In March 2025, Korean Air revealed a major rebranding, which follows the merger between Korean Air and Asiana being finalized. What’s exciting is that changes at the airline go way beyond just branding, as the airline is also investing in the passenger experience, like launching a new first class product, and adding premium economy.
Korean Air is also hugely investing in its premium ground experience at Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), which includes renovating existing lounges, while also increasing capacity. The first of these refreshed lounges is opening, so let’s cover all the details.
In this post:
Korean Air is improving & expanding its lounge network
I’d argue that as it stands, Korean Air has among the worst (if not the worst) lounges of any major airline that’s well regarded. In particular, the lounges are sterile and have lackluster food and drinks. That’s true whether you’re at the carrier’s Incheon Terminal 2 hub, or at one of the outstation lounges. Just check out my reviews of the Prestige Lounge Incheon and First Lounge Incheon.
Fortunately that will be changing. For one, Korean Air will be introducing a completely new lounge aesthetic. Lounges will go from looking like hospital waiting rooms (which is how I’d describe the current aesthetic), to looking more in line with what you’d expect. The concept is described as being inspired by hotel lobbies, with distinct zones for dining, relaxation, meetings, and wellness.
Korean Air claims that interiors blend sophisticated Korean design with modern luxury, including a color palette of gold, charcoal, black, and ivory, mirroring the Korean Air premium cabin aesthetic. Then there are traditional Korean architectural elements, including Hanok inspired structures. The lounges will also feature wood and marble, as well as warm ambient lighting.
Korean Air will also upgrade its lounge food and beverage offerings. Currently the airline’s food and drinks are lackluster, with instant noodles being among the more exciting options available. Going forward, lounges will have live cooking stations, in partnership with the Grand Hyatt Incheon, with everything from popular Korean dishes, to international food. Furthermore, lounges will have a bakery and patisserie, with fresh croissants, pizza, and desserts.
Then there will also be a significant increase in capacity. Korean Air’s total lounge capacity at Incheon will nearly double, from 898 passengers to 1,566 passengers. Furthermore, total lounge space will more than double, from 5,105 square meters (55,000 square feet) to 12,270 square meters (132,000 square feet).
The lounge renewal is part of the airline’s broader infrastructure investment ahead of full integration with Asiana Airlines, ensuring sufficient capacity and premium service for the combined passenger base. With what timeline can we expect all of these new lounges?
- On August 18, 2025, we’ll see the opening of the new Korean Air Prestige East Lounge, which is the first fully redesigned lounge (and it’s what’s pictured above)
- In addition, two new Korean Air Prestige Garden Lounges have opened at the far ends of the terminal, following the airport’s recent expansion
- Now we’re going to see the remaining lounges close, and the expectation is that in 2026, we’ll see the reopening of the updated Korean Air First Lounge, Korean Air Prestige East (Left) Lounge, and Korean Air Prestige West Lounge
- Outstation lounges are also being renovated, with the expectation being that the Los Angeles lounge will reopen in early 2026, while the newly built New York Terminal 1 lounge will open in mid-2026
I’m delighted to see Korean Air investing in its product
I’ve taken a couple of trips on Korean Air lately, and have published several reviews of both flights and lounges. I’ve called the airline second rate among its Asian peers, and have pointed out how little effort the airline seemingly puts into its premium passenger experience.
Some people think I was being harsh, and they’re of course entitled to feel that way, but I have nothing against the airline. The contrast between Korean Air and some of its rivals is just huge. And it’s not just in one area, but it’s across so many aspects of the experience.
With that in mind, I’m so happy to see that Korean Air seems serious about improving its passenger experience. There’s nothing that would delight me more than to fly with Korean Air in a year or two, and to give the airline a positive review based on improvements that have been made. There are few things I like more than a comeback story.
Heck, I think I’m vindicated, because Korean Air’s own executives have acknowledging that the airline is “behind,” and it’s something they “need to work on.” In recent months we’ve heard quite a bit from David Pacey, the carrier’s EVP of Inflight Services and Lounges, and I love what I’m hearing and reading.
He’s remarkably candid in assessing the current state of Korean Air’s product, and that makes me confident that he’ll lead the carrier’s passenger experience in the right direction. Of course that assumes he doesn’t get too much pushback from the CEO, and that the company is actually willing to make the necessary investments.
It’s interesting to me that he has a background in hospitality rather than in aviation. He has spent decades working in the hotel industry in Asia, and I think that’s a really valuable and fresh perspective to have, if you’re trying to make radical changes.
Bottom line
Korean Air is currently investing massively in its passenger experience, and there’s nowhere that’s more necessary than with lounges. The airline is completely overhauling its lounge network, including expanding lounge capacity at Incheon, and also renovating all facilities.
The first of these updated lounges is opening in the coming days, and in 2026, we should see all the remaining lounges open with a completely new design. We’re seeing updates not only to lounge aesthetics, but also to the soft product, including food and drinks. It’s impressive to think the airline will be roughly doubling its lounge capacity at Incheon.
I’ve been critical of Korean Air because the airline just hasn’t been trying (at least by international standards), so it’s good to see that being addressed.
What do you make of Korean Air’s lounge changes?
I’m confused, which lounge is already refreshed and which are now closing?
Unless I’m missing one, previously there was the East Prestige, West Prestige, First, and then Miler Club adjacent to First.
Korean is not a “well regarded” airline.
I would disagree with that because I think that they're generally perceived as a serious, reliable airline and there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with them.
However, Ben's clarified that the term is being used in this post to mean 'outstanding' as opposed to 'not much wrong with them'- and I think that, despite the Skytrax rating and ambitious marketing, few passengers would consider them to be amazingly good.
Whoever is giving direction for the aesthetics all across the board seems to be stuck in the blandest version of 2006. While the lounge furniture is beautiful, the rest is... already outdated. The semi-opaque panels are the only bit of personality in the whole room and even then they're a little tacky. Same criticism (blandest lack of taste) applies to the new onboard tableware they announced a little while back. Even the new plane interiors...
Whoever is giving direction for the aesthetics all across the board seems to be stuck in the blandest version of 2006. While the lounge furniture is beautiful, the rest is... already outdated. The semi-opaque panels are the only bit of personality in the whole room and even then they're a little tacky. Same criticism (blandest lack of taste) applies to the new onboard tableware they announced a little while back. Even the new plane interiors are bland, but at least they're modern and not in your face bright like the old interiors.
Korean Air are also expected to renovate their JFK/LAX lounges too. I must say once that's done, LAX will have some very high quality SkyTeam lounges, if not the best in the entire US.
The AF/KLM lounge, VS Clubhouse, Delta SkyClub, Delta One Lounge are all really great, and soon to be a new Korean Air lounge as well. It could be fun to do a lounge hopping stint on my next LAX international trip.
KE’s outstation lounges were outright terrible. LAX and JFK were a disaster, NRT and KIX had nothing to offer. I’m glad that they are starting to renovate outstation lounges as well. The best lounge they’ve got - the one at their home base was also subpar. I’ve noticed that they’ve added some variety for the hot food section but that was almost it. I’m cautiously looking forward to their upgrades…
Just a random data point:
I recently flew Korean Air first class from IAD to ICN with the updated menu, and one of the mid-flight snack offerings was a lobster roll. I was incredulous about an airplane lobster roll halfway through a 15-hour flight, but it was actually one of the best lobster rolls I've ever eaten in my life, and this includes all the ones I've eaten while vacationing in Boston and Maine.
It is hard to imagine how KE considered the now current level of lounges acceptable given that the competitive lounge situation has put KE at a disadvantage for years.
There is no doubt that KE was happy to allow DL to show passenger acceptance of Delta's new Delta One lounges - on top of better scores even for Delta's standard Sky Clubs.
The bigger part of all of this is that KE and ICN is...
It is hard to imagine how KE considered the now current level of lounges acceptable given that the competitive lounge situation has put KE at a disadvantage for years.
There is no doubt that KE was happy to allow DL to show passenger acceptance of Delta's new Delta One lounges - on top of better scores even for Delta's standard Sky Clubs.
The bigger part of all of this is that KE and ICN is massively in transition. Asiana's flights are supposed to move over to KE's terminal at ICN which also means that OZ' effective use in Star ends - and OZ loses its own amenities.
The OZ brand will end soon and w/ it, DL will add the additional KE/OZ capacity to the DL-KE JV - which, in itself will require DL to add significantly more longhaul capacity - part of why the arrival of the A350-1000s is so important and also why DL is reportedly going to take them on a very accelerated basis - 20 airplanes in a little over 2 years.
the DL/KE JV is well on its way to becoming the largest across the Pacific and still has significant capacity to grow thanks to continued growth of KE and DL's hubs esp. on the west coast.
Getting the product and network right and significantly better than the competition will rearrange the TPAC airline industry for years.
KE is doing its part.
After checking several reviews, it seems that there have definitely been improvements. However, the problem is that this lounge is not for business passengers. Reviews of general business lounges have not yet been released.
It is a temporary lounge for first-class passengers and top-tier members who have achieved 1 million miles. Considering this, it is still lacking.
This lounge is only available temporarily to first-class passengers and Korean Air's top-tier members when they fly business class. Considering all these factors, it seems a little lacking.
So how do you like the design and finishes of the lounges and how do they compare with Cathay Pacific's and Delta's design and finishes?
I don't get why their cabins have to be so lackluster compared to their new lounges.
And speaking of cabins, bust just an FYI, they have released the LOPA of their 3 class 77W with their new product.
@ Mike O. -- To me it looks like a *massive* improvement, though it's nothing that's overly impressive or that hasn't been done before. I still think it's a step below Cathay Pacific's current design aesthetic. What do you think?
Do you have a link to the new 77W LOPA?
While I prefer Cathay Pacific's design, this is okay I guess?! They use a lot of dark tones such as gray and black. I guess it looks more like a hotel? I guess it works as their lounges get a lot of natural light whereas in Cathay Pacific's case, a lot of their lounges such as The Pier and other lounges thought their network don't get a lot of natural light. (Their new Beijing lounge...
While I prefer Cathay Pacific's design, this is okay I guess?! They use a lot of dark tones such as gray and black. I guess it looks more like a hotel? I guess it works as their lounges get a lot of natural light whereas in Cathay Pacific's case, a lot of their lounges such as The Pier and other lounges thought their network don't get a lot of natural light. (Their new Beijing lounge just reopened btw!)
Here's the link to their new configuration:
https://www.koreanair.com/contents/plan-your-travel/in-flight-experience/fleet/b777/300er-328/prestige
What's notable is 33" of pitch has been retained so that's a good trade-off to a 3-4-3 configuration.
'I’d argue that as it stands, Korean Air has among the worst (if not the worst) lounges of any major airline that’s well regarded'.
How do you define 'major airline' and 'well-regarded'? Do e.g. COPA, Vietnam Airlines, or Kenya Airways meet one or both of those criteria? China Southern certainly are a major carrier, are they 'well-regarded' [by whom?]? [For the record, I am more than happy to fly any of those carriers and I...
'I’d argue that as it stands, Korean Air has among the worst (if not the worst) lounges of any major airline that’s well regarded'.
How do you define 'major airline' and 'well-regarded'? Do e.g. COPA, Vietnam Airlines, or Kenya Airways meet one or both of those criteria? China Southern certainly are a major carrier, are they 'well-regarded' [by whom?]? [For the record, I am more than happy to fly any of those carriers and I don't think that the VN and KQ lounges are any worse than what Korean has to offer]
I think you're tying yourself in knots with that comparison. It's not like KE lounges never have any food available other than noodles (well, the GMP domestic one may not even have noodles, just crackers and biscuits), limit people to one glass of undrinkable house wine, suffer from rat infestations and employ rude staff.
The simplest way of putting it is that the current lounges are outdated and uninspiring. They do offer adequate facilities, but at the same time they don't come anywhere near the top offerings in the industry.
@ Throwawayname -- For these purposes, I wouldn't define any of those airlines as well regarded, no. My point is that Korean Air has marketed itself as one of the world's top airlines, and has a Skytrax five star rating, not that I put much value into that.
My point is that the carrier's lounges pale in comparison to other (theoretically) first tier airlines, like Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, etc.
Ah yes, I agree that they're nowhere near the Qatars and Singapores of this world.
Of course I meant the opposite re VN and KQ: I don't think their lounges are any BETTER than the KE ones.
Leta hope the execution lives up to the planning, because these do seem like good improvements.