Smurfx

Hello,

Do you know, if there are some Sky Team lounges in continental China airports? It will be probably run by China Southern. I am Sky Team Elite Plus member (OK Plus Gold) will fly to Beijing, Wuhan, Xian, Guanzghou, Shanghai (PVG and HQI) and Hong Kong. Any Sky Team lounges on any of these airports?

Do you have any experience with these lounges?

Thx for info

dvs7310

NW worldclubs page gives an idea of the location of China Southern Lounges. Looks like they have a few in the domestic airports.
http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/...bs/wcasia.html

I couldn't find a list on the actual CZ website.

wavyfly

CZ offers the lounge access only for international or connecting flights. This rule is followed quite strictly at their main hubs such as CAN, SHA, PEK etc. However, I did get the lounge access at some "small" airports (Hanzhou, Sanya), where they never ask me any questions.

I am not sure if they can recognize OK Plus Gold. Ask them to check their books if they say no.

graraps

I've never flown CZ domestic (well, apart from a HKG-CAN last week, which I guess isn't really domestic), but I can advise you about the situation at HKG.
There are two Skyteam lounges, an AF one and a KE one. They're both small, but the AF one is much better, as it offers both extensive snacks and computers, plus it's quite airy. Unfortunately, it's not open all day, so may be closed if you're flying CZ and it's not coinciding with an AF/KL/KQ flight.

The KE lounge claims to be offering wi-fi, but it didn't seem to be working the one time I visited it...I think I find the public areas of the terminal more pleasant than the Korean lounge. After the stupid loungedragon tried to fob me off, I saw to it that she now knows what an OK+ Gold card is.

Instead of working with their alliance partners, CZ offer their business class pax access to the CNAC VIP lounge, which is shared between all Chinese airlines and some oddball others. It's the biggest, brightest and generally nicest of the lot (though, of course, the food offerings have a clear Chinese bias), and also offers shower facilities.
Since I was flying upfront, I don't know whether they would give me access on the basis of Elite Plus status (you do need an invite to get in, and this is issued at check-in).

Edited to add: last but not least, welcome to FlyerTalk, Smurfx! It's a pleasure having one more OK+ member onboard!

spkg

Mainland China Lounge access is very easy, the key is looking and sounding like you belong in it, its probably even easier if you're white (which i'm not, just an assumption), i've gotten into Air China (*A) with my NW plat card, and China Southern (ST) with a UA 1p card, most of the lounge agents aren't very familiar with entry rules when i comes to Airlines from North America

dvs7310

Priceless

Smurfx

Thx for your advice. Actually, I am flying with NWA from Hong Kong to Tokyo, so I could use their lounge, if they have any.

Despite the fact that CZ lounges are only for international flights, I will try to get in and we will see

UVAhoo06

I'm actually in somewhat of the same boat as the OP. I'm flying into PEK aboard CO in BusinessFirst, but I have a 7+ hour layover in PEK. I've been told that I can't leave the airport without a visa, so it seems that I'm stuck in T2. Does anyone know what lounge I would be able to access as a business class pax aboard CO (and then KE) and whether I can get a shower in the lounge. All signs to point to the Air China lounge though I hear that it's not particularly pleasant. I connect with KE later in the evening, and on their website it says that there is a "shower" facility in the Air China Lounge. What raises eyebrows is this "FR" that follows the word "shower." Please tell me that the showers aren't reserved for first class pax only: I've been in a plane for over 14 hours and now I have to sit for an extra 7 hours--all in the name of love . In any case, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, FT!

graraps

I am pretty sure they don't have any- though a NW flight may increase the chances of the AF lounge being open!

dvs7310

Only Skyteam lounges I'm aware of in HKG are AF and KE. You should be able to use either of them assuming they're both open while you're there.

UVAhoo06

As a SkyTeam business class pax, are there showers in the AC lounge (or any other SkyTeam-affiliated/leased lounges in T2) in PEK?

Thanks, FT!

nickyboy

Hi Smurfx welcome to FT. You will not find Sky Team lounges in the airports you mention unless you are travelling internationally from them. Otherwise........

CZ has its own lounges in almost all the airports I have visited in China (certainly all the ones you list). Only the very small operate on a shared basis with other carriers (or if you are well away from their heartland such as in NE China)

If you are Sky Team Elite+ you will have no problem accessing their lounges in any of the airports you mention providing you are taking a CZ flight. I've taken loads of CZ flights internally and have always had access and received good service (the standard of the lounges is a different matter however, particularly in the smaller ones)

When you arrive at the airport, look for the CZ priority check in (it is often located well away from the main CZ check-in). If you can't find it, go to the regular check in and show them your ST Elite+ card. they will tell you where to go. Beijing actually has a completely separate check in area for CZ elites with nice seating, porterage etc etc

The staff should give you a lounge voucher and a priority security lane pass. The other benefit is that at normal Chinese domestic check in, the weight limits are rigorously enforced these days. At the priority check in they tend to be more flexible

nickyboy

swiss_global

I once used the CZ domestic lounge in CAN when flying to PEK in C. The lounge is rather basic, but o.k. It offers some crackers, drinks, one PC with internet access (no wifi) but no showers. I got in easily, but they wouldn't let me out to do some shopping I had to obey and wait until the boarding call was made and all of us were gathered at the lounge exit and escorted to the gate.

UVAhoo06

Does anyone know what lounge I'd be able to use in PEK in T2, especially since I'm traveling on an international business ticket? I'm arriving from EWR in BusinessFirst aboard Continental--for what it's worth, I'm only ST Elite (NOT Elite+). Is there a facility with a shower I might be able to use? What lounge would I be entitled to use? I'm connecting onto a KE flight in C about 7 hours later. Thanks!

nickyboy

Must have been quite an experience, imprisoned in a biz lounge!

Things are somewhat different these days. They issue a lounge voucher and just present it in the normal way at the lounge. No problems leaving and entering whenever

I haven't used CAN but as a main hub it should be at least as good as PEK CZ lounge which has alcoholic drinks, some food, and at least a dozen lap tops. What you describe (crackers and pop) is still the case in the smaller lounges

nickyboy

nickyboy