Juneyao Air, spectacular lounge (V6) at Shanghai Hongqiao

This hall is a candidate to enter the TFCbest ranking of 2024, a real hidden treat accessible to Priority Pass holders at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA). It is one of the two louges accessible by PP at Terminal 2, that of domestic flights, and it is a real hidden gem.

Location

The lounges at this airport are definitely well-marked and there are many of them. All of them, to simplify travel, are identified with the letter V and a number, this is V6 and it is the official hall of the Juneyao company. Carrier also flying to Italy from 2024.

It is located in the left pier of the terminal, positioned in the middle of the terminal; it is not easy to find, because the tiny entrance is semi-hidden, perhaps to keep it from being found and keep this little gem away from the barbarian hordes of PP customers.

It is located on the floor below that of the gates, you go down in the dedicated elevator, and when you open the doors you feel like you are in another place, not in the same airport. As if it were a stargate.

Access

Being a company's VIP lounge is obviously designed principlally for Juneyao passengers, but after checking on the Lounge Buddy app it popped up for me as being accessible to Priority Passes and of course I didn't let it pass me by.

The lounge

Past the reception desk is a beautiful circular bar, which reminded me of the onboard bar on Emirates' A380.

Even the colors, light wood,made me feel like I was in a completely different world than in the other Chinese lounges I have been in these times.

The peculiarity of being one floor below the gate makes it Very similar to The Pier, One of the best first class lounges in the world, the nice thing is that the huge windows are at the height of the nose of the planes, an unusual perspective and gives beautiful souvenir photos. It's just too bad that liveries in China are so boring.

Of course it is not brightly lit, but having opted for light-colored decor for everything from the walls to the furniture to the floors, it is still pleasant.

The lounge is divided into several rooms. There are sofas in front of the windows, near the bar and restaurant area of more comfortable configurations for those who want to eat.

It is really big and must be (often) overcrowded since there are two separate areas for the buffet, one during my visit was closed, so there was no shortage of space. There is also a quieter, secluded area for those seeking relaxation.

Food & Beverage

There is a beautiful open kitchen in the center of the lounge, where noodles and other typical Chinese dishes are prepared.

There is also a small buffet and several islands with coolers with drinks.

Then as mentioned there is the café, which also serves as a bakery. A few treats are offered. And a fair selection of spirits, also for a fee.

Services

There is a nice, but small, children's room. It looks fake from the order and cleanliness inside this small room.

There is a corner selling items branded with Juneyao's livery, a tradition with many other Chinese companies.

In conclusion

Beautiful, elegant, clean, and with a spatial view. A bar you don't expect and an open kitchen as if you were in downtown Shanghai, all of this accessible with Priority pass, but when ever...

• Priority Pass