I concur with this argument. If other OW airlines cannot treat CX's top pax well, then CX can follow suit.

I think you'll find CX already exclude OWE from receiving many privileges they give to DMs. I think you'd struggle to find many privileges standard BA Gold members get that aren't given to all OWE. Arrivals access at LHR only applies to them if on a BA flight so this is an airline specific perk and not a OW thing anyway. A few perks DMs already get that CX don't give to OWE that I can think of:
* Courtesy Channel (isn't priority security meant to be a OWE benefit?)
* Buggy
* Consistent bottle of water etc. when sitting in economy
* Booking a massage at Pier F (which is effectively now a DM/F only perk)
* Free seat selection for other passengers in the same booking
* DM/F area in The Bridge

These are all privileges the base level of Cathay Emeralds get that other Emeralds don't. I'm a QFF OWE, I don't think I get much from QF when flying with them or accessing their lounges that other OWE don't get. So I'd be careful about encouraging CX to withhold from OWE things they give to all of their Emeralds, it may make the alliance less useful.

Sorry - but strong disagree that this is "base level" that DMs get as Emerald in other airlines. I'm fully supportive of DM protection as it's much harder to attain DM than OWE.

• Courtesy is airport specific, not alliance wide.
• Buggy - sure.
• Bottle of water - struggle to think any other airlines that do this.
• Booking a massage- you're still allowed to have a massage, just not "booking" one. Show up early like many EMs do which resulted in years where CX's own DMs are unable to book.
• Free seat selection for other pax - not actually available nowadays
• DM only areas - how about Chairman area in QF, QR's many cabin specific lounges, BA concorde room....etc.

I understand what you are saying, and I really don't like the trend of non-OWE first lounges. But the examples you cite are not exactly comparable (with the exception of the LHR arrival lounges) to the model you are suggesting, since the home carrier's DM equivalents also don't have access to Al Safwa or Chelsea or Concorde Room unless they pay up for the premium cabin.

Still, I agree with the general point that these carve out lounges, once they become common enough, degrade the value of Emerald status, especially when the lounges that OWE can access in, eg., Heathrow T5 are quite poor. For me, the whole motivation for my airline loyalty is that I really value OWE benefits as they were originally conceived, and Oneworld carriers will collectively lose top customers if they aren't able to coordinate and offer this benefit going forward. As others mention, this is something Cathay will probably have to keep in mind as they rely so much on transit passengers from partner programs.

For me, the best solution is the QF model, where all OWE can access a true international first lounge with a la carte dining etc, but a section is reserved for F/home carrier elites with elevated drinks and some other specials. My hope is that good emerald lounges are starting to make a come back, with IB opening one soon in Madrid and Oman potentially reopening their old first lounge.

Personally, I’ve never experienced very long waiting times at Pier F. I think it really depends on the time of travel. I’m a leisure traveler and usually travel on weekends. I often arrive early on Sunday mornings, around 8 a.m., and the last time I was there the dining area was almost empty.

I frequently have long layovers there (around 7 hours, with no real alternative). On the return journey, I usually arrive around 6 p.m. with a midnight flight to Europe, so again about a 6-hour layover. Even then, I haven’t had any issues with the dining area or the shower rooms at Pier F. I typically just have the Mott32 menu and then leave the lounge or visit other lounges, spending no more than 30 minutes in the dining area.

Several times, my flight from HKG to FRA departed from a gate near Gate 65. When my connecting flight to LHR departed from Gate 4, I would head to the Deck about one hour before departure.

I actually think passengers with long layovers tend to occupy the lounge less, as they often go out or visit other lounges.

As for the massage service at Pier F, I’ve tried it twice due to my long layovers. Honestly, it’s nothing special. I wouldn’t miss it if it were removed—I’d rather pay for a proper, longer massage outside the airport.

That wasn't really my points - I was trying to explain that while you may feel like other airlines are withholding things from OWE that they give their own Emeralds, there are actually plenty of perks that CX already do that for themselves. As far as those lounges, yes QR have one particular benefit for their own Platinums, which is frustrating, but the P1/Chairman area of QF F and BA CCR are absolutely not provided to all of tge home program Emeralds, only the level above. So if CX were to be consistent with that (which they don't need to be) the DM/F area would be a DMP/DME/F area.

As far as the massage, it seems suspicious that every time I've asked they want to see my boarding pass first, and then the first available time is coincidentally similar to the departure time. I think they used to just tell me a time without seeing my boarding pass until it was changed. But that's fine, it's not an alliance benefit.

I wasn't trying to argue CX shouldn't be able to provide perks above what they provide to OWE. As far as DM being harder to attain than other OWE, if that's so then presumably anyone attaining it already thinks they'd being provided with benefits above what OWE get or they would use one of these apparently easier programs. So I don't see why there's any fuss about QR lounges and BA arrivals lounge.

whilst we argue back forth about DM vs OWE and massga vs spa etc, i just want a good coffee made by barrista not those machine garbage we see im Pier Pantry or Deck buffet zone

As a coffee snob (like most Aussies!) I highly rate the presence of a barista in any lounge!

The challenge for CX going forward is how to differentiate perks given to DME vs DM vs EM. If DME vs DM get similar perks then DM aren't encouraged to spend more for upgrade, but if CX take away too many perks from DM then why don't they just opt for EM? The balance will need to be delicate.

Ngl as a DM I am still tempted to go to The Bridge just for a coffee! The baristas there are top notch and actually award-winning.

Oh yeah - it's really good coffee there, isn't it!

I always have fun hunting down and sampling good cafes wherever I go! Current HK fave is The Cupping Room, Fineprint is decent. Pre-2020 I used to visit a cafe a now-closed Japanese name somewhere around Wan Chai. Always open to suggestions of new places to try out.

(FWIW, was pleasantly surprised by The Coffee Academic blend on CX premium economy, I'd normally not touch coffee 'behind the curtain' and even in business I have low expectations!)

Truer words have not been spoken! Same thing for the extensive filming all over the place. I do not wish to feature in anyone's social media flaunting of their half-day Pier outing.

Surprised by all the mentions of Al Safwa. QR markets regional business as first, so it’s not really any more exclusive than any of the other lounges. Drinks are identical too (at least during my last visit). The lounge has the atmosphere of a modern art museum, nice to look at but incredibly sterile and cold. Give me a CX J class lounge over Al Safwa any day.

Seems to be making good progress
Half of the scaffolding boards are removed
Just taken today
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...70583dbd99.jpg

Compared to previously in Aug 25
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...03563c6bea.jpg

Lounge staff told me Wing F lounge will be opened end of April, and DM/F area in The Bridge is remained.