I'm finally going to get into the first class side of the CX lounge(s) in Hong Kong next week. Is there any major difference between the Pier and the Wing? I've got at least 3 hours, so location is not a major concern for me...

The two lounges �The Wing� and �The Pier� offered by Cathay Pacific at Hong Kong International Airport are the best airline lounge facility in the world � Winner of Forbes Top Ten Airline Lounges in the World.

�The Wing� is located between Gates 1-4 on the South Concourse while �The Pier� is located between Gates 60-65 on the Northwest Concourse which is 15-20 minutes walk after immigration and security check but offcourse you can take Automated People Mover (APM) to West Hall and then it is a 5 minutes walk from there.

The First Class Lounge offers an exclusive ambience for the discerning flyer. Both lounges offer fine dining of �The Haven� offering a superb choice of food and wine. Other options include �The Noodle Bar� where passengers can select from delicious menus, including expertly-prepared Asian Noodles.

�The Wing� offers �The Cabanas� which offer a full range of exclusive first class facilities. Passengers can relax in the quiet solitude of the private shower rooms, or soak in one of The Cabanas� deep bathtubs. For a true luxury experience, �The Elemis Day Spa� indulges both your body and mind through a range of ancient Oriental therapies. There are no computer workstations in the first class section of The Wing but passengers can go to �The Reading Room� at the Business Class lounge.

�The Pier� offers �Day Break Rooms� where passengers can relax and unwind. The rooms offer privacy with comfy large leather chair, Audio-Video-On-Demand system, adjustable lighting system and room service call. The Pier has its own computer stations.

Whenever you are in The Wing or at The Pier, whatever time, you will always be greeted with a welcoming smile � Enjoy your experience at the world�s best airport lounge facility.

The Pier's F section is quieter and has a very nice PC section, a bit dark, which is nice. The noodle bar, like at the Wing, is in the buz section. Unless I want to go to the Cabana (and not much connection time), I usually go to the Pier. CX's inflight arrival video has also been revised to introduce the Pier, too!

main differences are cabana vs day room, and lighting, relative crowdedness.
i still prefer the Wing if not in 'rush hour' i.e. 10-11 pm

the other difference is that the pier only opens 8am-11pm. check with checkin agent on hours. the wing opends as long as there is CX flights. the agent at the wing told me they were open till 3am when they had midnight express to sin/tpe

The most important thing about either lounge is the location of your departing flight. The Pier was built for passengers whose flights are at the end of the airport normally gates 60-80. As you know how the airport is constructed, once at those gates, it is quite difficult to get back to gates 1-17 as the train goes in one direction. You'd have to go to arrivals, then go through security again to get back to departures level - something that you need at least 30 minutes to do! IF there is no queue at the security check point!

Check which end your departing gate is. Regional flights from HK normally depart from gates 60-69.

My preference - the Pier. It's quieter, but does not have the Cabanas. But it's also less crowded. Day rooms are not recommended for claustrophobics!

I think you can take the train back to those 'Wing' gates from those 'Pier' gates even when you are on the departure level, without going through the security checkpoint.

You can take the lift down to the train platform (not the escalator -- no escalators down I suppose) and you just hop on to the one everyone gets off. So it's almost empty, not many people do this. I didn't know that I could do this until I was told that I can by a CX ground staff. And I could.

Commuter

etravel sounds like he works on Madison Avenue---The are both good clubs but they are still just airport clubs not luxury restaurants or country clubs. As Chiangi says you can visit both clubs to see. They will stamp your club invitation if you ask with the "Permission to Renter Stamp" and you can go back and forth as long as you keep your next flight leg coupon in your pocket. You can also take the moving sidewalk from one concourse to another to get rid of any DVT from those long flights if you don't want to try to navigate the elevator/tram thing. The F class rest in the Wing is better I think than the Wing. Also note Wing is upstairs while Pier is down---

Yes, I know I can go back and forth. I"ve taken the train in the "reverse" direction many times-- it's usually only airline staff on it, but it's no problem, just take the elevator down and up, as the escalators go in the opposite direction. Otherwise, I'm just looking for something fairly restful. I can't really visualize the difference betweeen a cabana and a dayroom, which seems to be the main difference between the two places?

Oh, one other question. I know the Pier has lots of computers for checking Email, but does the Wing? The J class side only has 4.

Commuter

The Wing has 5 internet access computers in the Library room (as of yesterday only 4 were working--). All these were having printer problems likewise yesterday but the staff is very helpful in allowing you to forward email to their account and print form there own printer. Likewise they do have a number of loaner laptop computers with excellent wireless internet access but these can go quickly during peak times. The Pier has too many computers and private workstations to count but I would think around 50..

The Cabanas are great private rooms complete with a full bath tub excellent for soaking after long hauls and a deck chair to watch the artificial river (which I like contrary to some posters here. They have a full complimentary stocked mini-bar inside so you dont have to even leave to get a drink--
The dayrooms are good but more conducive to doing business than relaxing in my opinion it depends on what you are looking for--

Slight update...

The Wing does have 4 PC's now in the FC section, but the reception of the wireless LAN isn't very good.

You also don't have hold on to your lounge invitation. If you're in CX First, your boarding pass will suffice to open doors to both clubs as many times as you need to come in and out.

[This message has been edited by Plato90s (edited 02-17-2002).]

I'm going to be flying into HKG from JFK, which arrives early in the morning... I'm connecting on the JNB flight which leaves at night... I've pretty much got a whole day to spare, and I was wondering if it's possible for me to go to the pier and drop my handcarry luggage off, and head out to the city for the day. How are the daybreak rooms? Are they much smaller than the cabanas in the Wing? Does anyone have pictures of them? Any recommendations as to which lounge I should use? I don't really mind the walk if my departing flight is from gates 1-4.....

[This message has been edited by tfung (edited 02-18-2002).]

I have not visited the business section of the Pier, However the Pier is much darker and enclosed, no view at all. I think I pefer the Wing. I still like the lounges at the old airport the view of the take off an landing was
great.

tfung, Daybreak rooms are smaller than cabanas. They just look like a room with a TV screen.

Since both the Wing and the Pier are on the departure level, I don't know if you can go out without hassle. After arriving, you clear the security and go to the loung and then go back to the security and then to the passport control. Never done this at HKG.

Leaving luggage there until your flight is no problem, I think.

i had posted the intruction before. a search may find more detailed steps.

basically, yes.
1. get your boarding pass form transfer desk,m if u havent got it in US
2. go to transfer elevator (via security), go to level 8, i.e. where the restaurants are, 1 level above the departure level
3. check into the Wing, enjoy the hottub in cabana, and repack/check your lugguage
4. go down via the same elevator to level 6 and through the immigration, remember to bring your passport and boarding passes

i would recommend you use the Wing, as it is closer to immigration. and the Pier opnes at 8am, while your plane most likely arrive at 630am