Cathay Pacific’s lounge in Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris is used by Cathay Pacific, British Airways and eligible oneworld alliance frequent flyers. It is located between Terminal 2A and Terminal 2C in the connecting building adjacent to the American Airlines Admiral’s Club.
Since this lounge opened, the airline has created a new premium lounge concept which is currently featured in two lounges – one in Hong Kong and one at London Heathrow. Despite not being the latest design, British Airways frequent flyers consider it the best “British Airways” lounge on the continent.
The IT Zone
Immediately on the left when you enter is what Cathay Pacific refer to as an IT Zone. It is a space set aside featuring six computers and a printer.
-
- For the Apple geeks!
-
- Windows wonders!
Everyone is catered for as half the computers are Windows based PCs and the other half are Apple. Working would be quite pleasant here as it is cheerfully lit and nicely appointed.
Comfortable Areas To Lounge
Running down the left hand side of the lounge are seats of grey seats with colourful artwork on the wall above. Each pair of seats features a place to charge devices.
-
- Banks of relaxing seats
-
- Brightly coloured art
-
- Lamps and charge your device
-
- Very relaxing easy chairs by the window
Further along past the dining room the chairs change to black and tan with a different style of lamp. This helps to break up the areas and not have everything in one single block of colour.
-
- Black and tan chairs.
-
- Lamps everywhere!
Along the window overlooking the apron are a line of black easy chairs which is where I decided to sit. Watching aircraft out the window in spite of the rain is great fun!
Cathay Solas Chairs
Specially designed for Cathay Pacific are the Solas chairs. These are designed so you can eat, work or relax with a little more privacy. They also face the window at CDG, behind the black chairs.
-
- Cathay Solas Chair
-
- An interesting design!
My first experience with these was in Hong Kong and I sat in one for an hour or so. They are not really my cup of tea for some reason. They are comfortable but I am not a fan of them possibly due to the closed in feel.
Toilet Time
White marble and black granite are a feature of the lounge and this carries over into the toilets. Products are from Institut Karite – well, product – there is only one.
-
- Pair of sinks and mirrors.
-
- Ye olde throne plus marble!
-
- It’s a urinal for the masses!
-
- The plant is a nice touch.
I quite like the wooden boxes for the hand towels which match the one the hand wash sits on. It just looks good. On my visit the facilities were spotless and showed no signs of wear. All bathrooms should be like this as far as I am concerned.
Dining Room
For a lounge covering 600 square metres and having a 120 person capacity there are certainly a lot of areas to cover. The dining room at Cathay’s CDG lounge features tables for two which are close enough together to be private or used for larger parties.
-
- Dining tables…
-
- …another view…
-
- …almost a panorama…
-
- …and finally the food!
Behind the tables is a taller marble table featuring stools where people can slurp their noodles on the run. It dominates the space without being intrusive and helps to signify the end of the dining area.
-
- Hello tall, light and marble like!
-
- View from the marble table.
Overall the space is very effective and a nice clean place to eat some food before flight. Speaking of food…
Extensive Buffet Selection
What really sets apart a decent lounge is the food. Here at CDG the buffet selection has something for everyone. As the lounge is run by a Hong Kong based airline there is a distinctly Asian slant to proceedings which I love.
-
- Oh, this is the entrance!
-
- Three languages on the menu!
-
- Chicken and Cashews and Roast Potatoes
-
- “French Pie” (Quiche?), Salmon and Chop Suey
My choice was the Chicken and Cashews over some rice which was great. A glass of Baron d’Avella Champagne washed it down.
-
- Ta-dah! Round table by the window
-
- Pretty decent Champagne too!
I like how the Champagne is resealable to keep it fresh. Now come with me on a journey, one featuring all the other food you may wish to eat while waiting for your flight.
-
- Mushroom Soup and Rice Steamer
-
- All the salad you may ever need!
-
- Nuts and trail mix
-
- Crackers and Breads
-
- Danish and Orange Muffins
-
- Tongs… oh, and cheese!
-
- Coffee Tiramisu or Rose Mousse on Lychees
-
- Water, juice and Champagne!
The self-service options are excellent but having said that, that is not all. There is one more thing you need to know about…
Cathay’s Noodle Bar At CDG!
The pièce de résistance of any Cathay Pacific lounge – CDG is no exception – is the noodle bar. Here you can get freshly cooked items made to order.
-
- Four dishes, one is unmissable!
-
- Condiments for your noodles!
One of the two items I tried on this visit was the Pho Chicken. For those that don’t know, Pho is a clear soup that originates in Vietnam. My soup was just okay but that was because I had it second.
-
- Hello Pho!
-
- Paired with Champagne? Okay!
Virtually minutes after getting into the lounge I went for the highlight dish at the noodle bar. Nestled in the middle of the menu is the Dan Dan Noodles. These are Udon noodles in a peanut flavoured soup and feature in all the Cathay lounges with a noodle bar.
-
- Why I wanted to come here!
-
- So pretty, so delicious!
Out. Of. This. World. Every time I have them, I love them. Love! They are so delicious and bursting with flavour that they take your breath away. I am kicking myself that I only had the one bowl. Perfection!
Overall Thoughts
Visiting Paris? I suggest you fly home via CDG to London on British Airways or via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific so you too can spend a couple of hours in this lounge. Besides being comfortable, relaxing and very clean, those who enjoy food and drink are spoiled for choice. From buffet selection to the noodle bar you won’t go hungry. Cathay Pacific get it right when it comes to lounges, they really do.
Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below!
Like planes? See my “Does anyone remember” series.
Flight reviews your thing? Mine are all indexed here.
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thanks for the review!
2 years later the lounge is much the same and I agree with pretty much everything you posted.
Solas seats look nice but are strangely uncomfortable. I love Dan Dan noodles, and these are like none that I ever had before, but amazing nonetheless.
A very nice way for me to waste 4 hours of my day – this was a points run, so this was actually my destination, not just a nice detour!
Glad you enjoyed the review! I’m also happy to hear that things are the same. I was curious as to whether this lounge would get refurbished, but not yet, it seems. The Solas seats are strangely uncomfortable, I agree. I visited Paris as well on my trip, so getting the lounge on the way back was a nice bonus. Thanks for the comment!
I used this lounge when I was flying Qatar in First Class to DOH. It can get busy at times but I enjoyed my visit and the noodles too 😉
It was quite empty when I arrived but it got busier as all the BA passengers arrived. The noodles are the best part by far 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
And in such a major hub they don’t have a first class lounge.
Why would they need one? They only have one flight per day with first class and that has 6 seats. It makes no sense to open an entire first class lounge for a maximum of 6 people per day. Thanks for the comment though!
It’s not only for first class passengers, other qualified elite members can use the first class lounge as well.
Of course, but it makes no sense in Paris really. Much more logical to do it somewhere like London where they have done exactly that really.
And why would they simply choose to open a first class lounge for emeralds – largely for BA/AA? How would that make any business sense – 6 paying customers a day.
Looks like the comments were deleted. I agree with you though of course! Thanks for the comment!