Having to go from Shanghai to Hong-Kong on China Eastern I had the opportunity to test the VIP lounge of the airline in the terminal 1 of Shanghai Pudong airport.
Location of the lounge
The lounge is located upstairs shortly after the police and security checks. This means that it is “central” and easy to access, but you will have to walk a bit to get to the distant gates.
Who has access to it?
A lot of people!
China Eastern and Skyteam airlines operating from this terminal as well as Air Koryo, Qantas, Royal Brunei, SriLankan Airlines passengers in the front classes and elite members.
Lounge layout
The lounge is arranged on two levels: on the first level you will find mainly the catering, while on the second level you will find quieter and more relaxing areas.
Let’s start with the first level. As soon as you arrive it is crowded and very noisy.
At the back people are crowding or even jostling around the buffet.
Not a single seat available to settle down, an atmosphere that is anything but pleasant and restful, to which are added the smells of food and cooking that are a little too strong for my taste.
I won’t hang around here any longer and head upstairs.
Here, a total change of scenery and atmosphere.
It is very spacious, quiet and comfortable. As for the carpet, I leave you to judge the good taste.
There are also spaces to isolate or to work.
On the other hand, the catering on this floor is reduced to its simplest expression: drinks and some cakes.
Nothing very exciting: this lounge has the merit to exist and to allow you to wait for your flight in a different atmosphere than the one of the boarding area. It’s good enough, but that’s it.
Noise, smells, crowd downstairs, and non-existent catering upstairs, I am not impressed. Maybe at other times it is more pleasant but I doubt it.
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