- Air France vs. British Airways A380: Introduction
- Review: OneWorld First Class Lounge Los Angeles
- Review: OneWorld Business Class Lounge Los Angeles
- Review: New Tom Bradley International Terminal Los Angeles Airport
- Review: Air France A380 First Class Los Angeles to Paris
- Review: Air France First Class Lounge Paris
- Review: Air France Business Class Paris to Frankfurt
- Review: Hilton Frankfurt
- Review: Frankfurt Christmas Markets
- Review: Japan Airlines Sakura Lounge Frankfurt
- Review: British Airways Club Europe Frankfurt to London Heathrow
- Review: British Airways Concorde Room London Heathrow
- Review: British Airways A380 First Class London Heathrow to Los Angeles
- Review: SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
- Review: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort
I took a 7AM Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to Los Angeles, which would get me into Los Angeles before 10AM, nearly six hours before my flight to Paris. I figured that was the best option since I wanted to be sure I didn’t miss my connection, and since any later flight would’ve meant I’d be stuck in rush hour on the way to the airport.
Upon landing in Los Angeles I spent about an hour in the Alaska Airlines Board Room, and at 11AM I headed over to Tom Bradley International Terminal. A local friend was kind enough to come and hang out with me in the terminal for a couple of hours. Bradley Terminal was recently redone, though I was a bit surprised to see that all the landside dining options have closed – bizarre. Literally the only place to even get a coffee was at this sandwich place by baggage claim, which charged $6 for a cappuccino.
Tom Bradley International Terminal
Tom Bradley International Terminal
Tom Bradley International Terminal
We hung out for a couple of hours, and at around 1PM I headed to Air France check-in, in anticipation of my 3:45PM flight to Paris.
Air France has La Premiere (first class) check-in roped off, so when you walk up to the agent working the line and let them know you’re in first class they check your name off a list and then open a rope for you.
There was no wait at all, and my check-in was processed in less than 60 seconds by a very friendly agent. At that point I was introduced to an escort that would bring me to the lounge.
Tom Bradley International Terminal Air France La Premiere check-in
Tom Bradley International Terminal Air France La Premiere check-in
In the past I’ve been told that airlines don’t have the option of helping passengers “cut the queue” at Bradley Terminal, though this escort not only brought me to the very front of the security line so that I was right at the belt, but then shuffled us over to the crew line so we could get through even faster.
The ~25 person Singapore Airlines A380 crew was using the crew line, though the agent authoritatively put two bins right in front of them and urged me to go through right away. The looks on the faces of the Singapore flight attendants was hilarious, as I think they were kind of surprised by how authoritative she was as well. I went from being at check-in to airside at Bradley Terminal in a couple of minutes, which is a new record for me.
Tom Bradley International Terminal lounge signage
The escort informed me I’d be using the OneWorld first class lounge. While SkyTeam has their own lounge, it doesn’t have a first class section, so Air France uses the OneWorld lounge for their first class passengers. I was escorted right into the lounge, and was informed that I’d be picked up when the flight was ready for boarding. Of course, if I hadn’t been in first class, there are a number of options available in LAX for anyone with a credit card with lounge access.
I was absolutely blown away by the ground service. I’ve flown first class out of Bradley Terminal many times, but never have I been able to cut the queue.
OneWorld Lounge LAX elevator
OneWorld Lounge LAX entrance
OneWorld Lounge LAX British Airways entrance
OneWorld Lounge LAX entrance
Anyway, on to the OneWorld first class lounge. It was basically one long room with tons of seating. Typically my biggest frustration with “shared” lounges is that they’re chronically overcrowded.
While this lounge wasn’t all that impressive, I loved how quiet it was. For the first hour I was in the lounge I was the only guest, and after that there were only two other passengers. I should clarify that while I was the only “guest” in the lounge for the first hour, there was some maintenance guy fixing something in the roof, and he spent the better part of an hour yelling at the top of his lungs to whoever was in the “hole.”
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX…?
The lounge had lots of seating, with plenty of comfortable lounge chairs, bar stools, etc.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX seating
There was also a small business center with several computers.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX seating
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX seating
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX bar
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX bar
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX bar
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX seating
The OneWorld first class lounge had a buffet, which was extremely lackluster. That’s totally fine by me since I was awaiting the feast aboard, but I found it interesting that the spread was actually less impressive than in the business class lounge, which I’ll cover in the next installment.
The spread consisted of some cold options, including fruit, veggies, hummus, finger sandwiches, and salad. There were only two hot dishes, which were roasted garlic tomato soup and Mediterranean mixed vegetables with rice.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX coffee machine
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX cookies
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX buffet spread
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX buffet spread
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX buffet spread
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX buffet spread
There was also an open bar, consisting of wine and spirits.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX alcohol
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX wine
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX booze
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX champagne
Then there was a fridge with beer and soft drinks.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX soft drinks
Since I hadn’t eaten all day I had some soup and champers to kick off the journey.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX snack
At the very end of the lounge were the restrooms, and also the hallway to the business class lounge, where the showers are located.
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX restrooms
OneWorld First Class Lounge LAX restrooms
I found it a bit odd that the Wi-Fi password for the OneWorld lounge was “Paris.” It’s weird enough to begin with that Air France uses the OneWorld lounge, but even stranger that the Wi-Fi password is the name of a city only served direct by Air France, as opposed to a city served direct by OneWorld.
The Wi-Fi speed was okay. I never get why lounges can’t have legitimate high speed Wi-Fi, but at least it wasn’t unusable.
Anyway, while I love extravagant first class lounges like the Emirates A380 First Class Lounge in Dubai, Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa in Bangkok, the single most important thing for me in a lounge is that it’s a quiet place to work. And the OneWorld first class lounge fit that bill, since I was basically the only person there. I’ve heard the new Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles Airport is even nicer, so I hope to check that out soon.
That sign about the a380 / how the future has arrived hasn't aged well.
Both the new and the old KAL lounge at LAX had a first class section, so no clue why you said it didn't in your article....
This lounge is now closed. We've just turned up to be told the new lounge won't open till Dec 2014/Jan 2015
So it's the one world business lounge for everyone till then. It's nice and new, the barman was really helpful and made me a strong Bloody Mary :)
The food is a bit lacklustre though. 6 Bain Maries with no identifiers. One looks like a stew or curry, some rice, some pasta...
So far, so OK
Paris is the WiFi password? That means that the wifi security is either non-existent (you have to enter the password on a web page to access the internet) or WEP. Tsk.
When I find wifi access with no or WEP security, I'll use my own hotspot, thankyouverymuch...
The comment about maintenance was uncalled for. I'm sure he was there to fix whatever necessary so spoiled brats like you wouldn't complain because your toes weren't warm enough or something. Have a little class. Just because you get comped to sit in first class doesn't mean you exude any. Don't choke on your paté.
@ Ken -- Thanks, they should all be fixed now. The joys of copying and pasting. :D
@ Lucky The link to this page is still broken on two of the other pages in this series.
@ Peter -- Whoops, thanks, fixed!
PS--The second link above in the header seems to be broken.
@ Peter -- Hah, for what it's worth the "Paris" password was plastered all over the lounge, including for the British Airways passengers that later showed up.
The champagne was fairly good for a US first class lounge, in my opinion.
As they say, "timing is everything"!
My Cathay flight in November apparently was one of a number of International flights leaving LAX between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., and the lounge was packed.
I was disappointed in the food offerings and even more so by the wifi speed.
Wow--that was an early start to your day for a mid-aft departure.
How do you rate the lounge champagne? Nothing like what was to come later in the trip, I suppose?
Maybe "paris" is the code only for Air France users so the club can track which airlines' guests are using the wi fi. Or maybe I'm over thinking it. ;-)
I've flown Lufthansa First Class back to MUC this summer. The agent there also escorted me to the front of the security line at LAX.
I thought this lounge was newly renovated! Seems like the same layout and food offerings as well. I reviewed this exact same lounge back in April - http://first2board.com/pointssummary/2013/04/25/tom-bradley-international-terminal-lax-oneworld-alliance-lounge/
@Alex, Qantas will open the business class lounge first at the new TBIT side and close the old first/business class lounge section. Then the old first/business class will turn into the brand new first class lounge. At the end, the One World lounge will be biggest lounge at TBIT.
I was under the impression that this lounge was fairly new? Guess that explains it all!
So I'm confused as to whether there will be then multiple one world lounge at TBT? If this lounge is new, and run by Qantas (cutlery, plates etc)? Will then Qantas opens it's new one and run those parallel? Decor isn't very qantas
@TomOFCT
All nonstop flights are direct flights as well. I'd venture a guess that none of the oneworld airlines have "direct" Paris service, in which case his statement is correct.
@ Larry -- The business class lounge, which I'll review in the next installment, does have very similar decor.
Paris is "nonstop," not direct, mate.
Thanks for the close up of the wine and spirits! I'll be checking it out in February, looks like the booze offerings will be better on the plane (CX). But the hard stuff was serviceable if one was dying for a drink. Looks like AA Admiral's Club offerings, but free.
That lounge looks identical to the lounge that as recently as a couple of months ago you use when flying Iberia in J. In fact, I'm sure it's the same. Do they now just call the old OW business lounge a first class lounge and move business passengers elsewhere?
Looks very similar to the Star Alliance lounge at LAX, but the Star Alliance lounge has a bar at the end of the lounge with a bartender serving good beers out of taps and also pouring wine and champagne for you. The food selection also seems to be much better on the Star Alliance Lounge.
If you fly to JFK or London on AA in first class, they will escort you to the front of the security line at LAX.
@ Shannon -- What route, and coach or first class?
Can you let us know what does Alaska domestic flight service and seat look like?
LAX's OneWorld lounges are both long overdue for a make-over - new business class and first class lounges will open next year, operated by Qantas.
The 'Qantas Los Angeles Business Lounge' is due to open in April 2014, with the 'Qantas Los Angeles First Lounge' following by year's end.
Pics & deets at http://www.ausbt.com.au/first-photos-qantas-reveals-new-hong-kong-los-angeles-lounges