One thing to add about the FRA lounge is that if you're arriving early morning, there's NO FOOD and no one besides the lounge receiptionist, maybe a cleaning lady too but that's about it. Don't expect to have a buffet... Perhaps a cup of coffee and some yogart. Shower is a little aged.

Hmmm, doesn't sound too good. I hate FRA and especially T2 with a passion anyway, no reason to use it in the future either it seems.

Another nasty experience arriving this week just confirmed all my previous prejudices.

According to the press release: Do you think there's any flexibility here for passengers with lengthy transits?

We'll be arriving in the morning on CX in F and have a 13hr transit before departing on CX in J. Ideally, we'd like to use the Arrival lounge to quickly freshen up before sightseeing for the day instead of the extra hassle of getting to the departure lounges and then finding our way out of the secure side.

-FlyerBeek

It may be a little hassle, but I believe if you can get the onward BP, you can use the departure lounge, and then ask the lounge attendant to get you back to the arrival hall to exit immigration and customs.

Manager Product Alex McGowan says: “We have long considered opening an arrival lounge but always struggled to find a good landside location. Recent customer
research also indicated passengers increasingly valued having a facility to allow them to freshen up and change before going onto a meeting or to work.”

“As it’s a relatively small space we have to start with more restrictive access criteria than usual. This can then be reviewed as we better understand usage patterns,” Alex says.

Where is this from?

Somehow I have a feeling that Singapore_Air is a CX employee in disguise.;)

i second that!!!

I actually don't think the current access criteria is very restrictive for an arrivals lounge. It is more restrictive than departures, but it is much more loose than other arrivals lounges of other airlines. I would have thought they would have restricted access to particular long haul flights.

Since you will be leaving the airport for sightseeing, you can ask for an inviation for the arrival lounge when checking in. Or if you forget to get one, you can show them your F boarding pass at the Arrival, I am pretty sure they will let you in.

checked out the arrivals lounge this morning after flying in from LHR.. overall was not impressed.. way too small.. shower was fine, similar in size to the shower stalls at AA arrivals lounge in LHR, but of course decoration was much nicer... but the lounge itself was tiny... The dining area could only seat 8 people in total.. and the seating area could sit maybe 6 people... then there's a bar table area where you can probably sit another 4... that's pretty much it.. When I was there, there were only 5 people, and it felt a bit cramped already... The cold breakfast selection was ok.. some cereal, yoghurt, juices, etc... but the hot foods were terrible.. seems like it was left there for hours and everything was a bit dry and bland.. don't expect the same quality as the Wing... Overall will not want to stay in there for too long except just for taking the shower... Plaza Premium arrivals lounge much nicer imho...

Of course, people got what they paid for. The Plaza Premium Lounge manages The Arrival as well. It is probably both CX's and Plaza Premium's intention to keep the facilities to a minimum.

BTW, the rooms in the Plaza Premium Arrival Lounge should be available soon. It would be nice if passengers getting into The Arrival can get a discount in using such facilities across the hall.

Had a chance to check it out as well. I agree its small but somehow since no guest are allowed very few people in the lounge and it seems ok.
My experience was a good one actually. Sat in one of the tables (only one, others sat on the bar) and was surprised to be offered a menu..I would say quite an extensive one actually. Ordered the Fish Bento and enjoyed my late lunch. For a non-HK resident I am glad that CX has finally came up with an arrival lounge.

Just checked in at BKK. was surprised to have been given an arrivals invite for such a short flight. More surprised for it to state +2 guests. This might have been a system mistake as my invite for departures lounge says the same even though I have no guests with me.

in fact, if really the Plaza Premium arrivals lounge is much nicer, why don't CX just buy access from them for the eligible members, instead of building a lounge themselves ? is it really that cost effective to build and run such a small lounge ? or is the branding really that important (i.e. "CX" arrivals lounge instead of one available to all who are willing to pay) ?