment! Are you connecting in HKG or is HKG your final destination?
HKG is my final destination and I will arrive 6 am in the morning in CX F. Hope to take a shower and eat breakfast at the Wing or other CX lounge since too early for check in to the hotel.
Ah. Unfortunately you won’t be able to reclear security after immigration to get into the departure area. Cathay Pacific has The Arrival lounge outside of customs with showers and some light food, I’d hit that up for a bit and then head into town.
Ahhhhh too bad I won’t be able to access the Wing upon arrival.
But glad that there is another alternative as you said, the Arrival lounge. Will check that out.
Very very nice pictures Andy. If they have such awards, you will win blogger with best trip report pictures.
Thanks Peter!
Hi Andy, is the food in the restaurants within the lounge complimentary?? Free??
Yes!
So in short which one would you recommend: Wing or Pier? I have plenty of time leaving HKG.
Also, I arrive a day earlier in CX F so could I get to Wing or Pier before immigration? I heard there was a way and then you get escorted to immigration from inside the lounge.
Frank, right now I’d say go to the one closest to your gate, although if you’ve been to The Wing already then definitely check out The Pier!