There is official confirmation from CX that the limitation to F/DM pax only is temporary, I got this by email (emphasis mine) in relation to one of my flights:

I actually don't read it the same way you did.

I've received the same email twice now. Similarly, both times my invite did NOT mention the Wing F.

I cannot be sure this is accurate, but checkin staff told me the system prints the same pass for OWE and DMs for which lounges you can go to. And clearly Wing F is closed to non-CX OWEs. But then the problem arises: how to inform all the DMs? Most DMs are not on FlyerTalk (95pct?), despite our lively group here. I'm pretty certain most people don't even know about the opening yet. ->so I'm pretty sure the explanation for the email is just to tell Diamonds that it's open. (This may be your point!)

Now, obviously CX can change the IT to print out different passes for DMs and OWEs. The passes already print different guest numbers. So one reading of this is clearly they're intending to switch it on for all, soonish. Don't bother reprogramming things. (This inference is simply from the lounge invite oddity.)

But I just think an IT programming change should be so easy to do. (Coming from a zero pct IT person.) So I also don't quite buy my explanation above.

I take it as an indication CX hasn't exactly decided what to do yet. Especially since how limited the dining capacity is.

Perhaps they don’t have to. They can say their policy is to honour all OWE and partner F, but play the capacity card frequently

I was there too for the first time, dated on April 30, around 9.30pm. The dining room was packed but my friend and I didn’t wait for it. I agree the tables were more closed together but the positive sides were food and crew. Both were much better than the Pier F.

I understand your first time visiting observation- comparing to Wing F, the vibe in Pier F is more calm, warm and homely due to its low ceilings and yellowish lighting. The Wing is too bright, even in the evening . Maybe it is lighting issue? But in the day time, I think I will like the vibe in Wing F more for the sense of spaciousness.

QF can do this in changi for non QF flights haha , but can CX do this in HKIA where most will fly CX?

Also has CX ever done this before in HKIA? What is the criteria they reject entry before ever if any in history in pier F or whatever ?

Also anyone try to write in that Pier F food is old worn out and dated and hasn’t changed for months ? 🤣

I think people get too caught up on semantics in here. CX can ultimately just call it a "Diamond Lounge" if they really wish, or put in place "capacity" restrictions. The police aren't going to come take Ronald Lam to jail if Cathay breaks the holy OW rules.

CX's May magazine language describes the new Wing F. The language could cut either way.

"Located in Terminal 1 at Hong Kong International Airport, near gates 1 and 4, The Wing, First is open daily from 5.30am until the final departure of the day. At present, the lounge welcomes Cathay Pacific First class passengers and all Cathay Diamond members. As we anticipate high demand during the initial reopening period, oneworld Emerald members are kindly invited to enjoy The Pier, First or other Cathay Pacific and oneworld lounges, allowing us to maintain the level of service our customers expect." (near the end of the Cathay Magazine, May 2026 edition).

"At present", "initial" and "re-opening period" all clearly provide evidence for it eventually opening to partner OWEs. However, when read in longer cadences "As we anticipate high demand during the initial reopening period" and "allowing us to maintain the level of service our customers expect" it could also be read the other way, against opening for partner OWEs (what if high demands remains after the initial reopening period? what if increased crowds mean standards cannot be kept? etc.) Also ominous for partner OWEs is the obvious lack of an explicit note that it will eventually open for partner OWEs. So you can see what you like there depending on which side of the argument you prefer. Personally I think the decision hasn't been made yet and they really are trying to figure out the space, capacity, crowds, etc.

I've only visited at midday and afternoon. It has been totally lovely but, as I say upthread, there is no way they can double capacity here without it bursting at the seams given the design choices. And I haven't yet visited in the early morning, which I understand to be rush hour.

The key design choices seem to be
1.) Smallish back "main" dining room with full menu
2.) Big open-air secondary dining room with bistro/limited menu. <-But this takes away from more lounging space
3.) Very spaciously laid out "lounging" (non-dining) spaces, like the Pier.
4.) No casual grab-n-go/ seat yourself / more dense area, like the back room in old Wing F nearest J (with the plane watching, limited buffet, espresso / tea area). <-This area had extra single seats at the wooden custom tables, which allows for more efficient single seating.

Don't get my wrong, in my limited experiences I think the new Wing F is great. I also love that there are basically two restaurants with different menus, that cool at least on my first take. (Although I'm certain the more expensive items will find a way to be harmonized away after a few months!) I just don't see it being very nice if a lot more people get in there, given the lines that already exist for the main restaurant.

There is a spectrum between extremely limited access and unlimited access which maps exactly to the spectrum of less crowded to more crowded. No matter what CX does, there will be whiners and grumblers. That's life, ain't no pleasing everybody.

I thought they've done this in LHR T3 - certainly they've bounced partner elites flying partner airlines, not 100% sure partner elites flying CX (or more specifically - partner elites e.g. BA Gold flying CX J from accessing the F section there)

Outports can bar non CX flyers to their lounges.

Just in HK it makes no sense as the home base for CX. Wonder how many people fly QF BA QR UL and so on in HKG trying to access F lounges in HKIA that is not CX DM? Also I have to point out that in Changi the QF F lounge staff will even reject QF plats when not flying QF and redirects them to QF J lounge instead.

Then again was there any capacity issues when in the old Wing F days ? I really hope they open up to other elites soon. I do hope they up their food menu in Pier F then I would feel I didn’t lose much over Wing F. The rest of the decor just looks very similar to Pier F.

Having been to the new Wing F lounge, my personal assessment is that it is a very nice F lounge, much in the same way that the Pier F is also a very nice F lounge. There is nothing conceptually groundbreaking.

Cathay has already set the bar very high so Wing F is "more of the same" which some could interpret as disappointing, but I would say maybe not really, because the level is already pretty good.

My only comment is that 'The 18' is probably a waste of space, I am not convinced that having a separate area solely for the purpose of serving more expensive alcohol is a meaningful product or service. Maybe it's just me - because I'm sure that the product wasn't designed in a vacuum. If I had to be nitpicky I would also say that the majority or the area is table-service dining and there's not much space dedicated to just sitting around.

But if one wanted to just sit around and not make use of the exclusive F food or spa offerings, I guess they could just walk through to Wing J (once it reopens) and find a seat there.

The major purpose of 18 is to provide one EXCLUSIVE area for a very few selected passengers and creates a sense of prestige. A sense of prestige also brings loyalty. CX does need the support of DMP and F passengers. By the same token, Wing F is designed to strengthen the loyalty of DMs.

Does anyone know if entry to the 18 is allowed for passenger arriving in first and continuing in biz?

I believe this was asked above, and is of yet still un-answered.

Hope someone can shed some light on that, going to have such itinerary in June

Nothing beats doing. In fact it won't change any booking or lounge decisions you make anyway.