The Wing First to reopen Q2
 

A few quick updates:

• CX confirms The Wing First to reopen in Q2 (April-May-June, to save you having to think about it) with a fresh look which updates the current (yet decade-old!) 'signature' style created by Ilse Crawford.
• CX has re-engaged StudioIlse to develop The Wing First (and presumably The Wing Business) as its new HKG flagship lounges
• It's confirmed that the Cabanas have been axed in favour of a new "wellness" proposition
• There'll also be a new dining concept, in addition to the à la carte dining room (not replacing it)

More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...unge-hong-kong

Losing the Cabanas is a shock, I thought recalling they said they would keep it as they know it's a favourite

Guess we'll need to wait what type of wellness proposition would it be replaced by. (Maybe keeping the same space for a full spa treatment with the soaking bathtub?)

What new dining concept can it be other than a la crate and buffet?

Air Canada Cafe Grab & Go? Please don't.

2/3 of lounge are restaurant booth seating so it looks like an oversized CCT for all the locals to sit and eat and the expats/visitors to eat. We can make decent workstations out of them too.

Then 1/3 bar/lounge for all the expats/visitors to sit and drink.

I really hope they retain the buffet area [was it referred to as the “verandah” or similar] with the open plan seating and views out to the apron, runways. I always found that one of the best spots in any of the lounge offerings.

From the link:

"And once The Wing First reopens, The Wing Business will be shuttered to undergo its own year-long transformation, leaving The Deck as the only Cathay business class lounge at the ‘top’ of the terminal."

I thought The Deck was now First (and whatever status) only? Or does The Deck revert back to business once the Wing First is re-opened?

I only fly to HKG once a year or so, and for the last few visits it seems different every time!

It will revert back to Biz I think.

This is great - they did such a fantastic job on the Pier and current lounge template. I’m excited to see what they’ve come up with this time around.

That’s correct - when The Wing First reopens, The Deck goes back to being a business class lounge.1

I do wonder if there’ll be a F/DM-only corner, like that in the Bridge? It seems to be a new CX trend along with JFK’s new lounge. However these are Business class lounges rather than First class lounges.

As The Wing First is for First passengers and Cathay Diamonds, not sure why it would need an "F/DM-only corner" – wouldn't the whole lounge be an F/DM zone..?

I guess he meant a zone for CX F class customers and CX DM members only, that is not accessible to OW Emerald members...

I’m curious whether any of the new Wing Lounges will include a separate inner room or an entirely separate lounge for First Class passengers, Diamond Plus, and eventually Diamond Executive (once it launches in 2027), similar to how British Airways does it with the Concorde Room at Heathrow Terminal 5, or how Qatar handles Al Safwa in Doha.

For context, the Concorde Room is genuinely exclusive. It’s limited to passengers actually flying BA First and Concorde Room Card and BA Gold List Holders. Al Safwa is similar in spirit. It’s primarily for First Class passengers, with limited access for Qatar Platinum members traveling in Business. In both cases, OneWorlld Emerald status on its own doesn’t qualify.

Historically, both The Wing First and The Pier First have tended to get crowded, especially during peak and holiday periods, with families and OneWorld Emerald guests having access. That does take away from the experience for passengers actually flying in First.

It would be interesting to see whether Cathay uses this refresh to introduce a more clearly tiered First Class experience, perhaps prioritizing rather than just a single shared First lounge space.

It's an interesting notion – at LHR T5 of course, the BA First lounge is effectively just a Oneworld Emerald lounge because as you've mentioned, actual F passengers (along with highest-tier BA frequent flyers) go to The Concorde Room – and I can appreciate how some 'segregation' (for want of a better word) combined with service differentiation could be a good fit with actual CX First passengers and, yeah, the very highest tier of frequent flyers.

My guess is CX will have a dedicated "First" area which also permits DMs (yes. Regular DMs) but not OWEs, similar to the Bridge, however regular DMs will not be able to bring guests, whereas DME/DMP can. That's my best guess.

Judging by the limited visitation to that (very calm and peaceful IME) DM/F room at the Bridge, I suspect most lounge patrons are OWEs and/or guests of DMs using the very generous +2 guest policy.