This airline will give you lounge access, even in economy class

The airline: Hong Kong AirlinesRoute Melbourne to Hong Kong, flight HX36Frequency Three return flights per week, increasing to six-to-seven weekly return flights during September and October 2026Aircraft Airbus A330-300Class Economy; seat 41H (aisle)Flight time Nine hours 40 minutes (we depart on time but strong headwinds have us arrive 40 minutes late, stretching today’s flight to 10 hours 20 minutes)Hong Kong Airlines offers needed competition to Qantas and Cathay Pacific.iStockChecking inIt’s a peaceful Thursday morning at Melbourne Airport with a swift check-in line. It’s a pleasing sight as I’ve skipped online check-in to avoid mandatory seat selection fees (starting at $HK240 [$43.50]) – only the pricier “FlexiPlus” fares are exempt). I roll the dice and score a window seat, which staff happily exchange for an aisle.Loyalty schemeSign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.Fortune Wings Club, but you can attach your Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer number instead. The five cheapest “Value” fares don’t accrue rewards – “Economy (G), (R), (E), (P) or (O)” on your ticket means you’re out of luck. Otherwise, fetch between 461 and 5998 Velocity points plus 18-55 status credits one-way, or book for 32,500 Velocity points plus $118.48. Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum get priority check-in – plus priority boarding for Gold and above – but lounge access isn’t included.BaggageBring seven kilograms across two cabin items. Checked baggage limits are 23 kilograms per bag, with one bag allowed on “Value” fares and two bags on “Main” and “FlexiPlus” tickets. Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum members get one additional bag.The seatThe economy class seats are well-padded.Chris ChamberlinAvgeeks may recognise this as the comfortable Recaro CL3710 – a staple of long-haul flying on Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Padding is great, the 2-4-2 layout means only 25 per cent of all passengers across the economy cabin end up in a middle seat, and with 31-32 inches (78.7-81.2 centimetres) of pitch (legroom) throughout the cabin, my knees have room to move. A bi-fold table maximises space and the seatback pocket provides plenty of storage, although mine is torn. A 17.1-inch (43.4-centimetre) seat width is on the tighter side, while up to 279 passengers share six restrooms.Entertainment + techWi-Fi is absent but there’s one AC/USB-A outlet per two passengers, plus one USB-A plug underneath each entertainment screen. Selections are light and “newly added” movies include releases from 2009 (He’s Just Not That into You), but the screen is vivid, responds well to touch and there’s enough content to get by. The flight map doesn’t work and the supplied earbuds aren’t great. I connect my own pair and appreciate that audio is encoded at a respectable bitrate, which isn’t always the case.ServicePleasant and efficient, with call bells answered quickly and water offered regularly. However, the command that window shades be closed immediately after take-off deprives the cabin of natural light on this daytime flight. Announcements are frequent; crew flog everything from business class upgrades and extra legroom through to duty-free specials. Could we have a little peace and quiet? We’re not at the Temple Street Night Market just yet.FoodChicken with rice for lunch (and chicken with noodles for dinner).Chris ChamberlinLunch offers stir-fried rice with chicken or beef and potatoes, with a prawn and potato salad and a cold bread roll with butter plus a passionfruit slice to finish. A few splashes of Pepsi Zero (Hong Kong’s version of Pepsi Max) make it into my tiny ice-filled cup. Wine and spirits are unavailable and there’s just one beer: Tsingtao, thankfully served as a full can. Dinner is chicken noodles with another cold roll (warmed would have been nice), plus a Tim Tam and fruit salad. If I’d known the dinner menu earlier, I’d have dined differently at lunch.SustainabilityHong Kong Airlines donates surplus blankets to animal shelters and leftover unopened beverages to food banks. The airline is also a signatory to Hong Kong International Airport’s 2050 target for net zero carbon emissions.*One more thingFree access: the airline’s Club Autus lounge in Hong Kong.Hong Kong Airlines offers connecting flights to points across mainland China, broader Asia and to Vancouver. Until the end of the year, economy passengers transiting to or from Australia with a connection of 5 to 24 hours receive free access to the airline’s Club Autus lounge in Hong Kong.The priceFrom $1023 return from Melbourne to Hong Kong in “Value” economy class.**The verdictA great-value alternative to Qantas and Cathay Pacific if you don’t mind playing seat roulette to avoid the extra charges.Our rating out of five★★★½The writer travelled as a guest of Hong Kong Airlines. See hongkongairlines.com*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.More:Airline reviewsFor subscribersAir travelHong KongMelbourne-based journalist and columnist Chris Chamberlin enjoys maximising his points to travel the world in comfort and, as a points coach, helping others to do the same. From showering on a plane to stretching out in a double bed in the sky, Chris knows all the tips for flying in style without breaking the bank. His adventures have taken him on almost 1000 flights aboard more than 80 airlines, earning lifetime frequent flyer status along the way. Follow him on Instagram @chris_chamberlin.Connect via email.From our partners