A visit to the new Cathay Pacific Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 3.
30 November 2016.
Just a few notes and photographs about my visit earlier today to the new Cathay Pacific lounge at LHR T3. The lounge is on a soft opening, where they were apparently trying out staff training and operating procedures. The official opening is on Wednesday 7 December 2016, when some Cathay Pacific management will be flying out from Hong Kong to host the event.
The lounge is in its previous position – I think it’s the third location, and fifth lounge arrangement that I can recall at T3 over the last dozen years or so. The new lounge is Lounge C in HAL speak, towards gate 11 and slightly further on from the BA Galleries lounges at F and AA Admirals Clubs at H.
As before it’s a lift access to level 2 from level 1. There isn’t a signposted stair access that I could see. As shown in the photo below, the Cathay brushwing logo is discreetly inset into the wall by the lift. As the lifts arrive at Level 2 the doors open to the reception desk, which is at one end of a corridor. On the right is the First lounge, for Cathay First passengers and oneworld Emeralds. I was flying BA on Club Europe but the reception agent welcomed me as if I was her most important customer of the day, and stepped out from the desk to walk me to the First lounge and then a guided tour of the lounges.
Further down the corridor is the main and much bigger Business Lounge, which backs on to the First Lounge – as it did before. From what I recall the business area (with the PC cubicles) of First has ended up in the Business lounge, but the First dining room has gone the other way. The Business lounge seems longer than the previous version, though I was only an occasional visitor there.
Opposite the business lounge is the WC, and at the end of the corridor is the area for the showers. There seems about a dozen of them there, and half a dozen hi tech storage units for baggage storage.
Business lounge
A quick visit to this. It has 5 basic areas. The first thing to catch the eye is Cathay’s renowned pièce de résistance, the Noodle Bar.
Along side that is a dining area, beyond a long table buffet and refectory dining space. Near there is the bar, with bar seating. Finally, at the end of the lounge is the main seating area. There is seating for 200, so quite generous.
The buffet food options including tomato soup, coq au vin, a beef casserole, salads, mini spinach tarts, plus a bakery and cakes area. Now this on its own would be interesting, but the made to order noodle bar and dim sum will surely be the main draw to this lounge.
This was a quick escorted visit, they were quite keen to get me back into Flounge!
First Lounge.
This is also divided into several area with mixed seating and tables. There is a pantry, similar to The Pier, with a tall fridge, though there were only a few food items in it at the moment. There is a dining room, with a comprehensive menu, including items from the noodle bar (the staff will bring other items over if requested) and a series of other items.
Unlike the Business lounge, the bar in the First lounge is self serve, include a pour your own Carlsberg pump. See the wine list on the dining room menu.
There is a main seating area, with various sofas and comfortable seating. Then along the windows overlooking the apron is a set of relaxation seats, suitable for single travellers. Power sockets are similar to other Cathay refurbished lounges, they slide out from the nearby tables.
For my lunch, I asked for the Dan Dan mieng, I asked for a small portion, so I am not sure what a large one looks like. Plus fish and chips. It was served quickly and professionally by the lounge staff. If one had to quibble, I don’t think Cathay has got any better than BA at doing chips! And another minor quibble, the internet speed isn’t that good either (2.5 mb/s download), it’s slower than the BA wifi.
Shower area
I just had a quick look, but the shower units look well appointed. There is a shower reception area and the staff there were very helpful, even to someone who actually wasn't going to use the facility.
Conclusion
LHR T3 is blessed to have an excellent pair of lounges from Cathay Pacific, with a particularly strong First lounge. It reflects extremely well on the airline and its staff, no flight from T3 would be complete without a visit.