Pier and Wing F lounges
 

Hi all -

Excited to be travelling in CX F for my first time - on HKG-JFK

Just trying to research both F lounges and plan my time in the airport. I've been to HKG one time before in CX J and spent quite a bit of time trying to at least step foot in every possible lounge. I recall the terminal being quite large.

Do the HKG-NYC flights typically depart from a certain side of the terminal? Is one F lounge clearly superior to the other or do each have their own merits?

I'll have plenty of time - over 8 hours - although I also plan on taking a quick ride into HK island for noodles and a hike up the Peak.

Any thoughts on how best to manage the layover? I definitely want to set foot in the main city for some time in addition to enjoying all the F privileges in HKG.

Thanks to all in advance for your advice.

Hi,

Each has its own merits ( The wing has the champagne bar but the pier is more enclosed ( the wing is open to some of the terminal noise). I personally preferred the dining in Pier F ( this was in April before the catering changes)

What times are your flights?

After arriving in HKG I would go landside (clearing immigration then go into Hong Kong and do the peak ( if on a reasonable day) then back to the airport. I might consider getting the tram ( prepare for queues) or a bus/taxi up to the peak and walk down.

The J lounges are also very good ( I liked the tea room in Pier J)

Regards

TBS

Flights to the US typically use gates 1-4 as these makes isolating these gates easier for the mandatory extra interview and security checks. That being said, Wing F may be the go to lounge. However, I have had some departures (EWR and ORD) that departed 17 and an odd 30 something gate as well.

The lounges, F or J are not really worth planning too much around vs. being able to visit the city.

I don't disagree with this unless one is a frequent visitor to Hong Kong.

I'd rather bide my time airside even if I have a long(ish) transit (not more than 6 hours)

I had a 12-hour layover last year, so here's a couple pointers:

1) I was able to visit the lounges, shower, change, and drop my bag at The Pier J lounge before heading out to the city. Since you have cleared security you will need an airline escort to take you back downstairs to immigration. Depending on your luggage situation, this route might not be worth it.

2) Purchase your Hong Kong airport express ticket just after clearing customs/immigration. Tell them you are returning the same day and it will be the same price as a one way ticket.

3) Make sure you get a ticket all the way to Hong Kong. The Kowloon station is a pain. So, if the thought of taking the ferry over sounds appealing, find another route.

Just returned from HKG last week (3 day trip). Had 4 hours at the airport on the return since flight wasn't until 6pm.
Visited - Wings F, Bridge J, Pier F, Pier J, UA Club and AmEx Centurion.

Had lunch at Wings F - inside room - no windows. Rest of Wings F is a balcony overlooking gates. Nice Champagne Bar plus the restaurant has a food buffet plus the order from the table. I sort of prefer the Pier F, as pointed out, Pier F is more enclosed. A slightly larger menu in the restaurant and the Pier F has a small buffet outside the restaurant - mostly deserts. Pier F has resting rooms plus showers (basic showers). Wings F has much nicer showers.

Nothing special about Bridge J, but I was really surprised how nice and large the Pier J was. I sort of liked Pier J just as much or maybe a little better than Pier F. Pier J has many rooms and three different food stations (bars). A food line, a noodle bar, and a desert bar, all in separate rooms. Sort of interesting. Pier F though has a nice sitting area around the bar. Pier F also has foot massages but not always available and long wait if available.

Both AmEx and United Club sort of standard with buffets. Been to Qantas lounge before - nice but mostly buffet.

US flights can be either out of Gates 1-5 (at Wings area) or out at gates 60+ (at Pier area). Might depend on time of day - but I think for security they have mostly shifted out to the more remote gate 60+ area.

One thing to note is that the underground train from the Wings gate areas to the Pier is one way out. You can't come back on the train - say go to Pier first then come back. You can walk of course - but can not use the train to come back.

Thanks for this . I hadn't considered Pier J on my forthcoming trip, but I will now pop in for an hour after visiting the Pier F

thanks for the advice!

I arrive 9am'ish and have a 6pm'ish departure.

Definitely planned on taking HK express train to Hong Kong station. Anyone know about how long (or difficult) it would be to hike up Victoria Peak?

Would be nice if JFK flights leave closer to Pier.

If you're feeling lazy and don't want to make the trek, just book a buggie an hour or two before boarding to take you from the Pier to the lower gates.

A few questions for everyone and a specific for skunker, OWE here flying DOH HKG SYD return early next year. 9 hr layover on the way back.
- I used a F lounge with cabanas previously in 2012, which lounge was this? the pier or the wing? - I understand one is new?
- Do all CX F/J lounges have the ability to store a carryon bag? - love to head into the city
- skunker - is this because you have cleared security to go through to board your connecting flight and you now want to exit, then re enter through public channels later on?
- Any other way to store a carryon bag and make a HKG city visit an easier experience?

The cabanas are only in The Wing F.

Going through transit security to the departure area then trying to get back out can be done but is a major pain for the staff, and may take a while.

The airport has landside baggage storage, for a small fee. Baggage Storage, Airport Facilities & Services - Hong Kong International Airport

It's a pain for everyone.
Immigration now make you wait a long time before allowing you to go out by the special channel. Supposedly they are checking you on their computer system. But I think that it could be related to some previous incidents.
Recently, my flight (not CX) was delayed by 6 hours and I decided t go back home. I had no checked luggage. It took 25min of waiting at immigration to get my papers back (I am PR). And prior to that I had to wait for a staff to pick me up. I lost some 40min all together just to reenter HK.

If your inbound HKG flight is on CX or KA, you can store in The Arrival as long as you pick up before lounge closure (I think midnight). However, yours is probably a QR flight. While you can go to the departure level to leave in a F lounge, the return to the arrival level can be a pain for both CX staff and you. If policy changes, you may be stuck in departure.

You can leave your bag at the airport luggage store for a fee, or you can check in everything and carry only the essential items (passport, cash/cc/ID, phone, laptop, power bank).

Are you referring to the e-Channel of HKIA? I haven't had a delay using it last month. Is this a recent development?

Thanks everyone. 4.5 hrs on the way to syd, will just stay in terminal. 9.5 hrs on way back, will exit and re enter. Will be carrying absolute minimal stuff in a small backpack, will just carry it around city.

Whats the process for arrival in HKG, exit to HK and then reenter to take a connecting flight? If i'm on time, i'll probably leave for 6 hrs or so I guess. Are there any hang ups I should be aware of?

This question is more appropriate for the HKG forum.

You don't need to enter HK for transfers if your luggage is checked through. There are transfer points for transits where you can pass through security to get to the departure level. Be careful about LAG requirements in case you pick up something before security.

When I did it, it didn't seem to be a pain for anyone. I was connecting onto AA so I went to the airline service desk near the front of the terminal. I explained what I wanted to do, she called someone and then asked where my passport is from. I told her US and she then walked me to a special elevator near the QF lounge and down to the immigration level. We showed the guard my passport and boarding pass and he said OK. I waited in line like everyone else and immigration took 30 seconds once it was my turn. Again, this was last November.

I was told only the J Pier lounge had baggage lockers.

s115 can access the F lounges as an OWE. I used to frequent Wing F, and left my carry-on with the attendant at the reception.

Thanks for the advice!

But I lost my DM status two years ago. So I do not have recent experience leaving carry on with the attendant in F lounge.

I think the practice has not changed. It is just not lockers but a small room that is manned. They give you a tag to indicate how many pieces in storage. Very similar to what Arrival lounge does, except Arrival lounge storage is way too small for the usage and is filled up very quickly.

Late last year I left my carryon at Wing F lounge with the attendant late when I had 6 hours to kill (had to arrive HKG early due to husband departed 4 hours ahead of me.)

After that I just walked to Pier as a good exercise. Then on way back I dropped by Bridge which I also liked (probably a minority here.) The set up with 2 sides often means the side where there is a coffee bar, always is a nice quiet area. After an Irish coffee and a couple cookies I returned to Wing F, retrieved the carryon and headed to the gate - only had to return to the lounge because the captain was not anywhere to be found so the gate agents sent us back to the lounge... We had almost an hour delay. Then the flight had a medical diversion to SFO, so I missed my connection LAX-SEA. Had we not had the hour delay at departing HKG, I would still make the connection even with the Med diversion. Sigh.

It really depends on where you are coming in from. We frequently have to deal with 9 to 12 hours layovers from the AA LAX-HKG flight to our evening CX HKG-BKK as CX only provides a few seats to AA, at a reasonable price of course, for the earlier codeshares. Going into the city just for the day after the long TPAC even in J can be a pain, plus, it's good to get a shower/bath and nap in one of the cabanas in the Wing FC. The cabana attendants have never rushed us to leave but we don't "overstay" by very much. Though I'm always tempted to just do an overnite, last time used the Regal at the airport which was very good. One of the choices last trip was the 8am HKG-BKK on CX the next day on the new A350 and we received an UPG to PE.

My November trip has a 6 hour layover between my CX BKK-HKG to the AA HKG-LAX so not really enough time to run into the city to do anything plus I have a one night stand in HK on the return, so I plan on doing a lounge crawl. Getting in at about noon, so start at the Wing FC and eat lunch at the Haven, which I still prefer to the Pier FC. Before the 18:55 flight on AA, usually out of the Pier Lounge area gates, I will spend some time at the Pier FC to get a foot massage and a lite dinner so I don't have to eat the airline food, though the steak is usually pretty good on AA out of HKG. In between, some walking and maybe a stop at the Bridge as it's also very good especially for an afternoon snack. With the CX lounges at HKG, it's a bad place for a diet.

One of my favorite day trips into HK is taking the AE to Kowloon, grab the K2 shuttle to the Penisula (or Marco Polo,) and walk to the Star Ferry for the ride over to Central. Depending upon the time, dim sum lunch at Maxim's at City Hall, walk to the Peak tram, if too much of a line, taxi (really not much more than the tram charge,) up to the peak and do the apx 1 hour walk around the island And return.

Can you request a free buggie when travelling CX F? or connecting to/from CX F CX C(no F to AU!!!!!!!!!) you auto get buggie when flying TG F but wasnt aware this was availalbe CX F

No, you don't.

Only CX Diamonds are given buggy vouchers, for far gates.

Shame!

In fact, at least in the past, CX DM are given buggy vouchers for far gates even when traveling Y. I don't know about transit though.

I saw the same in a hotel in Tokyo I was in recently. Chinese family pretty much took everything from the buffet to their own table, plate fulls of food, and left most of it. It seems to be the way they think - not "what do I want" but "lets grab everything for my family and we will decide later what to eat". Mostly in hotels etc I just ignore what is going on around me, but this just left me so mad. And yes, it was all about the waste (and the inconvenience to other diners who had to wait for the dishes to be refilled!)