Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport Near Gate 60 [Review]

My family of 5 consistently reaps the benefits of my Priority Pass membership, which are clutch when we travel on an economy fare without traditional lounge access.

On a recent trip, I knew we would have our pick of Priority Pass lounges when flying out of Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG), but our gate wasn’t assigned when we checked in for our HK Express flight to Taipei (TPE).

Taking a gamble that we’d have enough time ahead of our flight to transition to a different gate area if needed, I initially aimed for the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club near gate 40. I was surprised to see that 5 lounges were in this space, including the Plaza Premium Lounge near gate 60, which I also had access to. After checking out the Chase Sapphire Lounge, I left my husband and kids to check it out.

I’ve explored the Plaza Premium Lounge near gate 60 to see if it is worth a stop for Priority Pass members and advise whether you should head there instead of the Chase Sapphire Lounge.

Plaza Premium Lounge Location

After checking in, we took the Automated People Mover toward gates 40 to 80.

Our first stop was the Chase Sapphire Lounge near gate 40. Upon taking the closest escalators up, I noticed that the Emirates Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge, Centurion Lounge, and Refreshhh by Aerotel were all in the same triangular area.

To reach the Plaza Premium Lounge from the gate 40 escalators, you should turn left, then make a quick right and take the bridge over the terminal.

As you take the walkway over the terminal, you’ll see the Plaza Premium Lounge’s open seating area in front of you to the right.

The Plaza Premium Lounge can also be reached by the escalators closest to gate 60.

When taking the gate 60 escalators up, Plaza Premium Lounge will be directly ahead to the left.

Gaining Entry to the Plaza Premium Lounge

I accessed the Plaza Premium Lounge using my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Cardholders can still access select Plaza Premium Lounge locations (including 3 at HKG) that also fall under Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required).

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

A 2-hour day pass can be booked online for HK$640 (about $82) for adults and HK$448 (about $57) for children ages 2 to 11. A 5-hour day pass is HK$860 (about $110) for adults and HK$602 (about $77) for kids.

Access is also available to cardholders of select Hong Kong-issued credit cards (American Express, Bank of China, China Citic, Citibank, Fubon, and HSBC).

Hot Tip:

The lounge is open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

First Impressions

Upon accessing the lounge, I was directed to the right toward the Lounge Bay. The left Café area appeared to be closed.

The entry area of the Lounge Bay was a bit tight, with a low ceiling, clustered dining tables, and a buffet area.

However, as I walked throughout the lounge, I noticed plentiful seating areas outside of this initial nook that were open to the terminal.

Seating

The seating area closest to the buffet was dominated by dining tables of various sizes. Overall, the majority of seating seemed to be oriented toward having a table or countertop for dining or working.

The lounge had 3 main seating areas: dining tables near the buffet, a counter along the windows for apron views, and lounge seats nearest the open terminal.

The apron had a lot of planespotting action, particularly with Cathay Pacific flights.

The lounge area open to the terminal was the least busy. However, the seats there looked awkward and uncomfortable.

Seats in the open area had access to power outlets and side tables. Most had firm arms or supports with accompanying pillows.

This area would truly benefit from more comfortable seating, such as cushioned armchairs or sofas.

The Café area was closed, but it appeared to have pairs of dining tables and a smaller buffet area.

Food and Beverage

For a morning visit, the lounge had plenty of breakfast options.

Buffet

A cooler offered tuna pasta salad, roasted chickpea and potato salad, bean salad, beet salad, pickled vegetables, and carrot and celery sticks. While it initially looked like a great salad bar, mixed greens and tomatoes were the only real options for make-your-own salads.

A chef prepared Hong Kong-style fish ball noodle soup to order.

The buffet had Western favorites such as scrambled eggs and baked beans.

Vegetable and shrimp noodles and chicken sausage were also on the buffet.

Sides included buttered sweet corn and steamed rice rolls.

Pastries included pineapple danishes and miniature croissants.

A cereal station had what looked like cornflakes and 1 type of milk. I appreciated the snacks, such as nut mix, tortilla chips, and cookies.

Continuing the trend of snacks, the lounge also had individual Starbursts and Mentos for scooping.

A toaster area had bread, butter, and jam.

A cauldron of 5-grain congee was next to the toaster, with spring onion, braised peanut, and preserved vegetables for toppings.

Drinks

Carlsberg beer, white wine, and red wine were available.

Chilled pineapple and rosemary-infused water, apple juice, and orange juice were in dispensers.

A soda machine dispensed Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, and Fanta. Next to this was a water nozzle that dispensed hot and cold water. A self-service coffee machine offered espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and hot milk. Tea bags were in this area.

Amenities

Wi-Fi

I arrived at the lounge already on the airport’s free network (Wi-Fi.HK via HKAirport) and was getting download speeds of 28.95 Mbps. When I switched to the lounge’s dedicated network (Plaza Premium Lounge (Free Wi-Fi)), my speeds dropped considerably to 5.45 Mbps.

Kids Area

A small summer-themed stand had kids games to borrow, including a board game designed by the Speech Therapy Department of Heep Hong Society. A QR code on the table tent directed users to a Chinese-language YouTube video on how to play the game.

Restrooms

The women’s restroom was small with just 2 stalls and 2 sinks. The sink area had a cool basin design, and mirrors were plentiful.

The toilet stalls were compact but clean and stocked.

Showers

Guests can book a 30-minute shower at the nearby Refreshhh by Aerotel for HK$220 (about $28). The shower includes shower gel, shampoo, body lotion, a bath towel, a dental kit, a comb, a shower cap, a vanity kit, and a hairdryer.

Staff and Service

The lounge team was friendly and unobtrusive, keeping food stocked and plates cleared. I also think a custom-order station (in this case, the fish ball soup) added a personal touch to the level of service offered.

Final Thoughts

My HKG lounge experience is limited to the Chase Sapphire Lounge and the Plaza Premium Lounge near gate 60.

The Chase Sapphire Lounge is the 2024 Asia-Pacific regional winner for Priority Pass Lounge of the Year and is definitely worth a visit. Its strengths are comfortable, spacious seating areas, an innovative full bar, and an à la carte menu you can order from via QR code. However, I found the breakfast overall to be meh.

I think the Plaza Premium Lounge has the edge on dining at breakfast — there’s more variety, and I enjoyed the availability of snack foods (particularly the handful of Starbursts that found their way into my carry-on). While there were plenty of tables for dining or working, the true spaces for lounging didn’t appear comfortable or relaxing. Perhaps the lounge is aiming to keep guests from setting up camp and falling asleep, but not having cozier places to recharge before a flight seems like an oversight.

My advice? If you have a Priority Pass membership, try both the Chase Sapphire Lounge and Plaza Premium Lounge, which are just a stone’s throw away from each other. One of the benefits of membership (particularly at HKG, with 5 Priority Pass lounges and 3 Priority Pass restaurants) is that you’re only limited by the time ahead of your flight. Lounge hopping can be a fun part of the travel experience — check out how my colleague Greg Stone spent 9 hours across 7 lounges at HKG!