Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge – Melbourne (MEL)

The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge at Melbourne airport Terminal 2 is located along with several other airline clubs in a dedicated area below gates 5-11, an escalator ride away from the gates.

The club welcomes Cathay Pacific and oneworld elite and premium passengers. Oddly, the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge is also United’s partner in Melbourne, though we suspect that United has chosen this arrangement for financial reasons, given the availability of two superior adjacent Star Alliance lounges.

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge MEL design

The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge at Melbourne airport features the airline’s traditional décor conceived by Foster + Partners, which is still widely seen at Cathay lounges worldwide despite an ongoing transition to a new décor. The design has its merits and includes elegant touches, but fails to reveal its full potential at Melbourne airport, given the limited real estate.

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge – Melbourne (MEL)

Indeed, the Cathay Pacific Lounge is the smallest airline club at Terminal 2. Cathay Pacific passengers, who may be used to the airline’s sprawling facilities at their Hong Kong hub, will be shocked when they walk past the reception desk and find themselves in a tiny room with a dozen seats in a tight arrangement. There is fortunately a second room with a buffet area and additional seating, though the capacity of the lounge is limited overall.

Compounding the cramped feeling is the lack of daylight. Located on the basement level, the club has no windows, and the frosted glass panes merely reveal a glimpse of the drab and crudely lit hallway outside. There is little of the serenity and intimate vibe that Cathay Pacific’s design aspires to create.

The first room is ideal for groups, with two clusters of seats around coffee tables. There are also five large individual and highly private work desks—a surprising amenity since space is at a premium. The second room functions as a “hub,” with the buffet area facing a high communal table with stools, a Cathay Pacific staple meant to evoke street eateries in Hong Kong. The room also includes additional seats which are more private and better suited for individual travelers, with the occasional side table and lamps. Power outlets are available, though not at every seat.

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge MEL amenities

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge – Melbourne (MEL)

The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge at Melbourne airport offers a set of essential amenities for international travel.

The buffet features a basic selection of snacks and finger food, along with a few hot items, such as puff pastries at breakfast time, and dim sum throughout the day. Drinks include soda and juices in a cooler, a Nespresso machine, a minimal wine selection, as well as a basic assortment of liquor and spirits. The spread is unpretentious, and while the selection may suffice for a snack, it is no substitute for a proper meal. Cathay Pacific’s signature Noodle Bar is not available in Melbourne.

The bathroom is under dimensioned, with two stalls for each gender, and no urinals on the gentlemen’s side. On the brighter side, Cathay Pacific offers a baby changing room, as well as elegant shower rooms with the airline’s signature pebble wall.

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge – Melbourne (MEL)

The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge offers complimentary Wi-Fi, though when we visited, it was virtually unusable. Feedback from other passengers indicates that our experience was the norm rather than an exception. However, the business center is outstanding: each of the five individual desks is outfitted with a Mac or PC and offers plenty of space to work.

A small selection of newspapers and magazines is also available.

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge MEL bottom line

The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge delivers on the basics with comfortable seats, power outlets, snacks and nibbles, and business facilities. The club also boasts elegant shower suites.

Overall, though, the Cathay Pacific Lounge fails to impress. The club suffers from a significant lack of real estate, is devoid of daylight, and gets crowded at peak times. The oversized individual work desks are outstanding, but also take up a lot of space that could have been allocated to the seating area. The food and beverage selection is also fairly limited.

As an alternative, oneworld Business Class and elite passengers may use the adjacent Qantas International Business Lounge. First Class passengers enjoy access to the outstanding flagship Qantas International First Lounge, by gate 3. We recommend that United customers use one the adjacent and better appointed Air New Zealand Lounge or Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge.