China Airlines’ largest lounge at Taipei Airport is now closed for renovations, expected to reopen to passengers on September 10 2018 following an extensive facelift.
Located near gate D4 in Terminal 2 and close to the gates typically used for Airbus A350 flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland (via Brisbane), the refurbishments will bring a more modern look and feel to the space, drawing design inspiration from China Airlines’ newer lounges in Taipei’s Terminal 1:
China Airlines' business class lounge in Terminal 1, renovated in late 2014
The Terminal 2 facility is split across two levels. Before it closed, the upper floor was reserved exclusively for China Airlines’ own Emerald and Paragon frequent flyers…
… with this section providing table service for meals and beverages plus a buffet for travellers to help themselves…
… while downstairs was home to business class passengers without China Airlines status, and SkyTeam Elite Plus frequent flyers of programs other than China Airlines’ Dynasty scheme, but was essentially one long bank of similar-looking seats…
… bookended by a buffet dining space…
… and with relatively basic shower suites down the very end, also utilised by Emerald and Paragon cardholders.
Once the renovations are complete, expect the downstairs space to look a little more like this…
The 'business class' section of China Airlines' newer lounge in Terminal 1
... the shower suites to be more like this...
A shower suite in China Airlines' refurbished Terminal 1 lounge
… and, provided the upstairs section remains reserved for top-tier frequent flyers, to look somewhat like this:
The newer 'Exclusive Area' for Emerald and Paragon members in Terminal 1
China Airlines operates a second, smaller lounge in Terminal 2 – nearby passport control after taking the escalators to the airport’s main ‘lounge level’ – which will remain open during this refurbishment and will welcome the same flyers, but without a separate section for Emerald and Paragon members.
Additionally, with a free Skytrain service running airside every few minutes between Taipei Terminals 1 and 2, passengers departing from T2 could also venture over to T1 to enjoy China Airlines’ other lounges pictured above, before returning to T1 in time for their flight.
If these lounges prove too crowded during your visit, a Priority Pass card – such as comes with the AMEX Platinum Charge Card and the St. George Amplify Signature and Westpac Altitude Black credit cards – unlocks a further five lounges in Taipei.
These include the ‘More Premium’ business lounge in Terminal 2, two Plaza Premium lounges in T2 and two further Plaza Premium lounges in Terminal 1.
It’s a trick worth keeping in mind, because China Airlines’ T2 lounges aren’t only used by China Airlines’ passengers: they’re also shared between 10 other airlines, both in and out of SkyTeam.
That roster includes Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, KLM, Mandarin Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Turkish Airlines and XiamenAir – plus others like Malaysia Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, although these passengers will typically visit the T1 lounges instead, nearest to their departure gates.
Chris Chamberlin travelled to Taipei as a guest of China Airlines.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 730
That old shower's plumbing system could certainly win the UGLY award.
10 May 2018
Total posts 12
So, has the renovated lounge in T2 opened yet? If not, is there a revised opening date?
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