Sometimes I go a step further and use both then and else like this:
<div *ngIf="status === 'loading'; then loadingBlock; else contentBlock"></div>
<ng-template #loadingBlock>
<p>Loading...</p>
</ng-template>
<ng-template #contentBlock>
<p>Data is here!</p>
</ng-template>
It’s handy when you have more than a simple true/false situation. You get more control over what appears and when.