In the past, I usually flew British Airways to Beijing or Virgin Atlantic to Shanghai when returning to China, but now there aren’t many options left using points – only British Airways to Shanghai remains.
The good news is that this time I was departing from Pudong Terminal 2, giving me the chance to finally check out the Cathay Pacific Lounge, which is regarded by many as the best airport lounge in mainland China.
I’ve been to a few Cathay lounges: Heathrow T3 in London was decent whereas Beijing Capital was quite average. Although the First Class Lounge as HKG has a legendary reputation, I didn’t have Oneworld Emerald when travelling there so regretfully missed out.
I’m not a frequent visitor to Pudong T2 but many of its lounges participate in Priority Pass. For example I read good reviews of Juneyao’s lounge but with everyone raving about Cathay’s, I had to check it out myself.
I was travelling at the tail end of the May holiday, and according to the check-in agent, the lounge had just reopened after renovations.
The lounge is near Gate 69, with clear signs pointing you upstairs.
The moment I stepped in, the colour scheme and rich wooden textures felt instantly familiar.
I don’t remember much about the ones in Hong Kong or Beijing anymore, but this one feels far fresher and better maintained than the London lounge. Maybe it’s thanks to the renovation?
The outdoor terrace is a real highlight. It was already getting a bit warm in Shanghai in May, so it was nice to step outside and get some air.
The terminal’s domed ceiling is absolutely stunning, and it aligns surprisingly well with Cathay’s colour palette and design textures. They complement each other beautifully.
he lounge is quite spacious, with drinks and food stations spread throughout different corners.
Breakfast offerings included:
- Bacon
- Cheese-baked potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Chicken sausages
- Rice congee
- Stir-fried egg noodles with vegetables
- Pork dumplings
- Steamed sponge cake
Surely it couldn’t compete with a hotel breakfast, but it was already quite good, covering both Chinese and Western tastes.
And of course, the classic “noodle bar” is a must:
Even though I wasn’t that hungry, I still ordered a symbolic bowl of dandan noodles – a rite of passage, really.
Since only premium cabin passengers and Oneworld elites gain entry, the Cathay Pacific lounge was wonderfully calm compared to what I’ve experienced at say, the China Eastern Lounge at T1.
Even though I only sat for a bit and breakfast isn’t exactly peak service time, the hardware here is so outstanding that I can absolutely understand why so many people rate this lounge so highly.
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