- Introduction: A First Class Quest To Japan
- The Salon At PS LAX Review: What A Fun & Seamless Airport Experience!
- Starlux Airlines First Class Airbus A350 Review: Strange Hard Product, Stellar Soft Product
- Starlux Airlines First Class Lounge Taipei Airport Review: A Private Space That Falls Flat
- Starlux First Class Review Airbus A350-1000: Short Haul, But Long On Comfort
I kicked off my first class quest to Japan by flying Starlux Airlines’ A350 first class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE). The fun really started before taking off, as Starlux sends its first class passengers to PS LAX, which is essentially a private terminal with attentive service, a la carte dining, and limousine transfers to the plane.
What an absolute treat it was to visit PS LAX, especially when this was included with my ticket (given that it otherwise retails for $1,295+). While I’m not going to suggest this is some incredible deal or that it offers huge time savings, it absolutely is a lovely way to start a trip, and it definitely redefines the airport experience.
In addition to PS LAX, you’ll also find PS ATL, PS DFW, and PS MIA, and the concepts and pricing are similar across the board (though as you’d expect, the design does differ — PS LAX is the original location, so I imagine the newer ones have even better design).
PS LAX pricing & booking process
Let me emphasize that since PS LAX was included with my Starlux first class ticket, my booking process for PS LAX was different than it would be for others, and I also didn’t have to pay extra to use it. So first let’s talk about the general pricing and booking process, and then I’ll share my exact experience.
You can find PS pricing below, with the cost being the same across locations.
In all situations, access is permitted up to three hours before the scheduled flight departure time. If you’re traveling internationally and checking bags, you’re asked to arrive at least two hours in advance, while for domestic itineraries, you’re asked to arrive at least 90 minutes in advance.
What’s the difference between The Salon and Private Suite?
- The Salon is a shared lounge offered by PS, which multiple guests can use at once; so it’s not totally private, but then again, my understanding is that the idea is that this is supposed to be a bit of a social experience (meeting “like minded” people who are also willing to spend $1,295 to elevate their pre-flight experience), so some people appreciate that 😉
- Private Suite is the more private concept for PS, where you get a suite that’s for your exclusive use, and it has a living room, a bathroom with shower, etc.
As you can see, a PS visit will generally cost you $1,295 per person without a membership, but that pricing can drop as low as $895 per person with a membership. There are also some programs that offer some number of complimentary visits. For example, Amex Centurion Card members and even American Concierge Key members sometimes get a free visit allotment with PS.
In general, you need to book PS at least 24 hours in advance, and PS promotes how if you book within 24 hours, there’s a 45% service fee, in the event that guests can be accommodated. Bookings are available directly through the PS website.
In the case of Starlux, first class passengers can book PS LAX by reaching out to the exclusive first class service line at least three days before departure, not including the day of travel.
There’s an online form that can be filled out to make the request, or alternatively, you can just call the service line.
It’s interesting how at most outstations, Starlux either offers chauffeur service or access to a private terminal. As you can see above, Los Angeles is the only US city to have a private terminal experience, but it’s also the only US city to not have chauffeur service.
The Starlux first class service line called me shortly after submitting my request, and they just asked me to confirm how many checked bags I’d have, and how I would be arriving at PS LAX. I then received my confirmation directly from PS within an hour. It was all very impressive service.
PS LAX location & arrivals experience
PS LAX is located at 6875 W Imperial Hwy in Los Angeles, so that’s the address you’ll want to give your driver. The facility is located on the very south side of the field (where you see the red pin below), even south of runways 25L and 25R. It’s located right by the private jet and cargo facilities.
In theory the big convenience is of course that you can skip the main part of the airport. However, since I had landed the same day from Miami, I had to take a rideshare from the airport terminal to PS. The entire arrivals experience feels pretty badass.
There’s a gate as you pull up, where the security guard asked for my details. Upon confirming I had a reservation, he just asked the driver to wait for a moment so that they could “prepare” for my arrival. After about a minute, the gate opened, and we pulled into the driveway.
There I was greeted by two PS employees — one immediately took my checked bag, while the other escorted me straight into The Salon. For those curious, I was checking a bag specifically because of Starlux’s fascinating handling of first class checked bags, whereby they place the bags in a dedicated first class branded crate.
Anyway, I was asked for my passport, and was invited to have a seat in The Salon, where I’d be waiting until it was time to head to the gate for my flight. I was presented with a piece of paper stating that I should be ready by 11:35PM, in anticipation of my 12:35AM departure. For what it’s worth, I arrived at PS LAX at 9:35PM, exactly three hours before departure, which is the earliest you can arrive.
I must say, I find the logistics of all of this to be fascinating. Around 30 minutes after arriving in the lounge, I was presented with my boarding pass on Starlux ticket stock. A Starlux agent somehow also showed up in the lounge, simply to confirm that I had no lithium-ion batteries in my bag.
Given the distance between the terminal and PS, I can’t help but be curious about the logistics. Are the bags and boarding passes shuttled in separate vehicles? How did the Starlux representative get to the lounge?!
The Salon at PS LAX layout & seating
The Salon at PS LAX is a pretty intimate facility — it exclusively consists of one room, with a wall going through the middle. What you see in the below three pictures is basically the extent of it.
There are a dozen seats at the bar, with half on each side.
There are then what I’d consider to be four little living room-style seating arrangements, so ideally you don’t have to share one of those spaces with another party.
The Salon at PS LAX also has a beautiful outdoor terrace space, though unfortunately all of the furniture was already covered up during my visit.
For those curious about crowding, the facility remained mostly empty during my visit late on a Saturday night. When I arrived there were three other guests, then eventually there was one other guest, and then eventually I had the facility to myself.
The Salon at PS LAX bathrooms & shower
The Salon at PS LAX has two bathrooms down a hall from the main area, and one doubles as a shower suite. The main bathroom has a sink, a toilet, and a urinal, and it was spotlessly clean.
Then there’s also the shower suite, which has a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower.
Bath amenities were from Le Labo, and there were also a small number of other amenities that guests could help themselves to, including dental kits, Marvis toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.
PS LAX food & drinks
Upon sitting down at PS LAX, I was immediately presented with a menu and drink list. All food and drinks are included with visits, and the selection is impressive.
You can find the PS LAX food menu below.
You can find the PS LAX drink list below.
PS offers a signature caviar welcome, and upon sitting down, I was asked if I wanted to partake in that… of course! That was presented to me within 15 minutes. It included a glass of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, plus a personal tin of Italian Calvisius caviar, served with blinis, chips, sour cream, and chives. I must say, that’s a lovely presentation!
Once that was complete, I ordered the signature PS Martini, with vodka, gin, vermouth, lemon, and a caviar-filled olive. Yum.
While I was trying to save my appetite for onboard the flight, I figured I had to try a couple of the dishes, to check out the quality. To start, I ordered the grilled corn salad, with cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, corn vinaigrette, pickled sweet peppers, and cilantro.
Then for my main course, I ordered the branzino, with potato and leek vichyssoise, heirloom bean salad, salsa verde, and pickled carrots.
Lastly, I asked for a matcha latte. PS LAX has a great espresso machine, and the hot drinks are in partnership with Alfred.
The food and beverage situation at PS is phenomenal. What a treat — the food was restaurant quality, and the drinks were truly bar quality, so I have nothing but good things to say. It’s actually worth eating and drinking here.
I think one other thing worth mentioning is that food can also be prepared to go, so if you prefer, you can have them prepare food for you to enjoy on the flight. Since I was flying Starlux first class, I figured I wouldn’t need anything else to eat. 😉
PS LAX TSA security & limousine service
At 11:35PM, as expected, I was fetched, and told it was time to head to my flight. I was then escorted toward the private TSA checkpoint, which was frictionless. It was the same TSA PreCheck experience I’d usually get, just without the crowds.
Past the checkpoint, there was a fridge with a variety of canned and bottled non-alcoholic drinks, which guests could grab and take with them.
At that point I was placed in the BMW 7-Series that would be taking me to my departure gate. As an aviation geek, it’s of course a real thrill to get to drive across the taxiways. It’s also quite a long drive, given the location of PS LAX in comparison to the terminals.
The drive over to Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) took around 10 minutes. For those curious, you don’t drive across the runways, as there’s a tunnel that takes you under the two parallel runways. You do drive along the taxiways, though.
Once there, we pulled right up to gate 207, right next to the Starlux Airbus A350… what a stunner!
Boarding was scheduled for 11:55PM, 40 minutes before departure. So I was asked to just wait for a few minutes for boarding preparations.
At that point, I was walked across the apron to an elevator that goes between the ground floor and terminal level.
At the top of the elevator, I was greeted by the Starlux staff (including the station manager), and was escorted to the door of the aircraft, where I was the first onboard. It was an utterly seamless experience, and I was super impressed.
PS LAX service
Across the board, I found the staff at PS LAX to be exceptionally professional. They really operate at a different level than what you’ll generally find in the terminal. This was true of the person who greeted me and escorted me to the car service, it was true of the servers working in The Salon, and it was true of the person who drove me to the plane.
It’s clear the staff are really proud of working here, so it’s a very well executed experience.
Bottom line
The Salon at PS LAX is a great experience, and I’m delighted that it was included with my Starlux first class ticket. This is unlike any experience you’ll have within the terminal at an airport in the United States, in terms of how seamless everything is, combined with the quality of the food and beverages.
Admittedly the experience also comes at a hefty cost, so it’s definitely a splurge. For that matter, I don’t really buy the time saving argument, since you still have to show up two hours before departure if on an international flight with luggage to check.
But hey, this was a great experience, and I also think the price is fair for what’s being offered, in terms of the amount of coordination required, and what the cost of running this facility must be (which isn’t to say that I’d pay the retail cost, but I’m just saying, I couldn’t imagine it being much cheaper, while maintaining its exclusivity). Anyway, if you have the chance to visit a PS location, you’re in for an absolute treat!
What’s your take on The Salon at PS LAX?
glad you were able to review PS LAX, Ben! im so happy PS exists, its not for everyone but for those that value this kind of experience, its pretty amazing.
Is tipping expected ?
No mentions of "barista coffee"?
Hilarious. You'll slam other lounges for not having a barista, yet this $1295 lounge doesn't have one and you're ok with a "high quality espresso machine", which really goes back to the point it's not about baristas. It's about the machine and bean quality.
You beat me to it with the "barista coffee."
@ yoloswag420 -- There *was* barista coffee. I'm saying it was a very high quality espresso machine with which barista coffee was prepared. You can see the machine in the pictures, behind the bar.
The irony is that I tried to incorporate the feedback you provided a while back where you criticized my use of the term barista coffee, and said it's more important how high quality the beans and machines are... and now you call me out for doing that!
You know what, that's fair.
Credit where credit is due.
I want to know what your rideshare driver thought about picking you up at LAX only to drive you to the PS!
@ jallan -- Hah, surprisingly he had no questions, so I guess that makes him professional. :p
Probably not worth the $1.3K price, but - wow - not bad at all.
Did you have to tip the staff or is that included in the pricing?
So American. They should pay their employees a living wage. No sane person tips anyone for simply doing a job that they are there to perform. You’re going to have million and billionaires using the PS. Are they expected to hand over a few dollars in a velvet bag to the “ servants”?
I can't imagine many billionaires using the terminal, but yes, at these prices it's not unreasonable to expect that the staff are being paid a living wage and that the vulgarity of public tipping would be actively; if politely; discouraged.
@ LW -- I didn't tip, and I'm usually someone who is a bit too "American" in that regard. Ultimately I interacted with so many different people, so it just didn't seem practical.
Do you worry about getting run over by a plane on the taxiways?
Let me be the first one to say i won't be absolutely using this service unless its complimentary. I would rather give $1295 to charity and bear the experience that is LAX.
And this service is not stunning or has some real wow factor to it. Looking at the food and beverage menu, the cutlery and the food, there is no wow factor. The caviar is presented very poorly. UA Polaris has better cutlery. The...
Let me be the first one to say i won't be absolutely using this service unless its complimentary. I would rather give $1295 to charity and bear the experience that is LAX.
And this service is not stunning or has some real wow factor to it. Looking at the food and beverage menu, the cutlery and the food, there is no wow factor. The caviar is presented very poorly. UA Polaris has better cutlery. The food at Delta One looks better. The collection of wines and champagne are very mid. And i did not see any spirits list. Than there is issue of time limits.
All in all i am glad we get to see what this service has to offer through articles like this. But it tells me I would not be trying this out.
Let's see the donation receipt to a charity
You can see spirits in the photo of the bar. Presumably they're not there just for show and Ben simply didn't take a photo of the list, or maybe people can simply see what they have and request it by name.
@ BBT -- There was a big selection of spirits, I imagine there just wasn't a printed menu because they change with some frequency.
The outdoor space is basically a small paved garden outside in the parking lot. I wonder if someone has ever used it
I'd imagine probably yes for smoking.
You're paying for quiet, zero hassle and being around "other people like you".
That said, potato chips are an underrated accompaniment to caviar. Salt + Salt = Mmm, Salt.
"As you can see, a PS visit will generally cost you $1,295 per person without a membership, but that pricing can drop as low as $895 per person with a membership"
As low as $895. lol.
I'm not sure we collectively appreciate just how much "wealth" has been accumulated in the last 18 months.
The DJIA in April 2025 was at ~38,000. The 52-week low is 45,000. Today it's back near 52,000 (albeit down from its 52-week high of 54,750).
Using rounded numbers but the point remains - we're talking about a ~36% increase over the last 18 months. So if you retired 18 months ago with, say, $2.5m in a...
I'm not sure we collectively appreciate just how much "wealth" has been accumulated in the last 18 months.
The DJIA in April 2025 was at ~38,000. The 52-week low is 45,000. Today it's back near 52,000 (albeit down from its 52-week high of 54,750).
Using rounded numbers but the point remains - we're talking about a ~36% increase over the last 18 months. So if you retired 18 months ago with, say, $2.5m in a DJIA tracking fund, you now have $3.4 million. That's, uh, more.
Now... retiring with $2.5 million is not the norm for most. But it's achievable for some. And certain segments of the population are absolutely taking those gains out for a spin right now.
Is paying $1k for a lounge visit how I would spend those theoretical gains? Nope - if I want some caviar and potato chips, a lot cheaper to buy some to enjoy at home. But some people will for sure.
I consider these facilities well worth it. Since airline loyalty has become less rewarding and most airlines don’t offer first on many routes, I’ve changed my behaviour. I’ve realised that I place a huge value on the ground experience à la LH or AF first. I’ve drifted away from using any airline in first that doesn’t offer this at least on one end of the itinerary and I’ll take an inferior product in F to...
I consider these facilities well worth it. Since airline loyalty has become less rewarding and most airlines don’t offer first on many routes, I’ve changed my behaviour. I’ve realised that I place a huge value on the ground experience à la LH or AF first. I’ve drifted away from using any airline in first that doesn’t offer this at least on one end of the itinerary and I’ll take an inferior product in F to get the ground service. As a European based flier, now when travelling long haul I often book a cheaper ticket with a decent cabin in biz rather than my “preferred airline/alliance” at a premium price. Then I pay the private terminal fee for the hassle free airport experience. That way the lounge quality is irrelevant and the lack of a first cabin is almost irrelevant as most of the benefit I value is on the ground anyway. For half the price of first I get a good biz product and the LH first style ground service and on almost any route. I can also take advantage of good biz offers as well without thinking about loyalty. Not all hubs in Europe have this offer however many do and combined with the decent biz seat and bedding and reasonable drinks quality, I’m content. I’d happily book on price/value in LA and then add the terminal for 1k.
I don’t get this. Unless you’re in for a long layover, you’re going to spend 5-8x more time in the air than on the ground
@Ben, let's imagine that a 'poor' soul booked this facility to enjoy it right before an ultra long-haul [gasp!] economy [gasp!!] flight operated by [name your favorite arline with bad food] [gasp!!!].
Would you be able to have a full meal here and then order another full meal packed to go?
@ hbilbao -- Hah, there are no stated limits, so I think that should be fine. I mean, I'm sure there's some theoretical limit if you ask for 50 meals to go, but I also imagine that there aren't too many "value maximizers" dropping $1,295 on this experience, and then seeing just what they can get away with.
bilbao - The person asking must be (a) large , (b) with a white beard , and (c) be wearing a red Santa Claus suit .
Good point, Santa's sleigh has no ovens. So he'd certainly be doing this.
I have to admit, this appeals to me more than I expected. Not because I particularly need caviar before a flight, but because almost anything that allows me to pretend LAX doesn’t exist has some value.
That said, $1,295 is a lot of money to spend when you’re still being told to show up two hours before an international departure. At that point I’m not sure we can call it a time saver so much...
I have to admit, this appeals to me more than I expected. Not because I particularly need caviar before a flight, but because almost anything that allows me to pretend LAX doesn’t exist has some value.
That said, $1,295 is a lot of money to spend when you’re still being told to show up two hours before an international departure. At that point I’m not sure we can call it a time saver so much as an extremely pleasant place to serve your sentence.
The avgeek in me would probably justify the entire thing based on the drive across the airfield in a 7 Series. Included with a Starlux first class ticket, though? Absolutely. That’s a genuinely impressive ground experience.
"...because almost anything that allows me to pretend LAX doesn’t exist has some value."
#COTD
Nice that you can recoup some 'value' of the points you purchased in this experience
Maybe I’m foolish but I think PS (at least the Salon) is worth it now and again for a special occasion. Makes a trip feel so much more relaxed and luxurious.
Well , for that price I get a lift bar next to the commode . Many places don't invest in lift bars for the disabled .
There will be comments to the effect of "it's not worth it." Which is framed in solely dollar terms. And, for this type of person, it's not worth it. There are others who assign subjective value to this service and believe it is worth it . . . to themselves. And, if they have the financial means, they'll use it.
Eh, even 'rich folk' are not a monolith. In fact, some of the wealthiest people I know are the stingiest around—flying basic economy on their way to their third home in Aspen. 'Penny wise, pound foolish,' and yes, very subjective. Meanwhile, the Instagram crowd would sell an limb just to post from there, but many of them are juggling credit cards to pay rent. Anyway, if someone really wants it, let them (but nobody needs...
Eh, even 'rich folk' are not a monolith. In fact, some of the wealthiest people I know are the stingiest around—flying basic economy on their way to their third home in Aspen. 'Penny wise, pound foolish,' and yes, very subjective. Meanwhile, the Instagram crowd would sell an limb just to post from there, but many of them are juggling credit cards to pay rent. Anyway, if someone really wants it, let them (but nobody needs this). P/S’s business model somehow works... for now. (Who knows, like with Blade and Blacklane, maybe Bilt will soon provide a Bilt Cash redemption for access... Ankur??)
The generous caviar, martini, and 7 Series do seem 'nice,' but the 'best' part of this is that it was 'included' with your ticket, because otherwise, let's be real, if not for a review (or, if you truly 'need' the 'privacy' as an 'actual' VIP), this is inherently bad value.
As Ben mentions, it's $1,295/person/visit without membership; or, I was reading, it's $750+ per use even with memberships (starting at $1,250 annually for 'Salon'...
The generous caviar, martini, and 7 Series do seem 'nice,' but the 'best' part of this is that it was 'included' with your ticket, because otherwise, let's be real, if not for a review (or, if you truly 'need' the 'privacy' as an 'actual' VIP), this is inherently bad value.
As Ben mentions, it's $1,295/person/visit without membership; or, I was reading, it's $750+ per use even with memberships (starting at $1,250 annually for 'Salon' members, and upwards of $4,850/yr for whatever 'All Access' includes).
Sorta related, I was discussing the lack of a D1 lounge at ATL with a Delta 360 member recently; they remarked how they just pay for P/S, instead. (Eh, I guess some folks are 'bad with money,' or it's all a 'business' expense/other peoples' money, which, c'mon, not all that different.)
We all define "value" differently. As you said in another comment, some very wealthy people fly economy class to visit their third home. I know a very wealthy person who drives a Camry and buys their clothes at Uniqlo, but doesn't bat an eyelid when dropping tens-of-thousands on the wine at fine dining restaurants. It's an individual thing - for some people the money spent on PS represents value, and for some people it doesn't.
"bad with money" in YOUR perspective, because this doesn't hold any value to YOU. for others, this is something they value, and if they can, they will gladly pay for it and use it and enjoy it. Its all personal and relative. Im sure you have something that you see worth spending money on, that the next person would say is a waste of money. Its all relative. So let people enjoy things. If its...
"bad with money" in YOUR perspective, because this doesn't hold any value to YOU. for others, this is something they value, and if they can, they will gladly pay for it and use it and enjoy it. Its all personal and relative. Im sure you have something that you see worth spending money on, that the next person would say is a waste of money. Its all relative. So let people enjoy things. If its not for you, that's okay. But if its valuable for others, that's okay too, and doesn't make them "bad with money".