Find Out Why Cathay Pacific “The Deck” Is The Best Business Lounge In The World

We threw together a last-minute trip to Thailand as part of our epic 7-week family award adventure. Before jetting off to Bangkok, I swung by The Deck, Cathay Pacific’s shiny new lounge for business class passengers at Hong Kong International Airport. I had mixed feelings about Cathay Pacific, but let me tell you, my time in the lounge was top-notch and absolutely worth it! 

In this post:

• Cathay Pacific Lounges location at Hong Kong Airport
• The Deck entry requirements
• The Deck seating & layout
• The Deck food & drinks
• How to redeem the award tickets from Hong Kong to Bangkok
• Final thoughts

Cathay Pacific Lounges Location At Hong Kong Airport

Unlike The Pier and The Wing, which have their own exclusive lounges for first class passengers, The Deck is a chill spot that welcomes both first class and business class travelers. It’s open from 05:30 to 00:30 daily, making it perfect for those early mornings and late nights. Located conveniently near Gate 6 in Terminal 1, it’s right by my boarding gate. I just followed the clear signs and got on the escalator to Level 7. And if you’re exploring the terminal, Cathay Pacific also has four other lounges in the same terminal to check out:

• The Pier, First
• The Pier, Business
• The Wing, First
• The Wing, Business

The Deck Entry Requirements

Cathay Pacific lounges are the ultimate hangouts for first class and business class travelers, selected Cathay Pacific members, and Oneworld Alliance partners. I snagged Business Class award seats from Hong Kong to Bangkok with Cathay Pacific, which gave us access to their fantastic lounges. To top it off, I had just hit Oneworld Sapphire status, which let me bring a guest into the lounge – even though I would have flown economy on Cathay Pacific. Big thanks to our AAdvantage Hotels portal booking for making that happen – A huge shoutout to American Airlines’ loyalty program for letting me earn elite status without having to fly!

There are other ways to access Cathay Pacific lounges too. You can use a Lounge Pass, which Cathay Pacific members can claim, purchase, or redeem passes for themselves or share them with travel buddies, friends, or family. Cargo Clan Elite members and eligible Standard Cathay Pacific Mastercard holders also get in.

Cathay Pacific is pretty generous with lounge access. If you’re traveling in different classes on the same ticket (like business class from Singapore to Hong Kong and then premium economy class to Paris), they’ll let you enjoy lounge access based on the highest class of travel for your entire journey. This applies only to Cathay Pacific flights. For trips with stopovers, lounge access is granted for each flight segment.

The Deck Seating & Layout 

The Deck sprawled 9,000 square feet of pure relaxation bliss. It was designed to accommodate about 180 guests. The name says it all – the lounge brought a taste of the outdoors inside with its airy design and terminal views. Stepping into the main indoor area, where I found two inviting living rooms.

Decked out with plush chairs and sofas, these spaces were perfect for unwinding, though they were not tucked away in a separate quiet corner. They were right in the heart of the action. So I was passing by them frequently. 

The dark-toned furniture blended seamlessly with the lounge’s sleek design. Tucked behind the cozy living space was an area with booths and tables for two or four. I found these spots to be much cozier than the open terrace areas – perfect for settling in comfortably. The only downside? There weren’t any power or USB charging stations, which was a bit of a letdown.

When I stepped outside, I discovered the L-shaped terrace that wraps around the entire indoor lounge. This spacious outdoor deck quickly became my favorite spot, where I could soak up the fresh air, enjoy the panoramic views, and savor bites from the “Noodle Bar.” The Deck offered a variety of seating options: three large communal tables, nine round tables for four, and plenty of reclining chairs along the longest edge.

I really enjoyed the round tables, but I found the reclining chairs a bit lacking in comfort for a long sit. Plus, the terrace didn’t quite cater to our digital world – where most passengers were glued to their gadgets – so don’t expect a lot of tech-friendly amenities out here.

I particularly loved the plants Cathay Pacific added to The Deck – they really gave the space an outdoor vibe. Towards the back of the lounge, I found a cozy nook with nearly two dozen booths, conveniently located right next to the noodle bar. 

When I was there, the shower rooms were all occupied, so I didn’t get a chance to check them out.

The Deck Lounge Food & Drinks

What truly stole my heart at The Deck was the food – especially the Noodle Bar. Cathay Pacific lounges are famous for their local charm, and this one definitely lived up to the hype. The Noodle Bar was a culinary standout, serving up some of the best Oriental snacks and flavors. I enjoyed wonton noodles and siu-mai (dim sum with minced pork that’s perfectly complemented by a kick of chili sauce).

There’s something magical about perfectly cooked noodles – they should be delightfully chewy, not soggy in the soup. The Deck nailed it with every bite. The service at both the Noodle Bar and the lounge was phenomenal. The staff were attentive to every need of each guest. I visited around 8:30 PM, which was past the peak hours, but their proactive attention to detail was impressive and showed their daily commitment to excellence.

I have a deep emotional connection to Cathay Pacific. While I can’t change larger socio-political factors, Cathay Pacific still holds a special place in my heart, evoking memories of the good old airline days and the warmth of my hometown, Hong Kong.

How To Redeem The Award Tickets From Hong Kong To Bangkok?

In the recent blog post about our 7-week award family trip in Summer 2024, I mentioned about using Qatar Airways Avios for our Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City flights because of the great redemption rate. I decided to check Qatar Airways’ program again. For the 1,149-mile flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Qatar Airways program required only 16,500 Avios, saving me almost 45% of my points. In the end, I scored a Cathay Pacific ticket with Qatar Airways Avios and got to re-enjoy my favorite airline’s welcome drink – Cathay Delights.

🔥🔥Pro Tip (Latest): From now through September 30, 2024, take advantage of the following Avios transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards (MR):

• 30% British Airways transfer bonus
• Avios is mileage currency of British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways, Vueling and Aer Lingus

Avios are transferable between participated programs at 1:1 ratio, so each Avios is worth the same across the board. If you collect Avios with any of participated airlines, you can use them with Qatar Airways or any of the others.

For example, the ticket from Hong Kong to Bangkok that I redeemed through Qatar Airways program only cost me 13,000 Avios, thanks to a 30% bonus.

👉 Further reading: How To Best Use Avios To Book The Reward Flights

👉 Further reading: Four Sweet Spots You Need To Know About Avios – Save Enough For A Business Class Round Trip To South America

👉 Further reading: Scared To Do Last-Minute Family Travel Changes? 3 Simple Tips To Start

How To Earn Avios?

Credit cards are a great way to earn Avios. Currently, major US banks offer two types of Avios-earning credit cards:

Co-Branded Credit Cards: 

This includes Chase’s British Airways Visa and Chase Iberia Visa, both with a $95 annual fee and a welcome offer of 75,000 Avios (after spending $5,000 within three months).

Flexible Points Credit Cards: 

Almost any US credit card with flexible points can transfer points to Avios program. This opens up many avenues to earn Avios! Nearly any points-earning credit card can accumulate Avios.Here are some great sign-up bonuses you can take advantage of:

• Chase Ink Business Preferred now offers 120,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. 

• Amex Gold offers a welcome offer of 60,000 MR points, which equals to 60,000 Avios. Despite the $325 annual fee, it includes up to $424 annual credit, making this card be worth to have for long term.

Final Thoughts

My last-minute journey from Hong Kong to Bangkok turned out to be a delightful experience, not just for the business class comfort but also for the chance to explore Cathay Pacific’s The Deck lounge. It might not be the largest or most opulent lounge, but the exceptional service, meticulous attention to detail, and the standout offerings at the Noodle Bar made it truly memorable.

Sure, there’s room to jazz up the digital stations, but The Deck still earns a top spot on my list of the world’s best business lounges. It’s a gem that proves you don’t need extravagance to offer an extraordinary experience!

Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone.