Lounges in Kunming?
 

I'm going to end up arriving at KMG about 4 hours early for my flight.

I'm flying Air China, have Star Alliance Gold and have Oneworld sapphire. Do I have any lounge options at KMG?

I can only find listings of two lounges online, and I don't think i'm eligible for either.

There's a Cathay Pacific/Dragonair lounge but I am sure I can't use it because I am flying Star Alliance tomorrow (but have OneWorld saph)

And there's a Silk Air lounge which is *A but they have a note on their page saying *A golds can't use it

There is (or was about two years ago) a pay lounge. Reasonably comfortable, nothing special. All I can remember about the location is that facing the main terminal entrance, the lounge was to the far right. It looked like a separate building from outside, but was connected to the terminal by a passage at the rear. My handler paid, so I can't even tell you how much.
While I was waiting, I remembered that I had an old friend in Kunming so I called him up and he came and met me. Just outside the terminal (cross under the flyover, through the intersection, turn right) there is a fancy hotel with quite decent dim sum on the second floor. This was a much more pleasant place to while away a few hours.

For the curious: there are two lounges at KMG, both of which are shared by all of the airlines. I only went to one, but checked out the other and they seemed similar.

No wireless, 2 ancient computers, drink selection of water and a few sodas and tea, two packaged snacks. Interior actually wasn't too bad, especially considering the fact that people were sitting on the floor outside!

Only bad thing about KMG was that there is only one restaurant post-security. I went back out and went to a different one and had the worst meal of my life. So bad that I ended up at the KFC instead.

Sounds like a potential candidate for my "Airports in which KFC is the Finest Restaurant" list.

I'm sure you have been dying of anticipation, but finally here's a pic:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_9ZFZVn5T9O0/Sz...0/IMG_3045.JPG

Out of interest (as I'm flying TG KMG-BKK tomorrow), was this International? As you've mentioned Silk Air and Dragonair, I assume it is.

FWIW, I flew out of the domestic terminal last week, and the business lounge looked not dissimilar to how you described - all decked out in a delightful 70s orange. I was half expecting prawn cocktails and fondues. The dometic first lounge was tucked away the other side of the restaurant by security, so I've no idea what it looked like.

(I had the singular pleasure of a MU flight in Y, so sadly, had access to neither. And had to fly MU.)

Ah, I was in the domestic lounge as well. The first was about the same as the business one--at least I couldn't see any differences or even figure out why there were 2 lounges at all.

Well, for what it's worth, I was in the international lounge, which wasn't particularly inspiring. No internet access apart from the usual ChinaNet paid service, and the food didn't get much better than cup noodles. Decent coffee and tamarind juice, though, and they did a good job of finding you when the flight was called and walking you straight on to the airbridge.

I know this is OT. Since you mentioned this hotel in the airport, and I was searching for one (posted down-thread here):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...g-1-night.html

So, could you post the name of the hotel? I have done searches, so far the closest hotel is about 5 km away near the convention center.