Trip Report & Review – United Global First Lounge Hong Kong – The BEST United Lounge?

by Adam

If my United Global First Lounge experience in Washington-Dulles hinted at one thing, it was that I am usually very skeptical when it comes to the products that United offers. Sure, it’s the airline I fly the most and it gets me from point A to point B safely, but neither the hard nor the soft product is (usually) anything to call home about.

Well the Global First lounge in Hong Kong made me bite my words. It turns out, United does know how to do a great lounge. …and this time, I didn’t get accused of being a spy.

This trip report/review is part of a series. See also:

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United’s Global First Lounge in Hong Kong shares the same space as the regular United Club. As a matter of fact, all the (non-Cathay Pacific) lounges are clustered together on a level above where the gates are and the United’s lounges were at the end of the walkway. The agent up front scanned my boarding pass and proceeded to escort me to the lounge, through the special “United Global First” double doors. After wishing me a good trip, another agent took over and presented me with a menu for a la carte items. The menu was also on display above the food table.

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I ordered the Five Spice Beef Soup Noodle and took a look around the food & beverage area. The food selection wasn’t very expansive, but what they did offer was all very good. In particular, I gave the Satay Beef a try and it was so good that I went back for seconds…and thirds…

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They also had cold meats, cheeses, as well as a few other hot dishes.

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The fridge contained the usual choices of sodas but with a few rather unusual juices. I had a bottle of “freshly squeezed” kiwifruit juice, which was very refreshing.

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There was a self-serve bar, a coffee machine, and a mini freezer full of Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

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A few minutes later, my beef noodles arrived. I was sitting on a couch and the agent was so attentive that he even moved the coffee table towards me before setting down my food. The beef was marinated and cooked to perfection,  the noodles had a great texture to them without being chewy, the soup was flavorful if not a bit salty. I wasn’t particularly hungry (i.e. I didn’t think it was better than it really was), but this beef noodles soup was one of the best dishes I have had at any airport.

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It was worth noting that the agent then stepped out from the lounge but did tell me to ask for his help if I needed anything. I was the only guest in the lounge, so I actually appreciated that—less awkwardness! I took a step back and grabbed a few pictures around the lounge. The lounge was dominated by a huge seating area with plenty of couches and armchairs.

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Off to the side of the lounge were huge windows. In fact, it was the exterior “wall” of the terminal so the entire “wall” was just windows. I spotted a Singapore Airlines A380.

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By the side of the lounge were a few more chairs and a tiny work station with two computers. Throughout the lounge, power outlets were plentiful, but one complaint I did have was that there weren’t any tables suitable for working on a laptop at all.

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After my snack, I decided to get a shower. There were two shower rooms just for guests of the GlobalFirst Lounge and both were open. I didn’t have to see an attendant and walked into one right away. The shower room was well appointed with amenities that the U.S. United Clubs don’t usually offer…well, at least not unless you ask for them.

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As I was getting ready to leave the lounge, I turned back to make sure I was actually in a United lounge. If it weren’t for the napkins and signage and Philosophy shampoos, I wouldn’t have believed it was a United lounge. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed. United, I now know you have the skills to make a great lounge! How about some U.S. improvements… pretty please?

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6 comments

jeremy April 30, 2015 - 3:30 pm

I was just in that same lounge. It is definitely one of the worst first class lounges on Earth. Not even a place to rest or put your feet up, no privacy or business center.

Food was lacking.

Only other first class lounge almost as bad was Asiana, which had awful food but more space and TVs and other amenities not to mention Asiana agents walk you to the gate.

Reply
Michelle April 30, 2015 - 6:25 pm

Not all non-Cathay lounges are bunched up where you note the UA lounge is…

Singapore Airlines has a fantastic lounge at a premium position soon after exiting immigration, one level down. This is open to star alliance and has way better food, drinks and service than UA.

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Enoch May 5, 2015 - 12:22 pm

Hey Michelle, thanks! Sadly, it was under renovation when I was there. I recall on my previous visit that it was dark and didn’t have a bathroom, but I can only imagine how much nicer it is now that they’ve reopened!

Reply
ric April 30, 2015 - 11:23 pm

Enjoy it while it lasts…CO management dba United down’t plan to continue Global First product too much longer… sad 🙁

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Review: United Global First Lounge Hong Kong - The Travel Womble May 15, 2015 - 5:57 am

[…] Continue reading…. […]

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Dan January 14, 2016 - 6:21 pm

This is one of the worst lounges.
I am a Global Services and travel internationally every year.

The staff is not friendly, in particular at the front desk I hope you never encounter mr Durga. What a bad attitude

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