Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport LAX
I think there’s really no downside to experiencing an airport lounge other than if you don’t get to experience it long enough. Since this was my first time getting to access an airport lounge, Scott and I arrived to the Star Alliance lounge at LAX about 3 hours prior to our flight. We got lucky with being able to upgrade from Premium to Business Class on our Singapore Airlines flight, which then gives us access to the lounge. Unfortunately we would not be able to experience a lounge on the way back since we were flying Premium Economy, but I was so thankful for this experience that I can share with you!
Upon checking in, we are asked for our boarding passes which are scanned and then were notified that an announcement would be made when our flight started boarding. When you walk through into the lounge, there’s a plethora of seating including outdoor seating with fire pits and a bar, as well as terrace seating that is indoors but it feels like it’s outdoors due to the open air feel and massive windows bringing in the light (this is where we decided to post up). There was even a media room that is more dimly lit and has lounger chairs with a big screen tv, as well as shower suites!
We arrived during breakfast service so we were able to get eggs, sausage, bacon and toast from the buffet. Then about 12pm, the food switched over to lunch so there were wraps, sandwiches, salads, pasta and snack types foods like chips and pretzels, as well as fruit and desserts. Overall the variety of food is good, quality is so-so but might be because I was getting the tail end of the breakfast buffet. The salad that I had from lunch just seemed like the lettuce had been sitting in the dressing for awhile (like it was all prepared earlier in the day and sitting waiting to be put out for the lunch service). Regardless, it’s nice to be able to eat, and drink. I was a little confused at first if we needed to ask to pour drinks because all of the bottles were out and some drink areas look like they were set up to have an attendant or staff member assist. But Scott found out for me, you just pour as much as you want - he made me a couple mimosas. I also took advantage of the coffee machine and made a latte.
Around the corner, it also looked like there was a noodle bar or something in the works, but we didn’t get to stay around long enough to see. I’ve read it can get very crowded in the lounge, I felt like we were there during a busy time but there seemed to be a steady flow of travelers moving in and out of the lounge, there definitely wasn’t a wait for food or to pour/make drinks. I love the modern aesthetic, and the vibe is very serene, but felt that some of the furniture could be swapped out (there would be tattered seats, and it was just not a good look for the overall ambiance). There are multiple screens throughout the lounge displaying flight information as well as wifi details for the lounge. We heard our flight boarding announcement, packed up and got to the gate and waited for just a couple minutes before being let on. It was NICE - and I wish I could be traveling and flying like this all the time, it seriously take much stress off having to move about the airport and being waiting around for your flight.
