Lobster Eggs Benedict taken on opening day vs today. Taste is the same, but I guess presentation took a hit for efficiency's sake... 😅

Good thing is even for Monday morning rush hour the lounge was busy and there were lines for seats in both the atrium and dining room, but was quite short and took no longer than 5 mins wait..

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e9d6878dac.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...28f86851bc.jpg

QR has many exceptions as far as not allowing qualified oneworld elite status holders into their lounges (unless they also fly QR or fly in a premium cabin, both of which are contrary to standard oneworld access rules).

AA has exactly 1 such exception (Chelsea Lounge at JFK)
BA has exactly 1 such exception (Concorde Room at LHR)
CX has exactly 1 such exception (Wing First temporarily)

And those 3 don't even matter because AA, BA, and CX offer alternate lounges at each location that fully adhere to standard oneworld access rules. But in most of the locations where QR restricts access they only have 1 lounge and no alternatives for qualified oneworld elites.

Hello all - great discussion.
As we do not qualify for the Wing on our upcoming itinerary (CX-J flights, AA-Emerald) - We planned to visit Pier F.
However, what about the Qantas lounge? I have never been to Qantas lounge in HKG.

Should we simply stick to Pier F?
Thank you.

I think they're both really good. If you have time I would say sample both, if not pick the one with the ambience you prefer. Pier First has a living room dark decor low ceilings type of ambience, QF lounge is wide open and bright with high ceilings, but like I said, both are really good.

ok Thank you!
Will try to sample both. Maybe eat at QF and shower at Pier.

Depending on your departure time, showers in the Pier can get busy. You might get better shower availability at QF lounge after the evening wave of QF departures. Of course this heavily depends on the crowd on the day/your flight departure time.

To play safe, I would probably check shower availability in the first lounge you sample and use it while you can, before going to the other - if it is very important to you.

All OW Emeralds get the same lounge access on QF domestic. CL access is quite unrelated.

Great suggestion!
We will transit between 10AM till 2PM or so.

Good point and noted.

But why is Y class for CX members the relevant barometer? I have done a lot of Y flying in my life, but admittedly these days almost zero.

We all care what affects us I presume. In my case, last year I flew on CX F ex-JFK. I wasn't permitted into AAs top lounge there. I am CX OWE. (Not that it really bothered me.)

I kinda see the definitional rules as missing the point. If CX instead called the Wing a "Special Swire and Friends Club", explained this was outside the OneWorld criteria and that Pier F was available for that ends, and then invited in CX DMs only and CX F pax only, would that calm the critics? CX has a really nice lounge selection at HKiA, and for that matter the Chelsea thing I visited at JFK was just fine too, despite me being "banished" there as the OWEs visiting HKIA are currently suffering the humiliation of being "banished" to the Pier F.

Personally I think they'll open Wing to OWEs. I'm just trying to understand what is the issue besides the slippery slope that is already underway, whether we like it or not. I see the slippery slope as an intelligent long term measure to right side the craziness of the 2010s era where partner programs were feasting on CX revenue that CX was foolishly leaving on the table.

I see some similarities in the arguments made back in the 2015s if one looks in here, about how CX would be doomed if they didn't release all these partner J and F awards to British Avios, American Airlines, Alaska. Etc. by restricting access (I realize this sounds terrible but I'm trying to be straight on the facts), what CX finally realized is a lot of those incremental people go where the inventory is (aka the better program), and simply decided to earn in Asia Miles instead. Now CX earns real cash selling gobs of Asia Miles to credit card partners, at the expense of AA or BA and whomever was monetizing people flying CX metal instead.

The reality is these mileage programs are very valuable properties and CX has been playing catch up. I think the lounge situation we're all witnessing with the different carriers restricting us a little bit, is all part of that. QF wants you to earn in QF currency. BA etc. it's the same logic why AA doesn't let me in their top lounge despite flying CX F and being a partner OWE. CX is late to this game but catching up in a hurry. These are some of the levers it's using that's all.

The point is that CX is now making two categories of OWEs. The key feature of OW status benefits and lounge access in particular is that one with status gets them without needing to pay anything extra beyond price of even the cheapest available ticket. Of course they can call it "Chairman’s Lounge " and restrict to access to whoever they want, but they decide to categorize it as standard first class lounge, so standard admission rules shall apply, hopefully soon...

Personally, I think they will open it to OWE. That is my bet. It is based on what you say, that they labeled it an F lounge with clear meaning on the OneWorld book of rules or whatever.

But I do think for the same reason I say above and below, there may increasingly be more caveats. Like the massage booking. The side room at Bridge. The 18 (which isn't for regular DMs now anyway), and maybe other things.

I do think they have a little problem with the dining capacity at new Wing so that could change the thinking. Even as the DMs have all tried it a few times and moved on, I still have to imagine it will be very hard to get a meal at a busy time in a hurry once the whole OWE group is permitted entry. Not sure what they'll do there.( Also possible I'm underestimating just how much extra traffic it's getting because of the new factor right now, although one would think that same attention will exist once OWEs gain entry). And then there is the issue that I believe there will be more DMs than ever in 2027 given the CX rule changes.

My argument is more against just the whinging that this double top tier situation across OW is so terrible. It makes logical business sense to me at least, the direction everyone is going with the super tier on top. Everyone argues their corner here and I think the rules-based order argument is similar. Even if it's not many peoples dream scenario. As much as everyone here appreciates the "flat" alliance treatment, maybe the alliance was not as great for some airlines in the last 10-15 years, and if it's not working for them as intended naturally there will be some changes.

The mileage F and J tickets for partners was really egregious wastage by CX. The lounge is a bit more abstract but I see it squarely in the same train of logic, enhancing value of under monetized loyalty program which was captured by other "friendly partner" airlines who ate CX lunch.

I do not whine! Please stop comparing me to a pig. This kind of attacking does not belong to this community. I am just presenting my opinion, so have some respect.

​​​​​​​The point is that they should manage this systematically. If they have capacity issues, then let's make Wing F the actual First Class only lounge for passengers with an eligible ticket and Pier F the OWE + First Class Lounge as it is done at JFK (Chelsea vs Soho). But creating two categories of OWE is not the correct approach and seems like it is against OW rules. So it shall stay indeed temporary.

You have misinterpreted my quote. It is the royal "whinge" in general, there is a degree of that here in our forum, although not in this thread which seems pretty straight to me (although we all whinge, me included). As for the pig thing, I am completely confused.