Quick Review: Plaza Premium First Lounge Hong Kong International Airport
Intro
As part of my next business class flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok, I had the privilege of visiting the Plaza Premium First Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. This lounge is operated by Plaza Premium, meaning that it is a contract lounge for multiple airlines, just like the one in Jakarta, which I visited when flying Singapore Airlines First Class.
Overall, I would say that the Plaza Premium First Lounge has gone quite downhill compared to the previous reports I read about it before COVID-19. It used to feature the likes of sit-down dining and be not as crowded. However, I found it to be packed to the brim with people, and the food options weren't that great, in all honesty.
Let's get into it!
Access+Location
Before we get into the access and location part, something to note is that this lounge, along with the one in Kuala Lumpur, is supposed to be a "better version" of their ordinary Plaza Premium lounges.
Nearby gate D1 is where you will find the Plaza Premium First Lounge. Once through security, follow the signs towards airline lounges, and the sign for the Plaza Premium First Lounge will appear.
In terms of access, it's interesting to see the variety of airlines that contract with this lounge. Throughout my time, I saw passengers flying on Qatar, British Airways, Thai Airways, and Singapore Airlines, to name a few.
This lounge is also a priority pass acceptable lounge, but I believe that there is a co-pay to enter of around 30$ (not 100% sure).
The lounge is open from 6:30 am- 1:00 am.
Seating
When I entered the lounge on this busy evening, I couldn't help but notice just how crowded it was. With that being said, I try not to include people's faces in my photos, so I will take one from the internet for this.
There is ample seating in the compact lounge, albeit the space is quite small. There seems to be a nice modern aesthetic to the lounge, with sleek grey colors being the staple. My one quirk with the seating is how close the seats are together. Combining that with the low ceilings, it feels a tad claustrophobic.
For those who like to sit at the bar, there are two different sides to the bar where you are able to sit down on a high-stool and grab a drink or just relax.
Food+Drink
Towards the back of the lounge was a place to grab a bite to eat. However, during my time there, it was so busy that there was never enough food to take a picture of it 😂. From what I saw, the options consisted of rice and protein, which were basic stuff, but they were better than nothing.
I guess we shall focus on the drinks section of the lounge, as that is something the lounge had plenty of. Honestly, while the bar is beautiful, the complementary choices were a bit of a letdown. Serving cheap sparkling wine and more cheap red wine is something that is hard to grasp at lounges, where people pay upwards of 5,000$ per ticket. It disappoints me to see this lounge go from having sit-down dining to having, well... this.
Before heading out, I opted to endulge in a glass of that sparkling water and some tortilla chips. Not the healthiest dinner, but certainly did the trick to hold me over until...
I found this spot! Completely unrelated as it is outside of the lounge and upstairs. However, if you are in Hong Kong and flying, definitely check out this place that serves delicious chicken and rice!
Please note that the lounge also features free Wi-Fi, restrooms, and two showers for passengers to use on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Final Thoughts
The Plaza Premium First Lounge is a perfectly acceptable lounge for a short visit to the airport. However, if you are planning on staying longer than an hour, I would highly recommend checking out other options. For example, if you are flying on Thai Airways, head over to the Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Lounge, or if you are flying an Oneworld carrier, check out the Cathay Pacific Lounges!
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