The lounges that will be closed until further notice are:
The Deck (near Gate 6)
The Bridge (near Gate 35)
The Pier First Class Lounge (near Gate 63)
Customers, Marco Polo Silver members and above, as well as oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members can still access the remaining three lounges:
The Wing business and first class lounges (near Gate 2)
The Pier business class lounge (near Gate 65)
First Class passengers now have only one lounge – The Wing, located near Gate 2. This is directly accessible right after immigration, on the left side.
Map of Cathay Pacific lounges at Hong Kong International Airport
Cathay Pacific is one of the few airlines that offer an excellent lounge experience in their home port. For First Class passengers and Oneworld Emerald members, they had the option of two lounges, one nearer to the immigration counters (The Wing) and one that’s at the other end of the terminal (The Pier).
With the closure of The Pier first class lounge, these top tier passengers can only use The Wing, which means a very long trek to the other end of the terminal if their flight departs from there.
Changes to lounge operations
Along with the closure of the three lounges, there will also be slight changes to the operations at the other three lounges, as well as lounges in Shanghai and Beijing.
While the noodle bar will continue to serve cooked-to-order meals, the buffet spread will now be replaced with disposable food packs. This is obviously not the most environmentally friendly option, but given the current climate this is probably the best way forward.
Final thoughts
Well, given the increasing number of countries that does not even want to admit passengers who transit through Hong Kong, it’s no wonder their passenger numbers are plummeting, so closing some of the lounges is definitely a right move.
I’m just wondering what does this mean for the number of staff employed at these lounges, given that the lounge operations is outsourced to SATS.
This is definitely a bummer for elite Oneworld members and premium cabin customers, but even with the reduced number of options, I would certainly expect significantly less people in the remaining lounges.
I had a late night flight out of Rome’s Fiumicino airport, and after spending an entire week in the city I was pretty happy to head to the airport early for a leisurely check-in, and then check out the lounges.
As I was travelling with friends, it was not possible for me to use the airline’s lounge, given that I could only guest one other person. That would have been rather anti-social (and I don’t really want to have to choose my favourite friend). So instead, we all went to the Plaza Premium lounge, since most of us had a Priority Pass card.
Plaza Premium Rome Lounge, Terminal 3, E Gates
Plaza Premium is a very familiar name to many seasoned travellers. With a network of over 100 lounges across 44 airports, you will be bound to find one everywhere.
A little more about the Rome Plaza Premium lounge. This is a relatively new lounge, having opened back in April 2018. With a capacity to hold over 300 people, the 100 square metres lounge is also a pay-per-use lounge that any travelling passenger can use for a fee.
I got access to the lounge with my Priority Pass membership, which came complimentary with the Citi Prestige Mastercard. Unlike many other Singapore-issued credit cards that comes with a Priority Pass membership offering 2 to 4 complimentary visits a year, Citi Prestige’s card comes with unlimited entries for the member plus two guests.
If you don’t have Priority Pass, you can also purchase lounge access at the door at the following rates:
2 hours for EUR 40 (SGD60)
5 hours for EUR 75 (SGD112)
10 hours for EUR 120 (SGD180)
Also, the lounge offers a shower package at EUR 18 (SGD27), which can be pretty precious if you are going on a long-haul flight.
These are pretty hefty fees for lounge access, and as with many other reviews it’s really quite hard to tell how they enforce the time limits. Also, for EUR40, you can get a really decent meal at any other restaurants rather than the lounge (more on that later).
If you really want to check out the lounge and is willing to pay for it, you can also get a cheaper rate by purchasing them online on the airport’s website. You can also book it via Plaza Premium’s but it’s actually more expensive than the door rates, so please don’t.
Location
The Plaza Premium Lounge is located at Terminal 3 at the E gates, which serves the international (non-Schengen) destinations. Located on the upper floor, the lounge is next to the British Airways lounge.
To find it, simply take the first escalator you find after walking through the first Aelia duty free section. At the top of the escalator, do a u-turn and you will see it.
Note that the lounge is located quite a distance from the gates, so be sure to cater sufficient time to walk to your gate. In particular, gates E30+ to 40+ require a monorail ride, so you will need at least 15 to 20 minutes.
The space
Dining section
When you first walk into the lounge after checking in, the first impression of Plaza Premium Lounge was pretty good: the lounge has a really beautiful space. Encased with a high ceiling, the lounge overlooks part of the tarmac which I presume will give it ample natural light during daytime.
The first area to greet you is a central dining area, with dining tables set up in either pairs or fours.
In case those are full, you can always seat yourself at the bar, which features ample space for dining as well.
Bar seating
If you prefer a more comfortable seat such as an armchair, there are plenty further in. These are perfect for groups, and each pair comes with a side table for your drink or a small plate of bites.
Armchairs which are suitable for groups as well
There are also suite-like armchairs at both corners of the lounge, which I think are perfect for solo travellers.
High privacy ‘suites’ suitable for solo travellers
For those who need to get some last minute work done, there are several options. There are the individual cubicles that provide some level of privacy if you need to work on something confidential.
Honeycomb work suites
Alternatively, you can also perch on the communal tables with power sockets and USB charging ports at every seat.
Communal tables suitable for both dine and work
While the lounge doesn’t offer nap rooms, you can always rest at some of these seats below nearer to the windows. They come with an ottoman, and I’ve seen people resting their legs on them and taking a nap. I would presume these are not great for naps during the daytime, though.
Window-facing armchairs with ottoman, suitable for a nap
Food & beverages
Unlike some of the other Plaza Premium lounges I’ve visited, this particular lounge only offers a self-service buffet, and no cooked-to-order options. There is a pretty big range of cold foods, including an assortment of salads and pastries.
Salad barOther cold foods, including sweet treats
In terms hot food, there are some pasta dishes available, meatballs, lentils and a soup. There’s also some mini-pizzas available.
Selection of hot food
I tried the meatballs and lasagne, both of them were nowhere near great. The food looked like it has been put out for a while. The meatballs were a little too hard, and the lasagne was a little cold despite being under a warmer and somewhat mushy. I certainly didn’t return for seconds.
The bar
As for drinks, Plaza Premium Lounge offers a range of self dispensed soft drinks (they serve Pepsi Co products), as well as still and sparkling water. Complimentary alcohol is limited to beer and house wines (red, white and prosecco), which can be requested at the bar.
Unfortunately spirits and better wines are only available for purchase, starting from EUR 5 for an aperol spritz, to EUR 45 and upwards for a bottle of premium wine.
Other facilities
There are a couple of shower rooms available for use in the lounge, which you can request access for at the reception desk. When I visited at 7pm, there were no lines at all for showers.
A meeting room is also available at the lounge, although this was closed up when I was there. I cannot imagine why you will want to hold a meeting at the airport lounge, but just in case you are travelling on a company trip and you need an emergency private working space, why not?
Unfortunately the lounge doesn’t offer any nap rooms or sleeping pods, so if you are looking to take a nap or use the lounge overnight for an early morning start, you are left with the recliners.
Final thoughts
Plaza Premium has really upped the game in the area of pay-per-use lounges, with more of more new lounges popping up not just in Asia, but across the world.
More seating options in the lounge
The lounge is beautifully furnished and is indeed a comfortable place for passengers to rest in, with one of the widest assortment of seating types for every kind of lounge user. The attention to detail when the lounge was built was also there, with power sockets available virtually everywhere.
However, what makes a perfect lounge experience is also the quality of the soft offerings.
Service standards are acceptable, but what I found lacking was in terms of the catering. While I don’t think it’s necessary to have cooked-to-order items, what I would have loved is for the lounge to have a better understanding of how some food items, particularly pasta, don’t stay very well if they are put out for too long. They would have done better offering cold foods, such as panini sandwiches that is pretty much ubiquitous in Italy. This is particularly true if customers are paying or lounge access, given that they can possibly spend their EUR 40 somewhere else and get a very decent meal.
Nonetheless, Plaza Premium Rome lounge is still a pretty solid offering for an independent lounge. I really like the space, and having a full bar is also a plus for me.
one of the vast expansion Plaza Premium has done in the last two years and the momentum is only going up. Most recently it has announced that it will invest US$100m in the coming years to enter new markets, including the US and a brand new 1260 square metres lounge in Dubai Terminal 3.
The lounge reopens after nine months of upgrading works.
Cathay Pacific has reopened its lounge at Shanghai Pudong International Airport earlier this week (18 July), offering an upgraded lounge experience for its customers.
The new space, located near gate D69 in Terminal 2, can seat up to 305 customers. Opened from 0530H to 2100H, it primarily caters to the Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights, although eligible frequent flyer members of other oneworld carriers may also use it.
This is what the PR promises out of the new lounge:
Cathay Pacific is “moving beyond” for its customers with a superior experience at every stage of their journey. The new Shanghai Pudong Cathay Pacific Lounge will be another reason for customers to arrive early, rest and recharge in the welcoming atmosphere of comfort and wellbeing before their flight.
Cathay Pacific press release
What can you expect out of the new lounge?
The marketing photos honestly look amazing, and one should expect no less from a Cathay Pacific lounge. This is what you can expect from the new Shanghai CX lounge:
Cathay Pacific new Shanghai Pudong lounge (Photo credit: Cathay Pacific)
Feels like home
If you have been to Shanghai Pudong airport, let’s call it – it’s not the best airport experience you can get. What Cathay Pacific promises with this new lounge is that you will be “transported to an oasis of serenity designed to reflect the comforts of a modern apartment.”
Perosnally what I love about Cathay’s lounges is the fact that they use a lot of wood and earth tones, which calms the mind either in the day or at night.
The Noodle Bar
This is a perennial favourite and arguably Cathay Pacific’s best selling point of its lounges. Of course, the Shanghai lounge must have one of these, given that Shanghai is also home to some of the best noodles in the world.
You can expect Cathay Pacific’s signature wanton noodles, as well as a rotation of other options and dimsum choices too, including Shanghai’s very own xiao long baos!
The Cathay Pacific Shanghai Lounge will also feature a quasi-outdoor seating area, with a good view of the apron and runway. There will be a selection of seating, and I’ll imagine this area will be quiet than the indoor areas.
There will be self-service food and beverage options available at The Terrace, including international hot and cold dishes, freshly baked treats, cheeses and cold cuts, as well as a selection of wines, spirits and other non-alcoholic options.
Unfortunately, as with many other Cathay Pacific lounges in Asia, the lounge does not have showers, although I’ll be hard-pressed to understand why you will need one for a two-hour flight to Hong Kong.
Access
As with other Cathay Pacific lounges around the world, access to the lounge is limited to:
Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon business and first class passengers
Marco Polo Club silver members and above travelling on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon services
oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members travelling on oneworld member services
Passengers holding an eligible lounge pass
Given the lounge operating hours of 0530H to 2100H daily, this lounge unfortunately will not be able to cater to some of the red-eye oneworld services, including Qatar’s services to Doha and Finnair’s services to Helsinki. There are also a handful of oneworld carriers, including Qantas, that operates out of Terminal 1, so passengers will not be able to access this lounge given the terminals are not linked.
Final thoughts
China is a critical market for Cathay Pacific. After all, it is in direct competition with the big three Chinese carriers, particularly in the mid- and long-haul markets.
The Chinese traveller has become more and more sophisticated over the years. While airlines in the past could get away with a subpar lounge experience, the travellers have become more discerning over the years, and this investment is definitely well-timed for Cathay Pacific to provide an edge over its competitors.
The lounge is definitely a step up for Cathay Pacific in serving the Chinese market, and also in line with keeping the lounge experience consistent across the world. The offering is definitely one of the best in class, and I’m expecting that the other lounge operators in Shanghai Pudong to step up their game at some point.
Plaza Premium operates a wide suite of lounges and airport transit hotel offerings around the world, and have been aggressively expanding in the last couple of years. Its footprint at Changi Airport is not small: it operates two lounges (one at Terminal 1 and 4 each), the Aerotel in Terminal 1 as well as a restaurant-lounge concept TGM at Terminal 2.
TGM at Changi Airport Terminal 2, Level 3
TGM, formerly known as The Green Market, has been around at Changi Airport for several years now. Located in Changi Airport Terminal 2, the space is on the third floor after immigration, right next to the food court.
In the strictest sense, TGM is not exactly a lounge, but rather a restaurant. As such, the restaurant-lounge outlet also accepts walk-in guests who may be there for a meal, so this place tends to get a little busy during meal times.
Given that it operates more like a restaurant rather than a lounge, TGM doesn’t have a large footprint. The restaurant only has booth and dining table seating, and you will be hard-pressed to look for an armchair to lounge at. Given the concept, the space makes it ideal for groups and most definitely suitable if you are expecting substantial food.
For my visit today, I’ve used my Priority Pass card, which entitles me to a complimentary meal at TGM. TGM has a ‘corporate menu’ from which you can select a bento set, as well as a soft drink, tea or coffee to go with your meal.
Once you enter, you can choose from the following bento sets:
Sashimi Bento Set
Salmon Butteryaki Bento Set
Beef Shogayaki Set
Tempura Bento Set
Chicken Teriyaki Set
Korean Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup Set
Saba Teriyaki Set
Unfortunately TGM does not offer complimentary alcoholic drinks, so if you are in the mood for a tipple you might want to check out the other Priority Pass lounges instead.
Alcoholic drinks menu
As I haven’t had lunch and was planning to fill up at TGM, I settle on the chicken teriyaki bento. The bento was pretty substantial: there was a side of gyoza, pork and radish, two croquettes, miso soup, rice and also some fruit.
Given that this is not a traditional lounge space, you aren’t going to get a lot of facility. In fact, the restaurant doesn’t even have its own restrooms, you will need to make a short trek to the public toilets next to the food court, so if you are travelling alone this may not be ideal, although the staff will be more than helpful to keep an eye on your belongings.
Chicken Teriyaki Bento Set
However, TGM is a good space if you need to get some work done. When I was there on a Saturday afternoon at about 3pm, there was hardly anyone in the restaurant thus making it a good respite from the crowd in the terminal.
Also, every table has access to a power socket, so if you need to charge your devices or plug in your laptop, this is a good space.
Final thoughts
Overall, TGM is a good place to hit if you (i) have an unlimited Priority Pass membership, and (ii) need a fuss-free meal before you get on your flight from Terminal 2. This is a much better dining option over the SATS Premier Lounge in Terminal 2, even though it doesn’t come with complimentary alcohol.
Having said this, if you need other lounge facilities, such as shower facilities or complimentary unlimited beverages, you will really be better off visiting the Plaza Premium Lounge at Terminal 1.
TGM booth sitting
Location and operating details
Location: Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2, Level 3 (beside food court) Access: Priority Pass or Dragon Pass, or pay-per-use Hours: 0600H to 0100H Food and beverage: Yes, one complimentary bento set and non-alcoholic beverage Alcohol: Chargeable Toilets: No Showers: No Business Centre: No
On my way home to Singapore from Okinawa with Cathay Pacific today, I had the chance to check out the Ryurin Lounge at the airport. One good perk of having Marco Polo Club status – even just with Silver – is that you will get access to a lounge as long as you are flying with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon.
Ryurin Lounge, Naha Internatonal Airport
Naha International Airport is largely a domestic airport with a small international terminal. The last time I was here, the international check-in area was a tiny two-row space, but it has since been moved to a larger hall on the third floor of the terminal to accommodate the growth in international air traffic.
Despite the number of international flights coming into Okinawa, there is still only one lounge: the Ryurin Lounge which effectively serves all airlines and their premium customers.
Ryurin Lounge is only accessible by airline customers
At the time of writing, the lounge serves customers of the following airlines:
China Airlines
Hong Kong Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Cathay Pacific / Cathay Dragon
Air China
Korean Air
EVA Air
China Eastern
The lounge, facilities and location
Ryurin Lounge at Okinawa international terminal is located on the 4th floor, after immigration and security screening. To access the lounge, there is a lift right across from gate 42 that will bring you to the doorstep of the lounge. Note that there’s no stairs to the lounge, this is the only way to get into the lounge.
When you first enter the lounge, the staff will check your boarding pass and your lounge invitation, before you head into the lounge itself. Also, there’s a coat rack at the front desk area, and the receptionist will ask if you need to check your coat.
Seating area
The lounge is a tiny space: a total of 37 seats are available, including two at the front door, as well 2 each at the telephone booth and workstations. The tiny size is because the lounge largely one flight at any one time, and this lounge is not available to any lounge programmes such as Priority Pass, and it’s also not available on a pay-per-use basis.
As with all places Japanese, customers are reminded not to use their mobile phones in the lounge. For those who need to chat, there are two dedicated booths for you to chat at.
There’s also two small desks for those who need to catch up with work on their own laptops or tablets.
Work desks if you need to catch up on work
Within the lounge there’s also a smoking room. Now, this is a very Japanese concept, as most other airports will require you to leave the lounge and head to the public smoking area if you wish to light up.
Smoking room within the lounge
Given that Okinawa has no long-haul destinations, this lounge has no shower facilities. There are however a pair of toilets for customers to use.
Food and beverage
Given that it’s a small lounge, there’s also very limited food and beverage offerings.
For a start, there are no hot food available: there are only pre-packed snacks and cold jelly available for you to munch on. If you need something hot, they do have cup noodles available. I thought it was pretty thoughtful to have them in the mini size, so that you can have a small bite if you are feeling peckish rather than needing something fuller.
Cold snacks and cup noodles if you need a bite
They are better equipped in the beverage department. For non-alcoholic drinks, there are two dispensers: one for soft drinks, and another one for hot drinks.
Complimentary hot beverages
There’s also a range of complimentary alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, as well as Japanese spirits such as native Okinawan awamori, Japanese whiskey and plum wine or umeshu. My favourite of all has got to be the self-dispensing beer tap dishing out Orion draft beer.
Complimentary Japanese spirits and wines
Final thoughts
There is no doubt the Ryurin Lounge is a very small lounge, probably one of the smallest I’ve seen. In the quintessentially Japanese spirit, this small space is adequately equipped as a lounge space for an international airport serving short and mid-haul destinations, with its furthest international flight being Singapore, which is about 5 hours away.
One sore lack was the absence of hot food. While the flight length doesn’t warrant one, premium travellers may appreciate the offering. In the beverage department, however, they are fully equipped, offering some of the best that Japan and Okinawa can offer.
Automatic beer dispensing machine
What else is good is that the lounge is not open to pay-per-use customers, or even third-party lounge programmes such as Priority Pass and Dragon Pass, so at no time does the lounge feel overcrowded. Having said that, the international terminal has only this lounge, so if you do not have lounge access as part of your fare, it’s better that you spend time in the public area and clear immigration and security only at the last minute.
Location and operating details
Location: Okinawa Naha International Airport, after immigration and security, opposite Gate 42 Access: Only for passengers who has lounge access as part of their fare or frequent flyer entitlements, not available for Priority Pass or Dragon Pass Hours: 0845H to 2120H (hours may vary) Food and beverage: Yes, complimentary Alcohol: Yes, complimentary Toilets: Yes Showers: No Business Centre: No
