Cathay Pacific Removed Its First-Class Lounge Cabanas. That Tells You Where Luxury Travel Is Heading

The Cathay Pacific Wing First Class Lounge reopened at Hong Kong International in April after 11 months of renovation, the first significant overhaul since 2013. This particular lounge has had a long history of superb design, starting with the first edition from noted British designer John Pawson, and the recent iterations have been in the talented hands of Ilse Crawford, who has put her touch on how premium passengers experience the brand when they aren't onboard.

But there is one juicy omission. For over a decade, the cabanas in the Wing were the standalone hit, and arguably a top 10 photographed amenity in commercial aviation. They were private suites with full-length daybeds and deep soaking bathtubs, enough square footage to feel almost residential in a transit terminal. 2015-era travel geeks structured Hong Kong layovers around them and coveted access the way collectors covet rare objects.