PEK (T-3E) Air China Lounge improved!
Mar 6, 2024, 12:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
PEK (T-3E) Air China Lounge improved!
In what seems like never; i.e. 2008, they finally made some updates to the PEK Air China Business Class lounge in T3-E.
Nothing major, but all the chairs in the dining areas are brand new.
The food offerings are better also. Quite a bit better than what it's been like for the last 15 or so years. Noteworthy for sure, although it didn't take too much to improve, as it was pretty bad before.
Booze still terrible: couple of cheap-as canned beers, horrible Great Wall wines, and the only hard liquor still being only Red Label (they had 3 or 4 choices pre-Covid, incl. Bacardi).
Nothing major, but all the chairs in the dining areas are brand new.
The food offerings are better also. Quite a bit better than what it's been like for the last 15 or so years. Noteworthy for sure, although it didn't take too much to improve, as it was pretty bad before.
Booze still terrible: couple of cheap-as canned beers, horrible Great Wall wines, and the only hard liquor still being only Red Label (they had 3 or 4 choices pre-Covid, incl. Bacardi).
Last edited by narvik; Mar 15, 2024 at 1:47 am
Mar 6, 2024, 5:42 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
I used it at the end of December and thought it was decent. CI uses CA staff and lounge for their operations at PEK T3. I thought it was nice, I liked the views of the tarmac, it was relatively quiet, and the food was fine.
Whenever I go to Asia, I don't expect any good alcohol anywhere, restaurant, on the plane, hotels, or in the lounge. It's just not in their culture. I grudgingly leave that behind in Europe for the time period I am there (along with café, chocolates, pâtisseries, charcuterie, cheese.....)
Whenever I go to Asia, I don't expect any good alcohol anywhere, restaurant, on the plane, hotels, or in the lounge. It's just not in their culture. I grudgingly leave that behind in Europe for the time period I am there (along with café, chocolates, pâtisseries, charcuterie, cheese.....)
Mar 11, 2024, 4:20 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
I believe so, yes. (As long as you have a *A boarding pass.)
Priority Pass allows access to both, FIRST and BUSINESS CLASS lounges, although they're both pretty much identical but mirrored (same food, same booze), so there's not much advantage to the First Class lounge, unless the Business class lounge would be crowded, which I haven't seen since 2019.
Priority Pass allows access to both, FIRST and BUSINESS CLASS lounges, although they're both pretty much identical but mirrored (same food, same booze), so there's not much advantage to the First Class lounge, unless the Business class lounge would be crowded, which I haven't seen since 2019.
Mar 12, 2024, 7:02 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
The international lounges are identical, except the F/Biz class lounge (non *G) is emptier. You can also get into that one using PP.
The domestic lounges - *G has better food than biz lounge.
The domestic lounges - *G has better food than biz lounge.
Mar 12, 2024, 8:12 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I believe so, yes. (As long as you have a *A boarding pass.)
Priority Pass allows access to both, FIRST and BUSINESS CLASS lounges, although they're both pretty much identical but mirrored (same food, same booze), so there's not much advantage to the First Class lounge, unless the Business class lounge would be crowded, which I haven't seen since 2019.
Priority Pass allows access to both, FIRST and BUSINESS CLASS lounges, although they're both pretty much identical but mirrored (same food, same booze), so there's not much advantage to the First Class lounge, unless the Business class lounge would be crowded, which I haven't seen since 2019.
Mar 12, 2024, 8:46 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,353
echo this
Yes, echo this, except the T3 International Star A has that 'stupid' kiosk for the airport wifi that needs your passport. But the bar is open in AM for bloody Mary's.
Mar 12, 2024, 10:22 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I think the UA flight goes out of 3E. 3C is the central area? Is this area prior to passport control? does one pass through 3C to get to 3E?
On PP, I see Air china First and Air China Biz lounge in 3E. Two separate lounges. Then I see one in 3C called Air China First and Biz. One lounge.
Which is *G?
Which has the best food?
Last edited by eng3; Mar 12, 2024 at 10:31 am
Mar 12, 2024, 11:00 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
So it is a little confusing.
I think the UA flight goes out of 3E. 3C is the central area? Is this area prior to passport control? does one pass through 3C to get to 3E?
On PP, I see Air china First and Air China Biz lounge in 3E. Two separate lounges. Then I see one in 3C called Air China First and Biz. One lounge.
Which is *G?
Which has the best food?
I think the UA flight goes out of 3E. 3C is the central area? Is this area prior to passport control? does one pass through 3C to get to 3E?
On PP, I see Air china First and Air China Biz lounge in 3E. Two separate lounges. Then I see one in 3C called Air China First and Biz. One lounge.
Which is *G?
Which has the best food?
You WILL have access to T3-E Business and/or First class lounges. Food has improved somewhat (see OP). Both have the exact same food offerings.
Also: with PriorityPass you have access to a free 30 minute massage either before security (main terminal) and also in T3-E.
Mar 12, 2024, 12:16 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
You don't access T3-C, and the APM (train) won't allow you to get out at T3-D.
You WILL have access to T3-E Business and/or First class lounges. Food has improved somewhat (see OP). Both have the exact same food offerings.
Also: with PriorityPass you have access to a free 30 minute massage either before security (main terminal) and also in T3-E.
You WILL have access to T3-E Business and/or First class lounges. Food has improved somewhat (see OP). Both have the exact same food offerings.
Also: with PriorityPass you have access to a free 30 minute massage either before security (main terminal) and also in T3-E.
Sometimes I get yelled at for trying to use PP when I already have *G access for some reason.
Is the massage in the lounge or a separate place? Are you just talking about those electronic massage chairs? Note I have PP from Venture X so it's not PP "Select". Usually I can only access lounges and not relax areas or restaurants.
Mar 14, 2024, 3:10 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
With *G in Y you can access the *G lounge, not the biz lounge.
With PP or if you're in J - you can access the biz lounge
The T3E (international) lounges are the same, except for the amount of pax.
First I'm hearing about the massage. narvik can you elaborate where/how?
With PP or if you're in J - you can access the biz lounge
The T3E (international) lounges are the same, except for the amount of pax.
First I'm hearing about the massage. narvik can you elaborate where/how?
Mar 14, 2024, 9:05 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,356
Edit: I could have sworn I specifically mentioned T3-E in my original post; now corrected! Sorry for any confusion I may have created in this thread.
In regards to eng3 questions at least:
We are talking about the two Air China lounges in T3-E. One is Business, the other is First.
With *G and a *A flight in Y you CAN access the Air China Business lounge.
There is no separate "*G lounge".
First I'm hearing about the massage. narvik can you elaborate where/how?
T3 has three locations, one is landside, one is airside in T3-C, the other is airside T3-E. The airside T3-E location is in one of those small 'pop-up' locations in the middle of the two sides of the gates.
Usually hardly anyone there, so shouldn't be too difficult to get in without a wait.
Here's the link for the airside T3-E location:
https://www.prioritypass.com/lounges...s-comfort-zone
Last edited by narvik; Mar 15, 2024 at 2:21 am