Review / Why you should fly Qantas next time you head to Australia – not only does the airline’s Hong Kong lounge match Cathay’s, but on-board cuisine by Neil Perry and amenities by Li’Tya seal the deal
- Ahead of Qantas’ 2026 launch of the two longest direct flights in the world – from Sydney to New York and London – Style reviews the airline’s business class experience
- The Hong Kong lounge is easily on a par with The Wing, with its views of the Sky Bridge, and dim sum created by a former chef at The Peninsula – and the sleeping pods are spacious and comfortable
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Qantas’ maiden flight to Hong Kong. On June 26, 1949, a Qantas Douglas DC-4 Skymaster aircraft from Sydney landed at Kai Tak Airport. The flight, which is now about nine hours, took 20 hours back then – similar to the flying time of the upcoming Sydney to New York and Sydney to London direct routes that Qantas will begin operating in 2026. They will be the longest direct flights in the world.
On a recent visit to Australia, Style got to experience the Qantas business class cabin on three different flights: an overnight flight from Hong Kong to Sydney, a domestic flight from Sydney to Melbourne, and finally a day flight from Melbourne back to Hong Kong.
How does Qantas compare to fellow Oneworld airlines Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways?
If you’re a frequent traveller based in Hong Kong, you would probably agree that Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship carrier, has seen better days. Both its fleet and its service are not what they used to be, which is why savvy fliers and members of Marco Polo (Cathay’s loyalty programme) often opt for partner airlines such as Qantas and Qatar Airways, which offer the same perks, such as priority boarding and lounge access – and mileage points – often at much lower prices than Cathay. The business class pods on Qantas flights are in much better shape than those on most Cathay flights, and while they’re not as luxurious and private as Qatar Airways’ Qsuites, they’re spacious and comfortable, and the seats easily turn into fully flat beds.
What about the business and first class lounges?
Needless to say, the Qantas first class lounges in Australia are simply fabulous, offering fine dining and beautifully appointed private rooms for extra privacy, not to mention massages and facials in Sydney and Melbourne. The biggest surprise of the Qantas experience, however, was the Hong Kong lounge. As someone who has for more than a decade used all the Cathay lounges, including The Wing and The Pier, I always assumed that they were the best ones in Hong Kong, given Cathay’s prominence at Hong Kong International Airport. Located on the same floor as The Wing, the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge is on a par with – if not better than – all of Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong lounges.
A formal dining section with a buffet stand and an à la carte menu sits next to a welcoming and airy seating area overlooking Hong Kong’s famous Sky Bridge. Created by a Hong Kong chef formerly of The Peninsula, the Cantonese dishes – which you can also sample at the dim sum trolley that circulates at peak hours – are extremely good, so make sure you go in hungry; it will be worth it.
