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First look: Inside Korean Air’s stunning new flagship lounge at LAX
Featured image by STEPHANIE STEVENS/THE POINTS GUY
Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
February 28, 2026 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Korean Air has unveiled its newly renovated two-level lounge at Los Angeles International Airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal, offering a significant upgrade in space and amenities.
The lounge features modern Korean luxury blended with Southern California design, curated artwork, and an expanded on-site kitchen for elevated dining options.
Separate areas cater to First Class and Prestige Class guests, with exclusive amenities such as dedicated bars, a la carte dining, and upgraded shower suites.
Access is available to eligible First and Prestige Class passengers, select elite members, and SkyTeam Elite Plus travelers on same-day international flights.
What to consider
The lounge opens three-and-a-half to four hours before each scheduled Korean Air flight and closes at departure, with a midday closure and hours varying by flight schedule.
Premium economy passengers do not receive lounge access based solely on their ticket; elite status or cabin class is required.
The lounge is most convenient for travelers departing from the Tom Bradley International Terminal; those flying SkyTeam partners from other terminals may need alternatives.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed walkthrough of the lounge's design, dining highlights, and exclusive amenities tailored for different traveler needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you have a flight on Korean Air out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) soon, you’re in luck: The airline has just unveiled its newly renovated lounge at the airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal, and it is stunning.
After nearly two years of renovations, the Seoul, South Korea-based carrier will officially open its new lounge at LAX to the public March 6, debuting a dramatically reimagined, two-level space inside the airport's main international terminal.
Designed by Singapore-based hospitality design firm LTW Designworks, the lounge represents an investment of 65 billion South Korean won ($45.1 million) and is the first overseas lounge to be renovated ahead of Korean Air’s upcoming integration with Asiana Airlines.
TPG got an exclusive look inside, experiencing firsthand a carefully curated hospitality concept that feels more like a luxury hideaway than your average airport lounge.
Here’s a closer look at the new space, where it’s located and how you can get in on your next trip.
The new Korean Air lounge is inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, just past security, and up on the fifth and sixth floors. It is accessible via elevator.
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Because it’s in the TBIT, the lounge is most convenient for departures on Korean Air and other SkyTeam carriers operating from that terminal. Travelers flying with SkyTeam partners departing from other areas of LAX may need to use alternate lounges.
A 2-level space designed to 'feel like home'
Spanning 1,675 square meters (18,030 square feet), the lounge is 1.27 times larger than the previous facility and is now Korean Air’s largest directly operated overseas location.
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Warm wood paneling and stone tiling, combined with floor-to-ceiling windows, were intended to blend “modern Korean luxury” with Southern California’s relaxed sensibility. I appreciated the warm lighting — a welcome reprieve from the standard airport glare — and could instantly see the appeal of sinking into a chair with a coffee or lingering over a meal without feeling rushed.
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Carefully selected Korean artwork, including buncheong ceramics, brushstroke ink paintings and traditional moon jars (dalhangari), adds depth and cultural richness unique to the airline and its homeland.
Prestige Class Lounge and Miler Club
The fifth floor houses the Prestige Class Lounge and Miler Club, with roughly 200 seats total.
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This is the primary space for most premium passengers, featuring various seating vignettes and two- and four-top dining tables, soft lounge chairs near the windows, and tech-friendly work zones equipped with universal power outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, and dedicated quiet spaces.
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Just inside and to the right of the main entrance, the Miler Club offers eligible travelers a private room with a mix of two-top tables and generously cushioned seating.
The outdoor balcony terrace — carried over from the previous lounge — overlooks the terminal below, adding an airy, open feel.
First Class Lounge
Upstairs, the First Class Lounge is more intimate.
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With only 27 seats, it is designed to be “high touch and low tech,” according to David Pacey, executive vice president and chief of inflight service and lounges at Korean Air. It feels calm, private and almost like a boutique hotel living room rather than an airport facility.
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Subtle high-end details abound, from Baccarat crystal glassware to Christofle flatware, elevating the dining experience without being over the top.
The First Class Lounge area has its own dedicated bar with a selection of Champagne, beer and spirits.
A kitchen upgrade that transforms the experience
The lounge’s biggest operational upgrade is a full on-site kitchen, moving away from the catered model of the past. The expanded culinary footprint required relocating the First Class Lounge upstairs and allows for a more ambitious dining program.
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Upstairs, First Class passengers enjoy fully a la carte, made-to-order dining, featuring Korean choices, such as beef gomtang and pork kimchi jjigae, and Western picks like a cheeseburger and seared salmon.
Downstairs, the Prestige Class Lounge features an open kitchen with live stations producing fresh dishes throughout the day. At my evening visit, the “Warm Comfort” section highlighted Korean cuisine, including janchi-guksu noodles, kimchi vegetable mandu, abalone porridge, Korean steamed eggs and a build-your-own bibimbap station.
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Alongside those options was a Western-leaning buffet featuring items such as minestrone soup, harissa honey chicken, braised pork shoulder and ricotta tortellini with vegetable Bolognese.
A rotating selection of charcuterie, fresh fruit and desserts — including brownies, raspberry tarts and dangerously delicious churros with caramel sauce — rounded out the spread.
The beverage program includes self-serve soft drinks, a coffee machine and a full-service bar that lends the space a proper restaurant feel rather than a buffet-only setup.
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Menus are expected to evolve, but the overall approach is Korean comfort dishes paired with globally familiar options, prepared with more care and flexibility than before.
My favorites? The kimchi mandu with just the right balance of spice, the unexpectedly noteworthy ricotta tortellini, the build-your-own bibimbap that let me play chef for a moment, and yes, the churro with caramel sauce — because, honestly, who can say no to fried dough?
Showers and thoughtful touches
Long-haul travelers will appreciate shower suites on both floors stocked with upgraded bath amenities. First Class guests upstairs will find Aesop products, while Byredo amenities are available downstairs for Prestige and Miler guests.
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The lounge also includes dedicated quiet rooms for phone calls or focused work and family-friendly seating areas, providing amenities tailored to different types of travelers, depending on what they need or prefer.
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After a long flight or before a late-night departure, this little dose of luxury can make all the difference.
Who can access the Korean Air’s lounge at LAX?
When the lounge opens March 6, access will be available to these passengers:
Korean Air First Class passengers get entry to the exclusive upstairs First Class Lounge as well as the main Prestige and Miler areas.
Korean Air Prestige (business) Class passengers can access the Prestige Lounge.
Korean Air SKYPASS Elite members, including Million Miler and Morning Calm Premium members, have access to the Prestige Lounge when traveling on eligible Korean Air or SkyTeam-operated flights.
SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling internationally on a same-day SkyTeam flight, regardless of cabin.
Premium economy passengers do not receive lounge access solely by virtue of their ticket. Access would depend on elite status.
When is the Korean Air lounge at LAX open?
The lounge opens three-and-a-half to four hours before each scheduled Korean Air flight and closes at the scheduled departure time. The lounge also closes for a midday break, and operating hours may vary depending on the daily flight schedule and season.
Bottom line
Korean Air’s gorgeous new flagship lounge at LAX is a major milestone in the airline’s investment in “premium customer experience and global brand transformation.”
With two levels, an expanded kitchen and a design focus on making guests feel welcomed “into the airline’s home,” the space feels polished, premium and thoughtfully scaled.
Importantly, this isn’t happening in isolation. With the Delta One Lounge and the Air France Lounge also elevating the premium experience at LAX, SkyTeam flyers are increasingly spoiled for choice — a notable competitive advantage at one of the country’s busiest international gateways.
Later this year, Korean Air will also open a new lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with what the airline describes as a distinct “Big Apple edge.” Based on this first look, it’s safe to say Korean Air has created a lounge worth lingering in — even if your flight is just a few hours away.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
