The Wing First Class lounge was the benchmark for airline lounges for many years after it opened in 1999, and I was excited to finally visit and review this iconic space at Hong Kong International Airport.
I had access due to my First Class ticket on Cathay Pacific but top tier OneWorld Emerald elites also have access when flying with any OneWorld airline.
In addition to The Haven dining room, the unique feature of The Wing First Class lounge is the private Cabanas. It’s one of only a few places in the world you can take a bath airside.
In this post:
The Wing First Class Lounge Review
Designed by Foster and Partners in their signature minimalist style, The Wing First Class is a beautiful space with a Champagne Bar furnished with Chesterfield lounges immediately on entry.
Continuing on into the lounge, the next room is much larger and has expansive apron views and tended bar. Making great use of the high ceilings, The Wing First Class feels incredibly spacious and airy.
Continuing along the corridor you reach a fork in the road. Continuing on straight you enter a more casual area with a snack buffet and self serve drinks.
You will also find the signature Long Bar here in all its Carrara marble glory.
Bottles of Cathay Pacific’s Betsy Beer was available, in contrast to the cans they were served in when flying Economy Class.
The Haven Food Review
If you had turned left before the Long Bar you’d be at The Haven, the dining room at the The Wing First Class Lounge.
The staff efficiently seated me in the pleasant dining room and presented me with the menu.
I enjoyed a Cathay Delight while considering lunch option and thought the Penang style fish curry sounded good. It’s worth noting that the menu at The Wing First Class Lounge is quite limited compared to The Dining Room at The Pier First Class, where you can order a full three course meal.
That said, I was looking forward to the excellent meal service in Cathay Pacific First Class so the smaller portion was perfect. The curry was creamy and had just a little heat to wake up the tastebuds.
Once done with the meal it was time to head back to the main lounge to wait for a Cabana at the Long Bar, enjoying the view of the aircraft moving around below.
The Wing First Class Cabana Review
After an hour wait, my buzzer finally came to life and I was shown to my Cabana by the shower attendant. Despite having seen countless photos in trip reports, stepping into the Cabana for the first time still had the wow factor.
The cool marble and warm wood combined to create a warm and comfortable ambience, along with the soft mood lighting.
A generous vanity came with Jurlique amenities, rather than the Aesop found at The Pier First and Business Class lounges.
Along the corridor are two closets, with the first being a wardrobe complete with bathrobe and slippers. You can see how high the ceilings are in the Cabanas with my blazer for scale.
The second closet has two doors, one on the inside for you to hang up your garments for pressing and one on the outside for the shower attendants to collect and return the clothes.
There is a button on the side of the closet to request collection.
On the opposite side of the corridor to the closets is the spacious bathroom.
What makes the Cabanas special is obviously the opportunity to take a bath at the airport.
It was very relaxing to enjoy a half hour soak before the long flight to New York.
Just for completeness, the other airports I believe you can take a bath at are Frankfurt at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal and the British Airways Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrow.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport, where you are even given a yellow rubber duckie as a souvenir!
The Wing First Class Review Summary
The Wing First Class remains a world class airline lounge even after twenty years, with a refurbishment in 2013 giving it a contemporary feel.
While The Pier First Class lounge feels warm and residential, like a home away from home, this lounge feels grand.
If you can secure a Cabana during your visit, The Wing First Class lounge is still the best experience at Hong Kong International Airport.
Introduction – The Cathay Pacific Encore Trip
Review: American Express Lounge Sydney
Review: Cathay Pacific Economy Class 77W
Review: Cathay Dragon Economy Class A321
Review: Cathay Dragon Business Class A320
Review: The Wing First Class Lounge
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W
Review: Fairfield Inn Manhattan Financial District
Review: Jean Georges New York
Review: Olmsted Brooklyn
New York Winter Activities
Review: AA Flagship Lounge & Flagship First Dining JFK
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class New York – Hong Kong
Review: Mira Moon Hong Kong
Review: The Wing Business Class Lounge
Review: Qantas Hong Kong Lounge
Review: Qantas Business Class A380 (New Business Suite)
Summary – Highlights & Points Earned
