The CIP Orchard Priority Pass Lounge at Danang International Airport Terminal 2 is a surprisingly good lounge with plenty of seating, selection of hot food and even a shower.
Access was on account of the Business Class boarding pass for the Danang to Hong Kong flight on Cathay Dragon, the regional subsidiary of Cathay Pacific formerly known as Dragonair, but I could also have gained entry using the complimentary Priority Pass membership that comes with the Westpac Altitude Black Mastercard.
In this post:
Cathay Dragon Check In
After a smooth Grab ride from the Four Points Danang, it was time to check in for my flight to New York via Hong Kong.
Danang International Airport has all international flights departing from Terminal 2, which opened in 2017.
The ground staff at the Cathay Pacific check-in area were exceptional. As there was a group at the single Business Class check in desk taking a while, a staff member stepped forward from the service desk to take my passport so she could check me in. A few minutes later I had my two boarding passes and lounge invitations in hand and made my way through security to the CIP Orchid Lounge.
CIP Orchid Priority Pass Lounge Review
The Orchid Lounge was a pleasant surprise. Priority Pass lounges tend to vary significantly in terms of quality but this was a very comfortable lounge to wait for my flight to Hong Kong.
Plenty of seating arranged in different zones made for a nice change from a generic airport lounge experience. There were even yellow solo booths with tables and blue booths with personal TVs, though it was breakfast time so everyone was around the buffet area.
There were also a few iMac computers available and Wi-Fi for those who brought their own devices.
CIP Orchid Priority Pass Lounge Food
Given it was mid-morning, it was great to see a selection of local and international hot dishes available in the buffet.
Pre-prepared bowls with noodles and condiments were set out along one buffet by the window.
The bread and pastry section is located along with the hot items including the usual eggs, sausages and fried rice.
Given that we would be dining at The Pier First Class Lounge in a matter of hours, I went with the steamed sweet potato (which was excellent), watermelon and dragonfruit.
As an aside, the only country where I’ve had properly sweet dragonfruit is Vietnam, so it’s worth trying here if you have the opportunity.
CIP Orchid Lounge Shower
Kudos to the Orchid Lounge for providing a shower and properly packaged towels.
Danang isn’t really a connecting hub so most travellers would be originating from the city or Hoi An, but if your flight was later in the day and you had to check out of your hotel at noon it’s always good to have the option for a shower.
CIP Orchid Priority Pass Lounge Summary
The Orchid Lounge is clean, bright and with substantial food offerings to boot – above average for a Priority Pass lounge.
