Shanghai Hongqiao lounges: how to choose between T1 and T2

At Shanghai Hongqiao, the starting point is working out which terminal you're flying from, because access changes from lounge to lounge. At Terminal 1, passengers flying domestic routes who arrive well ahead of time can get into the AVINEX VIP Lounge even before security screening, the only one of Hongqiao's lounges that opens landside: handy for anyone who still has to check in or drop off luggage, but reserved for those with a Priority Pass, an American Express Platinum card with prior registration, or a domestic flight from Terminal 1, with a maximum stay of two hours. Travellers who have already cleared security for an international flight instead find the VIP Lounge V03, reached by elevator to the fourth floor, with free massage chairs among the services on offer, or the China Eastern international lounge, better suited to anyone who simply wants to rest on a daybed in a setting described as quieter than the terminal's other lounges and that does not sell paid entry.At Terminal 2 the offering changes register: here it's the airlines that run their own lounges for domestic flights, airside. The China Southern lounge, near gates 50-54, also offers free massage chairs, but entry remains subject to seat availability at the busiest times, while the Juneyao Air lounge, reached by the elevator opposite gate 38, stands out for its dedicated children's area. Anyone who prefers to stay away from the gates can choose the V1 VIP Lounge, reserved for passengers departing from Area B of Terminal 2, with private meeting rooms useful for those who need to work before flying. A separate option, again at Terminal 2 but landside, before security, is the American Express-branded lounge near check-in islands B and C: the first one the brand opened in mainland China, reserved for holders of the US Platinum card with prior registration, with no flight reminder service or baggage storage, so most useful for those who arrive well ahead of time and have already handled check-in and baggage on their own. Overall, choosing between Hongqiao's lounges depends more on which side of security you're starting from and which card or programme you hold than on any single best lounge overall.

In the end, choosing the right lounge at Hongqiao comes down to two simple questions: which terminal and which kind of access you're starting from, and how much time you have before boarding. Those who arrive early and want to avoid queueing will find a couple of landside options; those who are already past security can choose based on whichever service matters most, from massage chairs to private meeting rooms. With a Priority Pass or an American Express Platinum card the choice widens further, but it still always comes down to the terminal you're flying from.