As soon as I reach the second floor of the lounge, I realise that I have visited the lounge before, and that’s correct, in 2018.
My lounge visit to the V36 / No 36 China Eastern Lounge in Terminal 1 during my layover in Shanghai is a bit strange. My flight from Denpasar is delayed by over an hour, and initially, my layover would be too short because of this.
Fortunately, my flight from Shanghai is also delayed, by over an hour and a half, allowing me to spend an hour and a half in the lounge. Enough time to take a shower and have a bite to eat.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Because while I’m walking through the lounge taking photos in the enormous crowd, it is announced that flight 501 of China Eastern to Hong Kong has started boarding. I check the screens to see if I heard that correctly, and indeed, the delay of an hour and a half has suddenly disappeared.
Without showering and without eating, I finish my round for the photos and head to my flight.
SkyTeam Lounge, Shanghai Terminal 1
Due to the unexpectedly short stay, I don’t have time to admire all the facilities, but I did get a good impression of the lounge, the crowd, and the advantage of the second floor.
During my visit to the lounge, it is very busy. There is little space available to sit, especially on the ground floor, and it looks chaotic.
As soon as I enter the lounge, I notice there is an escalator to a second floor. It seems more people have missed this, as there is an oasis of calm there. There is plenty of space available to sit and relax.
What immediately strikes me are the four massage chairs: I realise I have been to this lounge before, and indeed. I visited the lounge in 2018 as well.
The floor features several massage chairs, lounge chairs, and also a space with a conference table and a setup where you can work well.
Access No. 36 China Eastern Lounge Shanghai
Access to the No. 36 China Eastern Lounge in Terminal 1 can be obtained in several ways. The most prominent is if you are a SkyTeam member with status and/or have a business class flight.
- SkyTeam
You gain access to the lounge if you are a Gold or Platinum member of the SkyTeam programme and/or if you have a business class flight with one of the SkyTeam partners. - Qantas
You also gain access if you are a Qantas member with Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status and if you are flying with a QF- or MU- number on a Qantas or China Eastern flight.
Location No. 36 China Eastern Lounge Shanghai
It is not difficult to find the No. 36 China Eastern Lounge in Terminal 1. Once you pass security, follow the signs to V36 and V39. Both lounges are located right next to security on the left side. The blue signs guide you to the escalator that takes you to the first floor.
Food and Drink No 36 China Eastern Lounge Shanghai
Tastes differ, but the food and drink in the lounge don’t appeal to me. It is not surprising that in Shanghai, the food is mostly focused on Chinese cuisine, and I personally do not like that.
You will find small bowls with salad and sandwiches, but they don’t look inviting as they are displayed.
At the buffet, you mainly find rice, noodles, grilled vegetables, and meat (pork). There is also an option to have a fresh dish prepared by the chef.
Drinks can be found throughout the lounge. You will find coolers with soft drinks and bottles of water, coffee machines, tea, and alcoholic beverages in various places.
Working in Shanghai
That is difficult. Internet in China is generally limited, and you need a VPN to be able to use services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and/or OpenAI or other LLMs.
Fortunately, the lounge has its own Wi-Fi network where you do not need passport details or a local (Chinese) number. You can log in with the username and password 123. That’s easy to remember.
Shower & toilet No 36 China Eastern Lounge Shanghai
There are several toilets and showers available in the lounge. I notice that some showers are out of order, and unfortunately, I do not have time to visit the other showers and take photos.
The toilets are neat and well-maintained. Based on the toilets, I expect the showers to be neat as well.
Conclusion No 36 China Eastern Lounge Shanghai
The No 36 China Eastern Lounge in Terminal 1 of Shanghai Airport is a decent lounge. Not outstanding, but also not bad.
Initially, I am shocked by the crowd, and it is difficult to find a nice spot, but upstairs the calm returns, and in this way, you can pleasantly wait for your next flight. Use the massage chair, take a power nap in the lounge chair, and freshen up in one of the showers.
I did not taste the food and drink, and I am not a fan of Chinese cuisine, but I expect the chef in the kitchen can prepare a decent dish for you.
