Air China International Business Class Lounge

If you’re flying internationally out of Beijing as a Star Alliance Gold customer or in Business class, chances are that you will be using the Air China Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3E lounge, which serves numerous airlines in addition to Air China.

Air China International Business Class Lounge PEK design

The Air China Business Class Lounge at Beijing Capital airport Terminal 3E is located on a mezzanine overlooking the concourse.

The sprawling club features plenty of seating options in semi-private spaces. However, despite its sheer size, the lounge gets busy at peak times, so a stroll around might be required to find a seat.

Several large open areas are equipped with comfortable chairs and power outlets at every seat. The light fixtures, indoor plants and the sound of the water feature emanating from the concourse foster a relaxing and zen feeling. Passengers who wish to enjoy a bit more privacy may use the more secluded seats at the edge of the room, or sit within the “rotunda” at the center, under a palm tree. A theater room with a large flat screen TV features reclining seats, often doubling as an impromptu nap room. The furniture could use an upgrade but remains nonetheless very comfortable.

Air China International Business Class Lounge PEK amenities

Self-serve snack areas dot the lounge and offer a simple selection of cookies, packaged snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks. A much more substantial buffet is available within the dining area at the very back of the lounge – the location is surprisingly easy to miss. A variety of hot and cold entrees is available, including tasty Chinese specialties and dim sum. Unfortunately, meal hours are somewhat limited, and passengers traveling in the morning are likely to be disappointed since the buffet promptly closes after breakfast and doesn’t reopen until lunch, leaving a significant gap during which only snacks are available.

Also in a somewhat obscure location (hint: tour the lounge!) is a self-service bar with a small selection of international wines and beers.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available, but as in many places in Beijing, it is tightly controlled – users need to scan their passport at the kiosk by the reception desk in order to obtain a code, which is valid for a few hours (but can be renewed and works on multiple devices.) Chinese cell phone owners can skip the kiosk and authenticate by receiving a text message. The Wi-Fi signal can be weak at times – if the lounge network doesn’t work reliably, use the airport’s network which accepts the same credentials.

A few shower rooms are available, a must on hot Beijing summer days. The facilities are functional but basic, though: the stalls provide just enough space to store a small bag and undress, ventilation is weak, and the doors could use repairs. Basic amenities (towels, soap) are provided. Considering the sheer size of the lounge, it’s somewhat unfortunate that Air China did not invest in larger and better equipped shower suites.

Air China International Business Class Lounge PEK bottom line

The Air China Business Class Lounge at Beijing Capital airport Terminal 3E is an enjoyable and relaxing business class lounge which provides all the basic necessities, a fair amount of privacy, and a generous buffet – but only at meal times. Also note that the central location of the lounge makes it inconvenient to a number of gates, so it may be advisable to leave early.