|
CX - J: lounges at The Wing and The Bridge; HKG-YYZ
[For the previous posts on this trip, see here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...kong-back.html ]
After a few lovely days with my parents, it was time to go home. I had planned to be at the airport with enough time to explore the lounges, seeing there were four different ones for CX. But first, a few shots I took on my way to HKIA – some of these sites / sights were new to me: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6051.sized.jpg The tallest building on Kowloon side I think, and it lights up at night with moving light-pictures. http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6056.sized.jpg Kwai Chung Container Terminals - once the busiest in the world by volume, now 3rd, after Singapore and Shanghai (according to Wiki). http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6053.sized.jpg Just beyond the sea of container-cranes is one of the towers of the Stonecutters suspension bridge - the second longest cable-stayed bridge in the world at the time of completion in 2009 (Wiki). http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6058.sized.jpg A closer view of the bridge as we approached. The bus ride took about 40 minutes. The walk to CX’s dedicated business class check in section took all of two, and in two more I was done checking in. After another five minutes or so I saw this: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6069.sized.jpg And this: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6070.sized.jpg On this: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6084.sized.jpg It was of course the Wing, only this time the business class section. This is the Long Bar, and it has a an open, airy feel to it. At this point I had a choice to make: to try the signature drink Cathay Delight, which I’d missed before, or to go with a champagne that I knew and liked, the Piper, which wouldn’t need any gussying up to be palatable. No prize for the correct guess: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6073.sized.jpg Malhoumbeau was too busy guzzling down the bubbly to care that I was taking shots of the lounge: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6071.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6072.sized.jpg And what’s a nice glass of bubbly without some nosh to go with it? http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6074.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6075.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6076.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6079.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6080.sized.jpg These were just a sample of the offering at the Wing, and it was extensive and appealing. But I was actually after something else, and to get to it I had to walk past these: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6083.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6082.sized.jpg A pretty neat built-in drinks dispensing alcove I thought. [Since there’s a 20-shot limit for each posting, so I need to break this up] Next up: my real quest |
Lounge quest
The real goal of this quest, tho, was this:
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6086.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6087.sized.jpg This was of course the Noodle Bar, a separate section of the lounge: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6100.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6093.sized.jpg Where the magic was made: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6089.sized.jpg And the happy result: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6096.sized.jpg There were more food offerings in this section: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6092.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6094.sized.jpg These had just been delivered from the kitchen, and helped make up my very yummy spot of late lunch: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6095.sized.jpg The noodles were indeed flavourful and of a nice texture, and the broth was rich and peanutty - except the portion was on the dainty side, so a perfect excuse to try something else: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6101.sized.jpg The wonton soup noodles and fried beef bun, which, tho not a knock out, tasted just fine. I whiled away a little time to savour the noodles, and as I left I came to another section of the lounge: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6099.sized.jpg The café-like section had a nice counter of its own: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6098.sized.jpg With yet more tempting bits of food: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6097.sized.jpg Somehow I was still not quite full – must have been all the snapping – so I went back to the main buffet area and settled on this little spread: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6102.sized.jpg Some pan-fried fish, egg and shrimp fried rice, roasted veggies, mango and crab sandwich, and some fruit. All consumed with a nice view of the tarmac, and this special bird: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6103.sized.jpg A lovely livery it certainly is, but I’m still partial to this aircraft: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6107.sized.jpg And in the ‘Asia’s World City’ livery: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...161/CX744b.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...m161/CX744.jpg I saw this model at a little shop in Hong Kong and I just couldn’t let it pass. Of all the business lounges I’d been to - AC, UA, AA, BA - this was by far the best, in its layout, ambience, food and drink offering, and service from attendants. A definite two thumbs up. Next up: Lounge odyssey, part deux. |
Looking forward to the first (I think) TR here with the Bridge !!!
And hey - with the Bridge, CX now has 5 different business class lounges at HKG - The Wing, The Pier, The Cabin, The Bridge and don't forget the much less loved G16 ! |
Originally Posted by marcuslai
(Post 21979639)
Looking forward to the first (I think) TR here with the Bridge !!!
And hey - with the Bridge, CX now has 5 different business class lounges at HKG - The Wing, The Pier, The Cabin, The Bridge and don't forget the much less loved G16 ! Pics and comments on the Bridge coming very soon! |
Quest two of this tour of lounges: The Bridge
Now we finally get to the new J lounge, The Bridge.
With an hour and a half to kill still, I was happy to take a walk, and what better than all the way down the main concourse again? http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6148.sized.jpg This was actually a shot from the other end after the walk, which really led me to this: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6106.sized.jpg The recently opened ‘The Bridge’. It is located at the fork end of the concourse, where the main concourse splits into two arms. You go down the escalator to get to the reception, and when I was admitted I went to my right: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6108.sized.jpg It was a long corridor, with a wall of glass to the left, overlooking the tarmac, and a series of sofas set up with bookcases serving as partition, giving it the feel of a living room or reading room. http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6114.sized.jpg Walking a little ways ahead, on the right was the Bakery. http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6111.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6110.sized.jpg It had ample seating, and a festive display at one end of the buffet set-up: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6130.sized.jpg Some items under heat lamps: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6112.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6113.sized.jpg And the rest of the food offering: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6137.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6131.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6132.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6129.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6115.sized.jpg Roasted chicken with lemongrass in coconut sauce; wok fried assorted seasonal vegetables: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6134.sized.jpg Thai red curry beef: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6136.sized.jpg As I exited the Bakery I came to the end section of the bar, where more food was on offer: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6117.sized.jpg Salami olive; anchovy toast; caramelized beetroot With all the abundance of food on display, and the long walk having done what I’d wanted it to, it was time to have a bit of afternoon snack. But first thing first: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6116.sized.jpg The drinks list http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6119.sized.jpg “The Bridge Temptation” And the haul: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6121.sized.jpg Coffee, egg tart and a savory bun of some kind from the Bakery; a cookie and a cocktail from the bar. Next up: Exploration of The Bridge continues… |
The Bridge and more of its charms
The chair looking out on to the tarmac was comfy, and the view panoramic. The little ottoman was a nice touch too:
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6120.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6125.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6126.sized.jpg As I settled in, Malhoumbeau took one sip of the cocktail, and declared it unacceptable: lots of pineapple and whatever else fruity was in it, but nary any booze! I was summarily sent back to the bar for reinforcement: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6127.sized.jpg Gin on the rocks. In went the gin to the cocktail, along with the twist, and this was the result: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6128.sized.jpg A happy Mighty Moose who didn’t care it was only Gordon’s, which was no big shakes when mixed in such a concoction anyhow. As it was T-45min, I thought I should go take a look at the other sections of the lounge. As I was leaving this side of it, I looked back and took one more shot: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6139.sized.jpg When you turn left at the reception desk this is what you’ll see: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6140.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6141.sized.jpg Pretty good use of a space that’s elongated, and I gathered this would be the ‘business end’ of the lounge. The showers are also on this side of the set up: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6143.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6142.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6144.sized.jpg All in all it was a nicely laid-out space, with a good spread of food and drinks. It was not very busy, and I expect the airiness from the continuous walls of glass would help when there are more visitors. So off we went again, up the concourse and back towards the Wing, since my flight was leaving from gate 3: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6149.sized.jpg The Wing’s entrance was on the same level as the gate: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6150.sized.jpg There was already a line up for this almost full flight by the time we got there: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6151.sized.jpg The J queue was also forming: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6152.sized.jpg My ride for the next 14-ish hours: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6154.sized.jpg J pax ready for boarding: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6155.sized.jpg All quite orderly really: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6157.sized.jpg Next up: on board |
All aboard!
Two airbridges were used for this 3-class 777 w/o F, where the front cabin is the larger of the two for J.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6178.sized.jpg Interesting numbering of the rows: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6161.sized.jpg Beautified interior of this little ‘Tardis’: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6171.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6172.sized.jpg A quick trot down the back, about 95% full: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6174.sized.jpg Back at my seat, and finally I got to try a Cathay Delight, with kiwi, coconut and mint: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6162.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6163.sized.jpg Quite refreshing, but a bit less coconutty than I’d imagined. In short order we were airborne: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6179.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6180.sized.jpg But captain, which way are we really going? http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6181.sized.jpg I wouldn’t think it a good idea to burn off excess fuel when there are 14 hours+ ahead of us still! Amenity kit for this long trans-con: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6184.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6185.sized.jpg Some rather practical and useable items actually. Menus: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6186.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6187.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6188.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6189.sized.jpg Drinks cart: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6190.sized.jpg Note the Bombay Sapphire hiding behind the juice – not Gordon’s! A pre-emptive move to ensure a glass of bubbly that would be enjoyable: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6193.sized.jpg Since I didn’t know the champagne, and it seemed to be the same one as on my previous J flight, a Pacific Sunrise was a safe choice. All the while we were on the right flight path… perhaps… http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6191.sized.jpg Next up: meal service |
Mahlzeit!
The appetizer tray:
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6194.sized.jpg Main courses on a cart: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6195.sized.jpg With more drinks below: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6196.sized.jpg The beef tenderloin: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6197.sized.jpg Tender and flavourful, but way past medium, let alone med-rare: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6198.sized.jpg The vegetarian pasta: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6199.sized.jpg Far sub-par to the beef, hence still available after the first round? Dessert… http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6203.sized.jpg … which I wouldn’t get to taste in the end: it was very choppy and coffee was delayed. I wanted a coffee to go with it, but it never came. Fell asleep not long after these mood lighting effects were put on: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6204.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6205.sized.jpg When I woke up almost five hours had passed: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6208.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6209.sized.jpg And my lemon meringue pie had long been taken away. So I ordered a mid-night snack instead, which I was told would take about 15 minutes. In the meantime I took a few shots of the seat in bed mode, which I didn’t get to use on the previous day-time J flight from SIN: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6210.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6211.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6212.sized.jpg It was a very comfortable bed, and the cabin temperature was just right for me. Before long this came: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6213.sized.jpg A simple thing in and of itself really, but a lovely ‘perk’ when flying trans-con in J. The wontons were plump and delicious, and the greens, the broth and the noodles really hit the spot. After a few TV shows I’d downloaded on my laptop, and into my second movie from the IEF, this was the view outside: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6214.sized.jpg It didn’t last more than an hour though, seeing that we were on a northerly route. 90 minutes out of YYZ it was time for the brunch service: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6215.sized.jpg Guava smoothie and a coffee. A nice fruit plate: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6216.sized.jpg Hot items on a cart again: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6217.sized.jpg My dimsum main course: http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6218.sized.jpg Should have asked for my lemon meringue pie back actually, but it was getting close to final descent when we were done. Long though the sector was – 14:45 nose up to nose down – it passed very comfortably and more quickly than I’d envisioned, which of course was the function of flying in J. I appreciate the fact that I was able to do that, and hope it won’t be too long before the next opportunity comes! Thanks for reading - any comments would be welcome! |
ah...CX's J lounges in HKG. second to few.
just wish they had some char sui bolo bao in the lounges...my daughter loves those...they can be hard to find. wonton min is soo good on CX. they do not skimp on the shrimp. i have found i usually miss out on the special noodles but always happy with the wonton min. must be the unusual chop over the great lakes. find it always can be bad. nice TR. very orderly in HKG on boarding. must be mostly canadians... :D |
Originally Posted by Capricorn70
(Post 21976093)
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6051.sized.jpg
The tallest building on Kowloon side I think, and it lights up at night with moving light-pictures. |
Originally Posted by mkjr
(Post 21982965)
ah...CX's J lounges in HKG. second to few.
just wish they had some char sui bolo bao in the lounges...my daughter loves those...they can be hard to find. wonton min is soo good on CX. they do not skimp on the shrimp. i have found i usually miss out on the special noodles but always happy with the wonton min. must be the unusual chop over the great lakes. find it always can be bad. nice TR. very orderly in HKG on boarding. must be mostly canadians... :D The wonton noodles on board were actually something I'd made a point of trying, from having seen various TR's of them, and I'm very happy to say I wasn't disappointed. The lines at gate 3 were very well organised indeed, although I didn't really see how it all pan out, since I got on board early. The chops started soon after take-off, so it'd be off the coast of Japan and in the north Atlantic, which wouldn't be unusual this time of year either. Still annoyed that I missed my pie :(
Originally Posted by kevincrumbs
(Post 21983067)
FWIW, this (International Commerce Centre) is the tallest building in Hong Kong, period.
http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6031.sized.jpg http://gallery.flyertalk.com/gallery...6040.sized.jpg Taken from a restaurant's patio in Causeway Bay on the island side. |
The CX lounge in HKG is probably one of the best lounges in the world! In your opinion which CX Lounge is the best - Wing or Bridge?
|
Originally Posted by LDNConsultant
(Post 21985178)
The CX lounge in HKG is probably one of the best lounges in the world! In your opinion which CX Lounge is the best - Wing or Bridge?
|
Hong Kong is fascinating. Can not wait to visit later next year.
Have never travelled with Cathy but looks great particularly the lounges. I hope star alliance can compete. |
A very nice review of The Bridge there Capricorn70
I'd agree with your comments that The Wing is very nice indeed especially for the food The Bridge certainly has a more relaxing feel to it as well as giving a good view of the Apron. I would do it in that order again the next time I am there. I did a Trip report on this forum featuring The Bridge which is here and also below shortly after it opened. Photos of the new Cathay Pacific Lounge at Hong Kong- 'The Bridge' (Not that I am comparing but these were taken at night time. I found your photos excellent ^ and shows the place much, much better in the daytime and nice to see the different angles from mine) When I was there the pillars with The Bridge at the top of the escalator weren't there (IIRC!) as I had a little trouble finding it at first. A great city and thank you for taking the time to post this. Very useful. :) Pete |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 6:01 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.