Time your visit well, or else…

For the first time in a while I was unable to get a decent award ticket, so I booked a crazy long set of revenue flights in economy (>24 hours total!) because I had to get to Punta Arenas last minute. While I was prepared for the econ experience, I was not prepared to miss my pre-departure ritual of catching up on email, having a snack, and having a glass (or three) of wine. Fortunately, in addition to the Alaska Airlines Boardroom and the Virgin America Loft at LAX, Priority Pass gives you access to the Korean Air SkyTeam lounge in the international terminal (TBIT).

Walking into the Korean Air Lounge at LAX International Terminal (TBIT)

How to get in:

For this you’ll either need to be a SkyTeam elite OR traveling in first or business on a SkyTeam flight out of LAX. Priority Pass will also get you in here, and it’s the only Priority Pass lounge in the international terminal. Note that this lounge does have a small, separate first class area, but I couldn’t get access to check it out. One of the great perks of a few credit credit cards is ones like the Citi Prestige Card offer complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership, and with Citi Prestige, Priority Pass Select gives you a free guest (unlike the American Express offering via their Platinum card).

What’s awesome:

• Nice terminal views on the terrace
• Has showers
• Self-serve cocktails 😀
• Fair selection of snacks, soup, etc.
• Plenty of charging stations for all of your tech toys

What’s not:

• As a shared SkyTeam/Priority Pass lounge it can be insanely crowded
• No nap room to speak of
• The food selection really only is fair; could be a lot better, but hey, it’s still free
• Did I mention it can get really really crowded?

The Gallery:

Korean Air Lounge LAX chips and salsa!

View of the main Korean Air Lounge area – see what I mean about crowded?

Even the terrace was super crowded.

Korean Air Lounge LAX soft drink selection

View from the Korean Air Lounge terrace

Korean Air Lounge soup options

Korean Air Lounge LAX coffee and tea area

Korean Air Lounge LAX fruits and veggies

Korean Air Lounge LAX sandwiches

Go to this lounge if:

• you don’t like the hustle and bustle of TBIT on a busy night
• you just want a quick snack/coffee/water/cocktail
• you’re on a string of connections and want to hit the shower

Skip this lounge if:

• you’re looking for some quiet time (search for an uncrowded restaurant on level 2 instead). There are times where the lounge is uncrowded, but forget about that being the case at 9pm on any given night.
• crowds bother you, as this lounge can feel as crowded as an overpopulated boarding area

The bottom line:

The Korean Air lounge is a solid alternative to being in the terminal and definitely worth stopping in to check it out. If it’s too crowded you can just head back out into one of the terminal restaurants on the same level.

What did you think?

Have you been to this lounge before? Let us know in your comment below!

The verdict

Reviewed by

Seatlink

Date

2016-02-19

Airline/cabin

Korean Air Business Class Lounge Los Angeles LAX

Rating

4