Fancy new planespotting bar opens at Hong Kong airport, but it's likely not the future of airport lounges

18.08.2023 - 12:19 / thepointsguy.com

Hong Kong's Intervals lounge is a new airport bar concept that offers great views and a space that is open to all ... for a price.

No credit card or business-class seat reservation is required to enjoy this lounge, but you will have to pay for food and drinks.

It's a cool new space, but could it also be part of the future of airport lounges ... and perhaps even a way to help deal with lounge overcrowding? There the picture gets a bit more complex.

Unveiled by Plaza Premium Group this summer ahead of the company's 25th anniversary, Intervals sits on the so-called Sky Bridge, a 656-foot-long structure that provides a link between Terminal 1 and the T1 satellite concourse at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Built 91 feet above the tarmac, the bridge is high enough to allow massive A380s to pass underneath.

"The view itself is pretty spectacular because you rarely get the vantage point where you look down on the planes like that on the apron of an airport," said Victoria Chow, the creative director at Intervals.

"You can even feel the vibration of planes passing underneath you while at the bar," Chow added.

The bar is open to all, but unlike a traditional airport lounge — including the 250-plus airport lounges Plaza Premium operates in other airports like Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) in the U.S. — food and drinks at the Hong Kong location are not free.

Related: 1st look inside Orlando's Plaza Premium Lounge, the brand's 2nd in the US

That's because Intervals is a whole new concept. Rather than gain access by holding the right card (think: The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Centurion Card from American Express, an American Express cobranded card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Spark Miles for Business) and a same-day boarding pass, you'll need to pay for entry just like you would at a regular bar at any airport around the world.

However, the inside goes above and beyond the typical airport bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw your attention to all the planes passing by, and high-end furnishings and finishes create an upscale setting designed to serve as a comfortable, stylish place to unwind.

Chow described it as a funky cocktail bar in an airport environment. "Everyone who comes through has kind of felt like they, you know, discovered like a gem in the airport where they really can look forward to their time being spent there," she said.

There's a hostess where you check in, but you won't need to flash a special credit card or even show a boarding pass. If you wish, you can reserve special seating via the company's airport VIP service. It includes a buggy