Review: Korean Air Lounge Los Angeles Airport

Nice Lounge, Is Air France First Class using the first class portion of this lounge as well? Is this lounge also going to replace the sky team lounge?

Ben,

I have been wondering, what is your policy on eating at airport lounges in terms of food safety concerns? The reason I ask, is that I used to love to try all the things on offer, until once I got REAL SICK just before a 15 hour flight (was a nightmare, an absolute nightmare), and I think it was from lounge food. Maybe it was eggs or sushi, I don't really know and of course I can't be positive it was even from the lounge...

So, this is a minor curiosity, but the photo of the departures board shows the time as 6:34pm, but I thought the lounge didn't open until 7pm. Is the time on the board wrong or were you actually able to sneak this beforehand somehow?

Is it possible that Champagne is served on request as does BA?

Lucky,

Is it normally that Sky team lounges never have a lot of ppl?
freaking *alliance always are packed. Wow way better food options too.

really nice, thank you fro the review

Does this lounge open at 7pm everyday?? because on the day that has KE61 LAX-GRU which leaves at 7pm-ish, I think they may open the lounge for that flight...

Does Oneworld open a new lounge too?? I mean newer than the one you visited in December.

Looks sterile and lacking character, maybe because it's not yet finished? The new Star Alliance Lounge at TBIT looks much more inviting and has both indoor and outdoor balconies.

@concorde02, yes One World will open its new lounge later this year when the expand their current lounge into old Skyteam lounge. Qantas is the operating carrier so expect the design and food offering similar to the Qantas lounge. The business class section will open first and first class section will open later, properly early next year.

Disappointing that the catering hasn't been improved with the new lounge.

@Lucky did you notice if there is a business centre (ie computers)?

@ Tim -- Yes, the previous SkyTeam Lounge is already closed. Great question about whether Air France uses this lounge now. I would suspect they do, but am not positive. That would explain why they (probably) temporarily used the OneWorld First Class Lounge.

@ blueline7 -- Interesting question, not something I ever put much thought into. I try to be "careful" with what I eat at airports and on planes as well, though (knock on wood) I've never gotten sick at an airport or on a plane. I generally shy away from eating perishable foods in lounges if it looks like they've been sitting around for a long time, but otherwise don't give it much thought.

@ Andrew -- Hmm, that's odd. Definitely wasn't 6:34PM, so maybe it was off by an hour?

@ colleen -- I asked and they said they didn't have any.

@ jonathan -- Well the business class section filled up, but in general SkyTeam doesn't make first class award seats very accessible, so I do find they're usually not very crowded.

@ concorde02 -- Sorry, not sure what time they open lounges other days.

I don't believe OneWorld has a newer lounge than the one I visited, though I'm sure they'll open one eventually.

@ Cameron -- Agree the Star Alliance lounge does look a bit nicer. The lounge is sterile, though at the same time I found it spacious, which I don't often find to be the case.

@ The Global Traveller -- If there was one I didn't see it.

A great report an wonderful pix, Ben. Thanks. Neither side of that lounge sings to me, both facilities and offerings. I've been the BC side in person and find your comments accurate to a 't.' IMO, t he decor and furniture just suck - that's personal opinion and no more, as I'm sure that it is properly functional. When I was there, the WiFi was down and even the cold food was sparse.
And yes, the wonderful Korean people just love to apologize - even for breathing! Perhaps they operate a substandard lounge just to enable more apologies! In my experience, old and recent, their on-board service and food are far better than are their lounges. They are a very different airline...

What about the four first class lounge suites? We just arrived and were directed to a private suite with seating for 7 and private TV. Very nice and quiet.

@ Nicesharky -- Didn't know they had those!

Interesting to note – in First, they have Nong Shim Shin Raymun BLACK ramen... which is the premium line of the regular Shin Raymun ramen they apparently have in business. Another touchpoint for differentiation I suppose...

I read on FlyerTalk that TN also uses this lounge?!?. Ben, do you know if this is correct or not?

@ Jason Perkins -- Don't have any firsthand experience with this, but based on the signage it seems they use the Los Angeles International Lounge (the non-alliance lounge):

Greetings from the lounge. Penne seems to be the hot dish of the day. Champagne is still absent. Also, for what it's worth, First gets $11 a bottle Chardonnay while Business gets an $8 option. I suppose that's service differentiation?

Oh well, it gives me good reason to save my thirst for far superior champers on the flight to GRU. 🙂

@ Travis -- Hah, sounds like not a lot has changed. Enjoy your flight!

Citi Prestige gives you Priority Pass Select membership. So say I were flying British Airways in economy and the only lounge is the KAL at Tom Bradley international at LAX. Do I get access to the first class or business class area? Thanks.

@ Scott -- You get access to the business class section, which is the Priority Pass lounge.

Why are the business class and even first class lounge food so pitiful. It's embarrassing. Is that a us thing, poor quality, skimpy, cheap snacks for premium prices!?

Hey Lucky – "8 Bottle of Dom" guy here (macabus on Flyertalk) ...

I was in this lounge last month and totally agree with you about the lack of Champagne.

Actually, I was in the Qantas F lounge before my CX flight to HKG in F. I saw this KA lounge across the way and just had to check it out.

The balcony is awesome, but the lounge looks pretty beat-up in the past year or so.

Plus, the food and beverage selection has degraded since you were there.

I happily scrambled back to the Qantas F lounge and had an incredible dinner with Champagne!

I'm in this lounge right now, 2 YEARS after you wrote this review, I was laughing reading this review when in here. The bowl of salsa, the chips exactly the same place, and all of the other food items are exactly the same and also in the same place, all an exact match.

Talk about lack of imagination when making any menu changes or updates.

Penne pasta in first class is fairly underwhelming. Sandwiches don't seem all too fresh, even at 9am. I actually prefer the business class side because they have lockers, and their balcony has power outlets. My big beef is that, while taking a shower, staff kept knocking on the door because they wanted to clean it, while I was trying to get dressed. They knocked 5 times, even after the 3rd time I was starting to get quite rude, yelling through the door that I wasn't dressed and they just had to wait. Pretty supprising lack of etiquette for Korean air who is usually ultra polite

Typing this from the same lounge, and the funny thing is - this review is as accurate today - as it was over 2 years ago - same food, same wine, same liquor selection.

I will say this though, for anyone flying on American who does not have Admirals club access, but has a Priority Pass, it is your best option, about 5-10 mins walk from Terminal 4 and complimentary food/drink - the KAL lounge wifi isn't working - but the Boingo Wifi - which I have thanks to Amex Platinum is excellent.

Dave-the lounge has not changed-it's pathetic as ever-nothing changed-. Seriously, stale corn chips and salsa-- "business" class lounge-cheapo. Air Korea

3rd time flying and tried to get in. This lounge never opens in the morning

looks pretty bad--food wise, sterile no privacy chair set ups. Bad design, bad/low quality food for premium classes. Cheap.

looks pretty bad--food wise, sterile no privacy chair set ups. Bad design, bad/low quality food for premium classes. Pretzels--seriously? Cheap.

I was there in October.

There was one sandwich left on the tray (it was constantly being refreshed, the staff were very good at that ) so I grabbed it. Out of nowhere, I get scolded for not using the tongs to pick up the sandwich.

Repeat: it was the only one left before the tray gets taken away.

Apart from that "memorable"moment, I did like the balcony area, the help-yourself wine and spirits. Was only in there a short time. It did look a bit sterile, however is something refreshing compared to others. I have never flown on Korean, from memory of images it might match their cabins?

Very embarrassing lounge for "business" class customers. Seriously, was this a US thing? Poor quality poor, brash "service", and uncomfortable seating that appears in poor repair/very used/old. It likely b/c it's a special credit card/debt card service fee gimmick for folks who pay for entry rather than premium class customers.