First look: Inside Korean Air’s stunning new flagship lounge at LAX

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-based carrier will officially open its new lounge at LAX to the public on 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.

Where is Korean Air’s new lounge located at LAX?

The new Korean Air lounge is located inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport, just past security, and up on the fifth and sixth floors. It is accessible via elevator.

Because it’s located in TBIT, the lounge is most convenient for Korean Air departures 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 two-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.

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.

Carefully selected Korean artwork, including traditional Buncheong ceramics, brushstroke ink paintings and traditional moon jars (Dalhangari), add 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.

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.

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.

With only 25 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.

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.

Upstairs, First Class passengers enjoy fully à 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.

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.

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.

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.

After a long flight or before a late-night departure, this little dose of luxury can make all the difference.

Who can access Korean Air’s new LAX lounge?

When the lounge opens on March 6, access will be available to:

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 to the Prestige and Miler sections.
Korean Air SkyPass elite members, including Million Miler and Morning Calm Premium members, to the Prestige and Miler sections when traveling on eligible Korean Air or SkyTeam-operated flights.
SkyTeam first and business class passengers departing on an international SkyTeam flight.
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.

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.