Flying back from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, I am keen to check out a couple of the contract lounges. The main contract lounge here in TPE will be the Plaza Premium Lounge. There are also some PP restaurants in Terminal 1. I will be flying out of Terminal 2 and shall take the opportunity to check out both the Oriental Club Lounge and the Priority Pass Lounge. These are the two options for PP members with the recent rejoining of the Priority Pass network. I had some time to burn and went about checking the lounges out after clearing immigration and security. They were painless here with the automated gates.

Access Requirements

The Oriental Club Lounge is open daily from 5am to 11pm and available to Priority Pass members. Access is extended for 3 hours. This includes use of the massage chairs and gym equipment. I usually use my unlimited Priority Pass from Citi Prestige or UOB Reserve. You should be able to enter using Lounge Key as well or other contract lounge membership as well.

Arrival & Location

The lounge is located on one level above the main terminal. You can easily find signs for the lounge and you can see it easily after the escalators. It took me less than 10 mins to clear both security and immigration. All of the lounges in the terminal are located here. It is in the same spot as the food court. I was warmly welcomed after presenting my boarding pass and the Priority Pass card.

Oriental Club Lounge Taipei Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2

The lounge is huge and I love the warm vibes of the place. You can find various seating arrangements around the area. The use of partitions makes the place more private. You have long tables for huge groups as well as armchairs. These are pretty comfortable. Power outlets are readily available and near the seats. There is complimentary wifi for lounge guests. The lounge comes with a good view of the surrounding area. Heading into the inner parts of the lounge you can find dining tables that are more suitable for dining. This is near the refreshment area which snakes around the central console. I will share more on this later on. The seats within these cubicles are very private. Surprisingly, the lounge also comes with a small gym or probably just a bike. This is something useful and might come in handy for the right group.

Toilets and Showers

The lounge also has toilets and showers. I did not get a chance to use the showers or check them out since they were in use. The toilets are clean and well-maintained is always nice to have access to a lounge toilet rather than the general terminal ones.

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks are pretty impressive for a contract lounge. The food snakes around the central console area and you can find both hot items and cold stuff. They look pretty good. There is also a station where you can order hot dishes that are prepared upon ordering. You can find the menu here. Nearer to the entrance you can find the drinks station. It consists of some coffee, tea as well as a soda fountain. Do note that the buffet ends at 10.30pm.

Conclusion

The Oriental Club Lounge is very spacious and a lot quieter than the Plaza Premium Lounge. I have no idea why so many passengers prefer that instead! After checking out both of the lounges, this is my preferred one! It is way more spacious and airy. The seats are more comfortable and it feels like a lounge. You even have massage chairs and a small gym which might be attractive to certain groups of travellers. The food and drinks are equally as good or even better than Plaza Premium. This will be my go-to lounge in TPE Terminal 2. I can’t see myself heading back to the Plaza Premium till they reopen the other facilities to cope with the demand. Next up, look forward to my review of the Plaza Premium Lounge for a side-by-side comparison of contract lounges in TPE Terminal 2.