A thick slush covered the ground the morning of my recent flight to Hong Kong. After a week with a Storied client in Seattle, I went up to visit family in Vancouver before flying back to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. I set off for YVR a few hours before my flight so that I could get some extra time in Cathay Pacific’s First And Business Class Lounge, which, as you’ll see below, is without a question the best lounge in YVR. Here’s what you can expect during your upcoming visit.
The Basics
The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge, which replaced another lounge of the same name in May, 2016, is in YVR’s international (non-USA) terminal between gates D66 and D67. Its hours seem odd—open from 10:30am until 3pm, and then again from 8pm until 2am—but the 5-hour afternoon hiatus makes sense, given that Cathay Pacific only flies to two destinations from Vancouver: three times daily to Hong Kong at 9:15am, 2:30pm, and 2:35am, and once daily to New York (JFK) at 10:55pm. The first thing you notice when you step inside the lounge is its airiness. At 5,500 square feet, there is never a shortage of space here; when I visited, there were no more than a dozen visitors scattered across a cavalcade of cozy couches and swivel chairs. USB ports and power outlets abound, I felt at home from moment zero.
Food & Drinks
Anyone who frequents Cathay Pacific lounges is familiar with their Noodle Bar, and the one at YVR doesn’t disappoint. Get your dandan noodle soup, wonton noodle soup or Hong Kong-style fish ball noodle soup made to order, then head to the far end of the Noodle Bar for some self-serve champagne. If you’d prefer something more Western, go out to The Pantry, where you’ll find a selection of tapas, meats and cheeses, salads, and plenty of breakfast and dessert options. I’m always impressed with the food in Cathay Pacific’s lounges, and this one is no different. Just like in their home city of Hong Kong, dining is not taken lightly.
Ambience & Design
Like many of Cathay Pacific’s Asian lounges, this one was designed by Studioilse, the London-based design firm led by Ilse Crawford. Crawford has been an integral part of Cathay Pacific’s lounge rejuvenation in recent years; though she has designed plenty of hotels and restaurants around the world, it’s clear that she takes a wholesome approach to airport lounges:
A lounge is that in-between point between the stress of an airport and getting on the plane, so it’s really the last moment when you feel grounded. It can slow you down, it can allow you to breathe, just to take that moment…Airports can be alienating places, so to feel more like a living room than an airport lounge—people on the move need to feel sharper when they arrive than when they left—and the experience as a whole should address this.
Studioilse has always been deliberate in choosing the materials for Cathay Pacific’s lounges: onyx to convey a connection with nature and the airline’s Asian roots; mohair velvet for warmth; brass provides a touch of luxury. “We understand materials best by contrast,” explains Crawford. “Rough feels rougher in contrast with smooth.” The lounge’s far wall is floor-to-ceiling glass, overlooking the runway with Vancouver’s coastal mountains beyond.
The Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge is available to all Cathay Pacific business and first class passengers, including oneworld members with Sapphire elite status or above. There are two beautiful shower suites available to all guests, which feature large rainfall showers and an assortment of Aesop bath products. More than one of our clients, who regularly use Yore Oyster to fly business class between Vancouver and Hong Kong, have told me how much they appreciate this little sliver of relaxation before takeoff. I couldn’t agree more. With the reputation Cathay Pacific has gained for the luxuriousness of its lounges, combined with Skytrax naming YVR the best airport in North America for eight consecutive years, it’s not surprising that frequent flyers include this one among the best lounges in North America, too.
