Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Review (HKG)

Review Introduction

As part of my Trip to Paris the Long Way, my partner and I had the opportunity to fly Cathay Pacific First Class from Hong Kong. Fliers out of Hong Kong International Airport have access to some great lounges, and I was excited to review the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge as well as Cathay’s Pier First Class Lounge.

In past years, Hong Kong has been difficult to travel to due to pandemic restrictions, but now things are open again, and it felt great to be back. The last time I was in Hong Kong, I did not leave enough time to review Qantas’ Hong Kong lounge, and I was excited to visit.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Entry Requirements

Before delving into the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge review, let’s briefly outline the entry requirements so you know what to expect if you’d like to access this lounge.

Qantas Lounge Hong Kong Eligible Passengers

• Passengers flying Qantas business class or first class
• Passengers traveling in business class or first class on Oneworld Airlines
• Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald Elite members traveling on a Oneworld Airline in any cabin class
• Qantas Frequent Flyer members – Chairman’s Lounge, Platinum One, Platinum, Gold Frequent Flyer members
• Qantas Club members
• Qantas also allows guests to be brought in under certain circumstances, you can read more about guest access here

I was granted access to the lounge since I was flying Cathay Pacific First Class (Oneworld Airline). Even if you are flying Cathay first or business class (and would otherwise visit Cathay lounges), I would take some time to visit this lounge as I had a fantastic experience.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Location and Hours

The Qantas Hong Kong Lounge is located in Terminal 1, Level 7, near Gate 5. Turn right after exiting the north immigration queue and continue heading down the walkway to reach the lounge.

The Qantas Hong Kong lounge is open daily from 7:30 AM to 11 PM, though as I’ll delve into during my review, the food on offer varies during the day.

As I arrived, I was warmly greeted by the check-in desk and admitted entry. Since I was not flying on Qantas, I was told my flight would not have boarding announcements. As of writing, Qantas flies from Hong Kong (HKG) to Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD).

Layout and Design

I loved the layout and look of the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge. It has an open and spacious design, with the ceiling just being the airport’s roof. A cocktail bar is immediately to your left as you enter the lounge. I would come back to order a cocktail here later on.

I liked that the chefs working in the lounge had a Qantas logo on their uniform (you might be able to make it out in the photo below) and were constantly reviewing the quality and quantity of food available. It made me feel like we were eating somewhere higher end and not just a normal airport lounge where you do not typically see chefs out and about.

After passing by the bar, a staff member welcomed us and asked if we’d like something to eat. We, of course, accepted and looked for an ideal place to sit. I liked the variety of seating available throughout the lounge, from lounge chairs to the large circular table below that would be ideal for bigger groups, booth seating, and individual dining tables.

I was also glad to see that most seats offered USB and AC charging outlets nearby.

You’ll also notice the buffet area to the right of the circular table below. Since we were also visiting Cathay’s Pier Lounge, we spent less time on the buffet and focused on ordering from the daily menu. We found our ideal seats along the lounge’s edge, offering the best airport views.

Hong Kong Airport Views

I enjoyed looking out and seeing the various planes approaching and leaving the gates: the floor-to-ceiling windows, the setting sun, and the surrounding mountains made for some gorgeous plane spotting. Below, you can see the terminal area that this lounge sits above and the nearby Oneworld departures, including British Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Finnair.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Dining Review

The Qantas Lounge Hong Kong has some great food options. The food on offer will depend on when you visit the lounge. You can expect additional food options if you visit the lounge from about 4 PM. This is because Qantas’ flight from Hong Kong to Sydney currently departs at 7:30 PM (some days, there is also a departure to Melbourne at 9:55 PM). Qantas wants to deliver the best dining experience around the timing of its flights, so outside of those times, you’ll find only buffet food.

The following Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Plate of the Day Menu was at our table. We decided to try the Wonton Noodle Soup, Red Braised Pork, and the House Made BBQ Pork.

Our food was quickly delivered and plated beautifully. Both options were delicious, but we’d recommend the House Made BBQ Pork if you have to pick one.

As we ate, a Yum Cha trolley cart passed each table featuring dim sum options. I appreciate the effort Qantas is putting into the customer experience here. A lounge could just put these at the buffet for customers to get on their own, but offering it table side elevated the experience.

After dim sum, another cart offered Qantas’ signature salt and pepper squid, which you’ll typically find available across its lounge network. I have not been to a Qantas lounge since before the pandemic, and it made me smile to have the salt and pepper squid again. It was freshly prepared and hit the spot.

For dessert, we tried some fresh fruit, a cookie, and taro sago from the buffet, along with a cocktail that I ordered from the bar.

Overall, the food quality was excellent; this is probably my favorite dining experience in a business class lounge (with United Polaris Lounge a la carte dining close behind). While United offers a greater selection of food options across three meal courses in Polaris Lounges, I enjoyed the food and service at the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge more.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Additional Areas

The lounge continues past the main dining area with additional seating and workspace tables. There was also a TV towards the back and a children’s play area.

You may notice that the lounge seems relatively quiet in most of my pictures. While the main dining area was bustling from 5:30 – 7:00 PM, the rest of the lounge was calm and relaxing. I don’t know if the lounge gets any busier during other parts of the day, but it appears that Qantas designed a lounge with more than enough space for eligible passengers to find an escape from the terminal area. It was nice having a more secluded airport lounge for once compared to the overcrowding in US based lounges.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Showers

Given our late night departure on Cathay, we decided to take showers in the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge before going to the Cathay First Pier Lounge. There was no queue to access the showers even though we were visiting during Qantas Sydney flight departure time. Qantas offers 12 showers, which is among the largest amount I’ve seen at an airport lounge.

The shower area was large and well-stocked with various toiletries.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Service Review

The service in the lounge was fantastic. Everyone treated us warmly and seemed to genuinely enjoy working at the lounge. Throughout the dining experience, service was prompt, and we were offered seconds on everything we ordered. The staff also inquired about our onward journey and wished us well.

Qantas Hong Kong Lounge Review – The Pilot Debrief

Qantas has always impressed me with its worldwide lounges, and Hong Kong is no different. The spacious and open design is stunning, with more than enough seating to handle passenger demand based on my experience. The food was top-notch, and I appreciated the unique experience of the dim sum trolley cart. Overall, I would rank this as my favorite meal at a business-class lounge.

I would not hesitate to visit here if you have access during your travels through Hong Kong. Even if you have access to Cathay’s First Pier lounge, I think this place is worth stopping by for a bit for the incredible views (that the Cathay lounge lacks) and to enjoy some delicious food.

I was glad to finally have the chance to review the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge. Let me know what you think of this lounge in the comments.