Thanks for the insights Conkers!!

It's interesting that only differentiation for The 18 is better alcoholic beverages. As someone that does not drink anymore, I would hope that CX would offer a little bit more for DM+ and F of real exclusivity (i.e. similar to SQ or other airlines with premium F products). If more boogie boozes are the only extra offerings, I can stick with my "low-tier" diamond member. Save me $$ to not chase DME status. :D

The jury may still be out on whether to extend access to the upcoming DME status. I wouldn't count it out yet. Maybe a limited basis or space available basis or something.

Not that this bar sounds that interesting anyway.

To be perfectly fair, CX seems to be superb to DMPs. I've heard some great examples of high-touch treatment.

Inclined to agree with all this. I can’t imagine they will extend to DME as that’s a big number of members. I am sure there is more to come but as it stands the 18 will have very limited appeal.

The likes of Air France have really set the bar very high with their home airport on the ground F offering.

I've never flown AF F but hearsay is their inflight dining can be sub-par. Either way we tend to forget airlines are not running a restaurant or bar, their job is to get us from A-B in a comfortable settings. Whilst i do not complain about F-lounge quality CX offers now (even they went downhill a lot in 10 years) i still can't understand why they can't get their inflight dining correct. Are we now choosing airline based on how 'wow' the 30min experience prior to flight is, or the actual 14hour stuck in the metal tube.

I simply want a proper meal experience when I fly J.

I do agree with you and it is so difficult for the airlines to strike a good balance. I had an excellent meal in the Wing F lounge yesterday as aforementioned followed by a pretty decent F meal (I chose two main dishes, the lobster and the pork) on the flight. The breakfast was pretty decent too. No complaints at all there. J long haul catering satisfactory but no more than that. Now my travel is leisure only and I have far more time, the lounge experience is far more important to me as I have the luxury of time to enjoy it. Hence referencing the AF on the ground offering as a benchmark. Not tried the LH F terminal.

With the current overcrowding during breakfast and evening hours, I can't imagine how they will ever be able to extend admittance to OW emeralds as well.. I really think they dropped the ball a bit in terms of the seating capacity..

Perhaps they can still turn the remaining top half of the Wing into F class lounge, and only have the lower section as business class.. That way I think there should he enough space to welcome in OW emeralds.

It's still early days – the lounge has been open for little more than one week – so I'd say this is the expected "sampling" stage where every Diamond is making a beeline to The Wing to check it out, and perhaps deciding they like it so much that they're staying there until their flight is ready to board, rather than decamping to The Pier First. That stage will IMHO remain for some time, until the bulk of Diamonds have sampled The Wing First, and only then – perhaps in 3-4-6 months – will we see how things shake out and if there's scope to open The Wing First up to Oneworld Emeralds.

That'd be an interesting take, although the layout would already have been locked in, with work underway.

In the end, let's say that Cathay did decide to keep The Wing First as a CX-only lounge. I know a lot of Oneworld Emeralds who'd hate this, but can one blame Cathay or indeed any airline for preferencing their own most premium passengers at their home hub? It's not like they would be the first, and one suspects they would not be the last...

Wing is said to be packed this morn (start of long weekend HK/5 days Mainland Golden Week ) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B6...ibextid=wwXIfr

(I included Mainland Golden Week as security was quite busy this morn. But not by locals. Oh, the Pearl River Data airport catchment area - they bussed in...)

Meanwhile, Pier seems relatively quiet at 06:45. Message was only backed out to 08:55. So it's not OWEs or transit pax clogging up the lounges!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...aac993bdf0.jpg

I was at the Wing First again yesterday evening, around 8:10pm. There was a lineup of 8 people to get into the Dining Room. I finally got in at 8:30pm. Although this is only my second time visiting, I am beginning to dislike the Dining Room already. As I said in my post above re: my first visit, I find that the tables are placed much closer together than they are at the Wing. I can quite easily hear the conversation of the guests in the adjacent tables, even when they are speaking quietly. Sitting so close together just does not make me feel comfortable at all. I just had a quick bite, and then moved out to the Atrium, where there were less people. I had a lobster roll, which was quite good.

I had booked a spa treatment for 10:25pm. After that, took a shower, and there was a 10-minute wait.

Since my flight departed at 01:55, I had no choice but to stay at the Wing; the Pier closes at 12:30am.

I think I am going to return to the Pier for my future lounge visits, unless the gate for the flight has already been assigned when I check in and is closer to the Wing.

I was there that evening as well! We just finished dining in The Atrium and taking photos for a review before moving on to The Retreat at 8pm. When we first got in around 6pm, the lounge was very busy, though.

Anyway, my full review is here if anyone would like to read it. Took lots of photos. Disclaimer: I am the author, and access was arranged by CX as I have partner Oneworld Emerald status.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f6e8478baa.jpg
We did end up going to The Pier for the day suites and that was a lovely way to relax - moreso than at The Wing.

Do OWE in CX-J get access to this lounge (ticket issued by CX; But AA frequent flyer)?

Not currently I am afraid.

Thank you. Good to know! We will go to the other first lounge in this case. (? the Pier?).

Still an amazing F lounge!

Great! thank you.