I've never felt fancier in an airport than I did hanging out in Cathay Pacific's “The Pier” First Class Lounge when I flew through Hong Kong (HKG) on a recent trip to Southeast Asia.
The first class experience in Hong Kong was like nothing I'd every experienced in an airport. From the second I walked up to the lounge, I was greeted by a friendly staff-member who offered me butler-like service during my four-hour stay in the club. I left fed, showered, rested, and the readiest I'd ever felt for a 14-hour flight to the U.S.
I was transiting through Hong Kong flying Cathay Pacific Business Class in early November, and was able to gain access to the Cathay First lounges thanks to some OneWorld Emerald status I earned through Alaska Airlines during a status match promotion. It was a unique circumstance that will likely never come up again, so I made sure to soak in my time in the Cathay Pacific first class lounge as much as I could, knowing full well this might be my last time there.
And soak it up I did. From the complimentary spa treatments, to a multi-course breakfast in the dining room, to a few hours of shut-eye in an individual suite, I took advantage of every single amenity in this lounge that is certainly the best airport experience of my life.
How to Access Cathay Pacific's First Class Lounges
The easiest way to access Cathay Pacific's first class lounges is by flying Cathay Pacific First Class out of Hong Kong (HKG) Airport. You can also get into this club when flying First Class on other OneWorld Alliance airlines from HKG as well.
We've found a few ways to use points and miles to book Cathay Pacific First Class over the last few months. There aren't many flights operating a first class cabin between the U.S. and Hong Kong, however. One of them is from New York (JFK), and you can book it starting at 149,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles each way. You can transfer American Express, Bilt, Capital One, or Citi points to Asia Miles to help fill out your balance of points, too.
But that's not how I got in. On my trip, I flew Cathay Business Class from Singapore (SIN) through HKG to Chicago (ORD) for 110,000 Asia Miles, which allowed me access to “The Pier” business class lounge and several other lounges. But my top-tier OneWorld Emerald status (highlighted in the top right of the photo below) is what allowed me into the first class lounges.
OneWorld Emerald status allows you access to first class lounges all over the world when flying on a OneWorld airline alliance members like American, Alaska, British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Finnair, Fiji Airways, and many more.
To earn my Emerald status, I went through Alaska, where I had 75K status…despite never taking an Alaska flight in my life. Late last year, Alaska offered Delta status-holders a chance to match their status after Delta made sweeping changes to its loyalty program. I took the bait and opened an Alaska Airlines credit card to secure this OneWorld status for the entirely of 2024.
That's how I found myself in possession of this lounge access card that permitted me entry into the best airport lounge I've ever experienced.
At Thrifty Traveler, we don't accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!
The lounge's concourse signage and escalators are unpretentious, but when you descend into the bowels of the lounge, it immediately gets fancier.
The lounge is not large, especially compared to the sprawling business class lounges. But it's also completely empty. There were only about 20-30 other travelers and about 20-30 staff members in the space while I was there.
The people inside were decidedly older and most of them were incredibly well-dressed. I'll put it this way: It's a room you feel poor in. I'll admit feeling a little out of place there.
That said, the staff were unbelievably accommodating and never made me feel unwelcome for a second. Despite rolling in with joggers and sneakers on, I was afforded the same doting service that every traveler at the lounge received.
Here were the five best things about the best lounge on earth.
1. The Spa
After I walked in, a friendly staff-member asked if I had been before, and I told her no. She lit up and was excited to show me everything the club has to offer. Our first stop was at the spa where I made an appointment for my massage.
A massage – in an airport lounge.
I was given the option between a head and neck massage and a foot massage. Tough call, but I went with the foot massage and was treated to 20 minutes of bliss which started and ended with a good soak.
There were other beauty-centric spa experiences you could book. And I probably could have benefitted more from one of those…but the idea of a massage was too irresistible.
This unique airport lounge experience still blows my mind.
2. Day Suites
In high-end lounges, the offerings of private suites are nothing new, but this was my first experience with one.
The suites weren't fully booked when I arrived, so I grabbed one for a few hours of shut-eye during my long layover.
The suites are all up against the windows of the concourse along this long hallway, cordoned off by curtains the entire way down. It's a quiet, noise-less area with white noise machines drowning out most noise. Even as crews were prepping widebody planes for long journeys around the world right outside the window, I couldn't hear a peep. I enjoyed watching the commotion for a few minutes before dozing off.
The suites aren't massive, but spacious enough to change clothes, stretch out for some sleep on this bed, and repack your clothes on the luggage rack, too.
The curtains on the windows closed completely to create a full blackout room to sleep in. You could also dim lights and use a reading light, too.
3. The Food
“Sir, I am so sorry, but the Michelin-starred chef won't arrive until after you depart for your flight this afternoon.”
That's the apology I received from lounge staff after I sat down for the one of the best breakfasts of my life. Honestly, I didn't need to know that I just missed out on the main event, because my breakfast was maybe the best meal I've ever had in an airport.
The entire menu is complimentary for guests, and every bite I took was immaculate. My cappuccino and “detox” green juice were both sublime, as was my fruit plate appetizer, and my made-to-order curried eggs dish, too.
That was what is offering for sit-down dining service in “The Dining Room,” but there's another area called “The Pantry” which has more grab and go options as well as items you can bring to your seat at any time.
The food offerings in this room (only half of which is shown in this photo) were meticulously cared for and updated throughout my time in the lounge. The staff members switched it from breakfast to lunch at 11 a.m. in about 30 seconds flat, too. It was like watching a Formula 1 pit crew.
I wished I could have sampled more of the food. It was all excellent. If you find yourself here, don't skip on the fresh juices bottled in the fridge, either. I sampled all of them, and some of them twice.
4. Shower Suite
There are few things better in an airport lounge than a shower suite. If you have the chance to freshen up during a long travel day, always take advantage. Nothing makes me feel better when I'm flying long-haul.
I signed up for a shower suite immediately upon entering The Pier, mostly so I could be a little more presentable after landing from a red-eye flight into Hong Kong. I'm happy to report that – like everything in this lounge – these suites were extra sweet.
The room was spacious and dripping in fancy amenities. The full overhead rain shower and a regular wall-mounted shower head operated simultaneously. Plus, the sink area had tons of extra space and even a stool to use while you get ready. The hanger and luggage bench made rearranging my carry-on a breeze, too.
I left Cathay's first class lounge feeling amazing thanks to these suites…and a few of number five on this list…
5. Betsy Beer(s)
Cathay Pacific brews its own beer specifically for its first and business class lounges at the Hong Kong (HKG) airport, and it's called Betsy. As soon as I got settled into my seat at the lounge (after a nap, a spa session, and a shower), the same friendly lounge agent who checked me in came over and asked if I like beer. I'll let you guess what my answer was…
She came back with a Betsy in hand and this special glass they only use in the first class lounges in Hong Kong.
Betsy is a delightfully tasty pale ale that Cathay brews for its Hong Kong lounges and for all passengers on Cathay flights, and it comes in this incredibly cool can. The can and ale is an ode to its first-ever aircraft.
The beer was really smooth and tasty, and the lounge agent's enthusiasm for it was contagious. She even quietly gave me one to bring with me on my travels back to the U.S., which is now proudly on display at Thrifty Traveler headquarters.
Bottom Line
I've never felt fancier then when I spent a few glorious hours at Cathay Pacific's “The Pier” First Class Lounge at Hong Kong Airport (HKG) before a recent flight back to the U.S.
If you're looking for an airport lounge with free massage treatments, high-end dining, and doting service, find a way to get into “The Pier” on your next trip through Asia.