I always try to be as objective as I can be when it comes to lounge reviews, and after all, the photos most of the time speak for themselves. Having said that, I freely admit upfront I was less than impressed with this lounge and for one simple reason – location. If you are flying Delta it is likely about 15+ minutes to get from this lounge to your gate (see more about my Hong Kong trip here).
The lounge is downstairs but due to bright white paint does not quite have the same “grotto” feel that say the Alitalia lounge has in Rome.
At the entrance you have a selection of papers to enjoy or take with you. My traveling companion always takes papers onboard but I just don’t get reading anything that is not digital in this day and age.
The lounge is basically a large horseshoe in shape with the dining in the middle and seating around the outside.
You will notice a decent amount of power ports in the furniture as well as the floor but you will need a Hong Kong power plug adapter (that I failed to bring). Now the food service area.
The breakfast choices were continental at best and less than impressive even compared to the current upgraded Delta Sky Club choices say in Atlanta or New York’s JFK. The soup choices were better but not what I wanted this early.
Even though the lounge was reasonably full, seating was decent both in the food service area and throughout the lounge.
The bar is self service and had a selection of drinks. Nothing to get overly excited about but provided at no up charge and that is saying something in this age of travel.
Seating was comfortable but I am not sure if blocking the emergency exit doors with a service cart was such a good idea Skyteam 😉
You have a well of MACs to use if you are willing to risk using an OPEN computer for your needs.
More seating along this side of the horseshoe and some natural light from outside but the view is blocked by frosted glass (these folks are clearly not AVgeeks like me).
I have to say this is the first time I have ever seen a Yoga room in a lounge but if you are into this before or after your flight then this is the lounge to go to.
There was also a blocked off room that I am guessing is for Air France 1st class passengers? (I did not ask, maybe readers can chime in).
Lastly at the very end of the lounge is a TV room and even if you are not looking to watch TV this seemed to be the most quiet part of the lounge if you are looking for seating away from the rest of your fellow travelers.
Overall this is a fine basic lounge. Everything is just OK. As with my opening words, my main issue is where this lounge is. If this were right next to the Delta gates or even just a 5-ish minute walk away it would be fine. Having to take a tram and walk a ways to get to your gate is a major drawback.
I wish, since Delta does own 49% of Virgin Atlantic, we could just use that lounge near where we fly Delta! What is your impression of this Skyteam lounge in HKG? – René
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But HKG gates are common use so it changes day to day. Maybe other days the Delta flight gets a gate closer to the lounge?
@HKG fan – The simple fix is allow access to either the Virgin or Skyteam lounge as in the past. Yes? No?
The Virgin Atlantic lounge was amazing when I used it back in 2014. Food from a menu. Showers. Real champagne. I think I was one of maybe six passengers in there for a Delta flight.
I found this lounge just OK and far from DL as you said. Foodwise had some pretty good sesame noodles, period. But I just couldn’t stand the lack of windows, felt I was trapped with some other travelers in a basement, so had my noodles and a glass of bubbly, grabbed my bags and walked to the Plaza Lounge instead.
I certainly miss the Virgin Atlantic lounge as they had made to order breakfast which was awesome. So even on a First Class ticket I was given the choice of the Skyteam lounge or the Priority Pass lounge which after going to both I realized that the same caterer supplied the same food to both.
Delta certainly seems to have changed the definition of First Class air travel experience to ho hum.
I too used the Virgin lounge while in HKG in 2015. I thought it was one of my best lounge experiences internationally, at least in Asia while on DL. (Shanghai and Beijing were horrible.) The food off of the menu was great and the service friendly and efficient. They even gave me a new set of chopsticks as a souvenir after using mine for eating. The people watching was great and as you mentioned, it was close to the DL gate. What happened? Why are we not allowed in there anymore? Especially owning 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic, that seems a bit unkind to your most loyal customers.
Looks great!
A very thorough and helpful review Rene. The problem with Delta (one of ’em anyway) is as much as Delta likes to pretend that DeltaOne is a pseudo first class experience, Delta will never give you access to a first class lounge. The terrific Virgin Atlantic lounge at HKG is not even a first class lounge so it is a travesty that Delta denies access. On the other hand, at HKG any OneWorld top tier elite would have had access to Cathay Pacific’s Pier and Wing – outstanding first class lounges – even if flying economy.
For a look at what Delta flyers are missing, here are reviews of one of the Japan Airlines first class lounges at NRT and the Ethiad first class lounge at AUH that opened a few months ago.
https://wordpress.com/post/salsaworldtraveler.com/9816
https://wordpress.com/post/salsaworldtraveler.com/18298
Virgin a better choice…lets bug Ed
This Delta lounge denies access if not flying Delta even if you have a Delta lounge membership. I’m Diamond and have an actual individual membership card. Flew to Seoul (on Delta) then to HK (on Korean Air-also Skyteam), No Delta flight at the time I needed so had to book AA back to LAX before connecting with another Delta flight the next day. Thought since I have a Delta lounge membership that they would give access – wrong. Flew Delta on 10 trips to Asia last year, 4 to Europe and a number more to Australia and in the US and they won’t let me use my lounge card. Really??????