The Pointiff: The Iggy Itinerary: Lounge Report - Air China Business Class Lounge, Shanghai-Pudong

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Despite being the transport hub for one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, Shanghai's Pudong International Airport's lounges are terrible.

Or so I thought.

For years, Star Alliance carriers used a contract lounge (i.e. not owned by an airline) - a dark space with some leather chairs and dim sum that looked weeks old. Certainly no reason to arrive early at the airport.

But earlier this year, Air China (Star Alliance's PRC-based carrier) opened new lounges in Beijing and Shanghai. The lounge in Shanghai is a huge improvement!

There was a short check-in line for Asiana Business Class. (There was no First Class counter, as almost all of Asiana's flights out of Pudong are on two-class aircraft. The check-in agent apologized that she couldn't give me my Vancouver > San Francisco boarding pass as she handed me my Shanghai > Seoul, Seoul > Frankfurt, and Frankfurt > Vancouver passes along with a lounge invitation.

Security was quick despite there not being a lane for business / first class, and I was off to Lounge 71 (the Pudong lounges are named after their nearest gate).

Lounge 71 Airlines

Unlike most of the Pudong lounges, the Air China Lounge doesn't overlook the terminal itself; it's an enclosed space set away from the terminal.

Air China Lounge Check-in

I tried to use the First Class Lounge, handing the lounge agent my boarding pass for Lufthansa First Class from Seoul to Frankfurt. But the lounge agent turned me away, gesturing emphatically toward the Business Class Lounge entrance.

Technically, she's correct - under Star Alliance lounge-access rules, passengers only get First Class Lounge access when they are "departing from the local airport in International First Class." I thought the lounge agent would be willing to make an exception, but there's something to be said for technocratic application of the rules.

The lounge is two floors. The first floor has seating and drinks, but no food.

First floor seating

Drink fridge

The second floor (accessible by both elevator and escalator) is considerably larger than the first floor.

Second floor bar

Second floor seating

Second floor buffet

The breakfast buffet was fairly typical for what you'd find at a Chinese hotel - eggs, bacon prepared in a style with no resemblance to Western techniques, sausages, dim sum, fruit, etc.

Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs

"Bacon"

Hot ham water

Pineapple and watermelon

Beans

Sausage

Dim sum

Juice and cereal

Day-old juice?

Mantou (馒头) (Chinese buns)

Congee

Instant noodles and wine (a winning combo!)

There were lots of seating options throughout the lounge.

Theater room

Massage chairs

Computer room

Secret seating area

More seating

The lounge also had showers and sleeping rooms although both of those were locked.

And this mysterious room (which was, unfortunately, locked).

Weak Electricity Room

I only spent about 45 minutes in the lounge before it was time to board my short hop to Seoul-Incheon. Pudong Airport's Terminal 2 is a great airport - high ceilings; great tarmac views; and relatively quiet.