The lounges at Cathay Pacific have a reputation for offering a standard-setting premium service, but do they live up to it?
I decided to go to the Galleries Club lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3 because I wanted to try the oneworld alliance with the right ticket or frequent flyer card. The Hong Kong-based carrier's reputation is well-deserved, if not always consistent.
The business class lounge has a long, wide and low-ceilinged space with a noodle bar and booth seating.
The lounge was empty when I was there, with only a few people in sight. The image is of Fintan Horan-Stear.
The noodle bar opens into a breakfast and cold food area, which leads to a sunlit lounge area. The outer wall is all-glass and provides a great view of the terminal and runway.
There are table-and-chair sets, sofas, and cosseting private workspace detailed in green felt material. I fell in love with the brown leather armchair and ottoman sets facing the panoramic windows, even though the lounge was designed in a rich but restrained style.
The lounge at Cathay Pacific has different seating options. The image is of Fintan Horan-Stear.
Each seat had a small table and lamp with a drawer that held plug sockets. I settled into my seat. I found a full-service bar at the rear of the lounge. Other drinks were served by the staff, while self-service flavoured waters were available.
Wine, cocktails, and soft drinks were available at the bar.
One of the few drawbacks of the lounge was illustrated when I ordered a glass of champagne.
The champagne was warm. I was surprised that the champagne wasn't chilled in the refrigerator for interlopers because the lounge is busy in the evening. I moved onto the food offering and it was great.
Both asian and western meals can be ordered at the noodle bar. I went for the dim sum assortment. I collected my lunch after a few minutes. The food was delicious and cooked perfectly.
It was a great advertisement for Hong Kong cuisine. The self-service cold options were pasta salads and some sweet treats.
The food was great. The image is of Fintan Horan-Stear.
I was excited to try the other amenities on offer, and I was very impressed with the cuisine. If you show your boarding pass to the attendant, the lounge provides showers for passengers. Dark wood and stone bring a spa-like experience to the shower interior. The shower was great. The whole experience made me feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
The shower interiors were as luxurious as the rest of the lounge.
The lounge experience dipped as I returned to my seat to enjoy more champagne and plane watching. While I was ordering another drink, I was met at the bar by staffers who were carrying crates of products to replenish the bar. Other members of the staff cleaned the area around me.
I am aware of the fact that airlines want to show clean. My noise cancelling headphones kept out the noise.
The service blips did not deter me from enjoying this lounge. The staff make you feel welcome in the interior. I would go back in a heartbeat because of the delicious food and relaxing showers.
I thoroughly enjoyed the lounge.
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The image was credited to Fintan Horan-Stear.
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