My flight to Fiji was at 11:30PM, though I decided to get to LAX very early, since I knew the lounge would fill up closer to departure, so it would be easier to take pictures earlier in the evening.
Fiji Airways departs out of Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, with their check-in counters being in the “B” area, which is towards the center of the terminal. There was no one in line at the business class counter, though it still took over 10 minutes until the associate was done helping the people in front of me.
Fiji Airways check-in counter LAX
Once it was my turn, my boarding pass was printed in less than a minute, and a cabin baggage tag was placed on my carry-on. I headed towards security, which is rarely a pleasant experience in the evenings at Tom Bradley International Terminal. It’s not just the volume of people, but also that they’re mostly foreigners who aren’t familiar with TSA regulations, so the whole process takes even longer than it usually does.
Within about 20 minutes I was through security, and headed to the Los Angeles International Lounge, which is the contract lounge that Fiji Airways uses in Los Angeles. While I knew this would be the least nice lounge in the terminal, I was excited to visit it since it’s the only lounge in the terminal I’ve yet to visit.
The other lounges in the terminal include some of the best airport lounges in the US: the Korean Air Lounge, Star Alliance First Class Lounge, Star Alliance Business Class Lounge, oneworld Business Class Lounge, Qantas First Class Lounge, Emirates Lounge, and Etihad Lounge.
Once through security I walked down the hallway and then turned left.
Tom Bradley International Terminal LAX
At the end of the hallway I took the elevator up to level six, where this lounge was located (all the lounges in the terminal are on either level five or six).
Tom Bradley International Terminal LAX
Elevator to lounges at Tom Bradley International Terminal LAX
When you exit the elevator on the sixth floor, you’ll find the Emirates Lounge to the right and the Los Angeles International Lounge to the left, with the Etihad Lounge and Star Alliance Lounge further down the hall.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX exterior
I think the Los Angeles International Lounge would be hard pressed to come up with a more sterile exterior (or unoriginal name, for that matter).
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX exterior
This contract lounge is available to passengers departing in business or first class on El Al, Air Tahiti Nui, Fiji Airways, and Philippine Airlines, as well as premium economy passengers on Japan Airlines (which should probably give you a sense of the quality of the lounge). This lounge doesn’t belong to Priority Pass or any other lounge membership programs.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX eligible airlines
The lounge is still fairly new (given that the terminal as such is only a couple of years old), and at the reception desk I was welcomed by the associate and invited in after presenting my boarding pass.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX reception desk
It’s interesting how the lounge has branding from all the airlines that use it, much more so than contract lounges usually do.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX reception desk
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX signage
The lounge was still fairly empty when I arrived, and had a few unique zones. Inside the entrance and to the right was the biggest room, with a good amount of seating.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
There were long benches along the walls, along with about a dozen additional seats in the lounge. While I realize the efficiency of using benches, they’re rarely comfortable to sit on, so it seemed like the lounge was designed to maximize capacity without much consideration for comfort.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Then on the other side of the partition was a room with a more traditional lounge layout, with about a dozen red chairs, arranged in sets of four with tables in the middle.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Then along the far wall was a counter with chairs, which seemed to be intended as a small business center of sorts.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX seating
Past that was the buffet (which I’ll talk more about in a bit), which connected the two sides of the lounge.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX buffet area
Just past the buffet was the entrance to the balcony area, a concept which I love, given how beautiful TBIT is, and the amazing people watching in the terminal. However, I do wish they had power outlets on the balcony.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX balcony
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX view
In the back of the lounge was a dining and TV room, which boasted several tables with two to four seats each.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX dining area
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX dining area
Next to the dining & TV room were the bathrooms. Unfortunately this lounge doesn’t have showers, though I do like that all the bathrooms are individual rooms, so it’s not a shared facility.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX bathrooms
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX bathrooms
Now let’s talk briefly about the food & drink spread. The whole setup felt sort of like a Sheraton club lounge, and not necessarily one of the nicer ones.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX buffet
To drink, there was a Coca-Cola soda fountain, Starbucks coffee machine, tea with hot water, wine, a surprisingly extensive selection of liquor, and a fridge with bottled water and soft drinks.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX Coca-Cola soda fountain
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX Starbucks coffee machine
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX hot water & tea
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX wine selection
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX liquor selection
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX drinks & snacks
In terms of food, there were all kinds of packaged snacks (chips, pretzels, granola bars, etc.), sushi, instant noodles, cereal, muffins, croissants, pastries, and sandwiches.
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX snack selection
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX sushi
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX snacks
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX snacks
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX snacks
Los Angeles International Lounge LAX sandwiches
The Wi-Fi in the lounge was slow and unreliable, though fortunately LAX as such has a decent network you can connect to, so that’s not really an issue.
I only spent a bit of time in the lounge, and then had dinner with Tiffany and her husband before the flight, since they had just flown into LAX.
My flight was scheduled to board from gate 138 at 10:30PM. It wasn’t until I started to walk towards the gate that I realized we were leaving from a remote stand. I had completely forgotten that TBIT still uses remote stands, which feel like a bit of a throwback.
I started walking towards the far end of the concourse, and then saw the signage towards gates 122-123 and 135-146.
Walking to Fiji Airways departure gate Tom Bradley International Terminal
It was a haul and there were several turns even after we exited the main part of the terminal.
Walking to Fiji Airways departure gate Tom Bradley International Terminal
Walking to Fiji Airways departure gate LAX
Walking to Fiji Airways departure gate LAX
Eventually I found myself in what looked like a Costco and/or Berlin Tegel Airport.
Walking to Fiji Airways departure gate LAX
I took the stairs down to the ground floor, where the actual remote gates are located. I had completely forgotten these existed, even though back in the day before TBIT was renovated, these were the gates used for so many flights. I sure didn’t miss them!
Tom Bradley International Terminal LAX remote gates
Gate 138 was at the far end of the remote area.
Fiji Airways departure gate LAX
Finally at 10:40PM boarding began, starting with passengers in wheelchairs, and then followed by business class. By 10:55PM we found ourselves at the plane, after a rather long ride.
Los Angeles International Lounge bottom line
This lounge is pretty bare bones, and definitely the least impressive at LAX’s gorgeous Tom Bradley International Terminal. The lounge is fine, though it feels rather sterile and the food selection is lacking. Frankly the terminal is so nice that I’d almost rather roam around or sit at a restaurant rather than staying in a lounge like this.
At least now you know what to expect if you’re flying Air Tahiti Nui, El Al, Fiji Airways, or Philippine Airlines…
Membership is free and takes no more information than commenting as a guest. Earn status points for good contributions, and see fewer ads as your status grows.