Opened in 2014, the Qantas Lounge Hong Kong is one of the airline’s few remaining lounges in the Asia Pacific region. The 2,000 square metre lounge is designed by SUMU Design and David Caon, the latter of whom has been behind the airline’s latest design language. While it was supposed to be permanently shuttered following the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the lounge reopened in May 2023 following a refresh. 

Lounge Access Rules

Passengers with a same-day reservation on Qantas and oneworld First Class and Business Class flights are eligible for access. Passengers connecting to a oneworld flight from an international long haul oneworld flight in First Class and Business Class are also eligible for entry. When accessing by status, passengers holding at least oneworld Sapphire status are eligible for access. Additionally, Qantas Club members flying on Qantas and Jetstar are also welcome. Refer to the Qantas website for specific details.

Location

The Qantas Lounge Hong Kong is located near Gate 5 in Terminal 1. After clearing immigration, turn right, where you’ll find a narrow corridor leading straight to the Qantas Lounge. If you’re in transit, walk towards the direction of Gate 5-9. Head up to Level 7 on the escalators near the Alexander McQueen Store, and you’ll find the same corridor.

While the lounge has a second entrance across from the Cathay Pacific The Deck Lounge, that entrance is not currently in use. As such, do not follow the signs towards The Deck, as you won’t be able to enter from there.

Qantas Lounge Hong Kong

At the entrance, I was greeted by the two friendly lounge agents at the reception. Despite having access to the airport’s five Cathay Pacific lounges, the agent didn’t bat an eyelid and confirmed I was eligible for entry. After scanning my boarding pass, she welcomed me inside and wished me an enjoyable stay.

Once inside, you’ll be met with a long corridor that runs nearly the entire length of the lounge. This seems to be a consistent feature at newer Qantas lounges, as you’ll find the same at their Singapore First Class Lounge. For what it’s worth, you can pretty much make out the general shape of the lounge’s expansive but narrow profile thanks so this.

Bar Area

As you enter the lounge, you’ll find yourself at a small but spacious sitting area with a dozen or so armchairs, just before the prominent-looking bar. With the refresh, power outlets have been installed widely around the seating area, which will always prove useful. While there is a television switched on to ABC Australia, you might as well distract yourself with the excellent views of the Sky Bridge from here.

Next is the bar, which features a range of bartender-crafted cocktails and cold drinks, as well as beers and wine. A à la carte dining menu is also available at the bar, which includes the lounge’s popular BBQ pork buns. As is standard at any premium Qantas Lounge, barista-made coffee is also available at the bar area.

Behind the bar, there is also a row of bistro-style dining tables, fitting for a short coffee break. While my eyes were overwhelmed by the excessive use of patterns and graphics, this was an otherwise nice place to sit down and chat with a friend or colleague.

You’ll also find a small alcove across from the bar and next to the showers with low-seated leather sofas and armchairs. This is complemented by a second seating area with another dozen or so sofa chairs behind the bar, adorned with a small ‘forest’ of trees. A selection of fashion and design books are also available for in-lounge reading, creating a distinctly high-end library-like feel.

Dining Area

Continuing behind the bar area is the lounge’s dedicated dining area. Placed conveniently next to the buffet food spread, the dining area features many seating options, including a large circular stone dining table as its centrepiece. Most tables are composed of booth tables with a long sofa on one side and a dining chair across.

In addition, more dining tables are available on the terrace between the dining area and the lounge area. Composed of a long row of tables, the arrangement is similar to the bistro-style seating at the bar, only with larger tables suitable for dining. High-top bar seats are also available towards the lounge area, which is also suitable for dining.

Food

In addition to the less-substantial à la carte options available at the bar, a food spread consisting of a buffet makes up the rest of the food selection at the lounge. With Qantas’ great reputation for lounge dining, I was happy to see that the food available at the Hong Kong lounge was fresh and good. Besides the cold selection of salads, fruit, and cakes, there are also five hot dishes offered in a bain-marie. Instead of describing each dish individually, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Drinks

Furthermore, in addition to the drinks available at the bar, a variety of self-served drinks are offered as part of the buffet selection. This includes a similar albeit slightly smaller choice of beers and Australian wines you’d otherwise also find at the bar.

A dispenser for hot, cold, and sparkling water is also available, alongside a coffee machine and a choice of Dilmah teas. Further choices of beverages are available at the bar and at the beverage station in the lounge area, including juices and infused water, respectively.

Lounge Area

As you get deeper into the lounge, you’ll notice David Caon’s sleek and geometric design becoming increasingly apparent. Towards the back, you’ll find the lounge’s dedicated sitting area, with seating split between three zones – two seating spaces by the terrace and an interior seating space in an alcove. Additionally, there’s also a beverage station wedged between the two terrace zones.

Terrace Areas

Just like the sitting areas by the bar, the terrace seating features Qantas’s signature sofa chairs. They come in pairs and are arranged in a uniform straight line, with power outlets available under the coffee table between each seat. More of the same sofa chairs are lined against the windows of the terminal, great for those travelling solo.

Furthermore, while the airline’s signature lounge armchairs have been retained, Qantas regulars may notice that the diamond pattern-stitching are gone, replaced with simpler plain upholstery. This gives the lounge the necessary refresh it needs, away from the pattern-laden look of the past.

There is also a communal work table between the first sitting area and the beverage station, alongside a small corridor with booth seats connecting the two terrace areas.

Behind the beverage station is the second lounge terrace area, just before the far back of the lounge (occupied by the children’s area). More leather armchairs and booth seats are available here, making them an ideal place to relax (and planespot, if you’re an avgeek like me!). Assuming the children’s area is unoccupied, this is also the quietest place in the Qantas Lounge, if you’re looking to unwind and relax over a cool drink.

Alcove seating

Finally, there is also a small open alcove across from the first terrace seating area, adorned with booth seats on all sides and decorative shrubs. This is perhaps my favourite seating area in the lounge alongside the library area, given how calm the design is compared to the rest of the lounge. Additionally, like the seating area by the bar, there is a television switched on to ABC Australia fixed onto the wall.

Amenities

Children’s Area

The Qantas Lounge has a dedicated children’s area at the far end of the lounge. Adorned with bean bag chairs, toys and playsets, and a television switched on to Cartoon Network, I’m sure this is an amenity valued by families with young children. I’ll also add that the children’s area location at the far end also helps minimise noise at the rest of the lounge.

Showers

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge has 12 shower suites located close to the bar. As always, you can request a shower from the dedicated reception outside the shower suites.

The shower suites themselves are nice, with softly-lit rooms featuring a sink and a toilet in addition to the shower stall. I also liked the pragmatic design choices, including enough shelf space to put your belongings and toiletries, whether by the sink or in the shower. However, while I’m happy about the substantial rain shower, I did wish that a hand-held shower was provided alongside it.

I’ll also note that fixed onto the shower wall are the Li’Tya bath amenities, which is the same brand you’ll find at Qantas’ Singapore lounges. I found these to be good quality and a very nice Australian offering on the part of Qantas.

Toilet

Located in the same area as the showers are the toilets, which are separated by gender. Given the regular presence of attendants, the toilet were expectedly clean and well-maintained. I also liked that the toilet stalls are fully-enclosed for privacy. Similarly, Li’Tya-branded body lotion and hand wash are available here as well.

WiFi

The Qantas Lounge Hong Kong features a fast and reliable WiFi network, separate from Hong Kong International Airport’s similarly excellent network. While I found the speeds to be great and the network to be easy to join, it was hard to actually find the password.

Overall

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge is often disregarded, particularly because the airport is home to five excellent Cathay Pacific Lounges. Despite its much smaller presence, the Qantas offering is not one to be underestimated. Given its excellent food, nice seating, great showers, and overall beautiful design, the Qantas Lounge is as good as any Cathay Pacific Business Class lounge. In fact, as The Wing, Business no longer has showers, this lounge is an excellent and larger alternative over The Deck. As such, I would definitely visit this lounge again, especially if my flight departs from a gate near Gates 5-9.

Read more from An Emerald Farewell here!