Cathay’s The Pier spa: book your massage before you fly

Top-tier Cathay Pacific travellers flying out of Hong Kong can now look forward to some pre-flight pampering at The Pier First lounge’s Thia Wellness spa.

The spa, which offers three 15-minute treatments, has always been a bit of a hit-or-miss when it comes to making a booking: most travellers seem to find themselves on a waiting list that stretches for hours, and that’s if the spa isn’t solidly booked out for the rest of the evening as Cathay’s wave of late-night flights take off.

So in a welcome improvement which is sure to bring cheer to the upper ranks, Cathay has now made advance reservations available for the spa after online check-in through the airline’s website for your CX flight, or through the Manage My Booking screen (at the time of wrting, the feature isn’t available on the Cathay app)

This pampering perk is exclusive to Cathay first class passengers as well as Cathay Diamond frequent flyers, and lets them lock in a preferred time for the treatment.

Here are the three 15-minute treatments you can book:

• Signature Thia neck & shoulder massage: experience a therapeutic dry acupressure massage targeting the neck and shoulders, with the option to enhance your service using Therabody.
• Signature Thia Wellness foot reflex massage: enjoy a calming bespoke service that begins with a foot soak infused with Thia’s signature essential oil blends, followed by a relaxing foot massage.
• Treatment of the day: Thia massage therapists will provide more information at the lounge

The Thia Wellness spa is part of the Retreat wing of The Pier First lounge, which also includes spacious private day suites and large, well-appointed showers.

Room with a runway view: one of the relaxing day suites at The Pier First lounge.

The Pier First is set to become the preferred lounge for Cathay Diamond frequent flyers and their Oneworld Emerald equivalents around the middle of this year, when The Wing First closes for an extensive renovation.

That makeover is expected to transform The Wing into a new flagship lounge for Cathay’s home port.

Cathay plans to reopen The Bridge lounge – located at the end of the main spine of Terminal 1, just before the terminal splits into two piers –  before The Wing closes, to provide extra room for more than 400 passengers who would otherwise visit The Wing First.

Read more: Sweeping changes coming to Cathay’s Hong Kong lounges