Korean Air has unveiled a renovated flagship lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport. After nearly two years of work, the two-level, 1,675-square-meter (18,030-square-foot) space opens to the public March 6 and is the carrier’s largest directly operated overseas lounge. Designed by LTW Designworks and built at a cost of about 65 billion South Korean won (roughly $45.1 million), it’s the first overseas lounge refreshed ahead of Korean Air’s integration with Asiana.
Location and layout
The lounge sits on the fifth and sixth floors of TBIT, just past security and accessible by elevator. Its placement makes it most convenient for Korean Air and other SkyTeam departures from that terminal; travelers using SkyTeam flights from other LAX terminals may need alternate lounges.
Design and atmosphere
The design blends modern Korean luxury with Southern California’s relaxed aesthetic: warm wood paneling, stone tiling, floor-to-ceiling windows and softer lighting create a comfortable, upscale atmosphere. Korean artwork — Buncheong ceramics, brushstroke ink paintings and traditional moon jars — brings cultural depth to the space. An outdoor balcony terrace carried over from the previous lounge offers an airy overlook of the terminal.
Fifth floor — Prestige Class lounge and Miler Club
The fifth floor houses the main Prestige Class lounge and the Miler Club, totaling about 200 seats. The area includes a variety of seating vignettes, two- and four-top dining tables, lounge chairs by the windows, and tech-friendly work zones with universal outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, plus quiet spaces. The Miler Club is a private room near the entrance with two-top tables and cushioned seating.
Sixth floor — First Class lounge
The upstairs First Class Lounge is intimate, with just 25 seats and a “high touch, low tech” approach. It feels more like a boutique hotel living room than an airport facility, with refined touches such as Baccarat crystal and Christofle flatware. First Class guests also get a dedicated bar serving Champagne, beer and spirits.
Culinary upgrades — on-site kitchen and fresh dining
A major operational change is the addition of a full on-site kitchen, replacing the previous catered model. The kitchen supports made-to-order dining in First Class (Korean dishes like beef gomtang and pork kimchi jjigae, plus Western options such as cheeseburger and seared salmon) and live cooking stations in Prestige. The downstairs dining emphasizes “warm comfort” Korean dishes — janchi-guksu noodles, kimchi vegetable mandu, abalone porridge, Korean steamed eggs and a build-your-own bibimbap station — alongside a Western buffet with items like minestrone, harissa honey chicken, braised pork shoulder and ricotta tortellini with vegetable bolognese. The beverage program includes self-serve soft drinks, coffee machines and a full-service bar. Desserts and rotating charcuterie and fruit selections complete the offering.
Amenities and services
Shower suites are available on both floors; First Class guests receive Aesop products upstairs while Prestige and Miler guests get Byredo amenities downstairs. The lounge also provides quiet rooms for calls or focused work and family-friendly seating areas, catering to varied traveler needs.
Access rules
When the lounge opens, access will be available to:
– Korean Air First Class passengers (access to First Class Lounge plus Prestige and Miler areas)
– Korean Air Prestige (business) Class passengers (Prestige and Miler)
– Korean Air SkyPass elite members, including Million Miler and Morning Calm Premium, when traveling on eligible Korean Air or SkyTeam flights (Prestige and Miler)
– SkyTeam first and business class passengers departing on international SkyTeam flights
– SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling internationally on a same-day SkyTeam flight
Premium economy alone does not grant lounge access; entry depends on elite status.
Bottom line
Korean Air’s new LAX lounge is a significant investment in premium customer experience: two levels, an expanded kitchen with made-to-order dining, thoughtful design, and amenities geared to long-haul travelers. As other carriers like Delta and Air France also upgrade premium offerings at LAX, SkyTeam flyers have more high-end lounge choices. Korean Air plans to open a new lounge at JFK later in the year, promising a distinct “Big Apple edge.” Based on this first look, the LAX lounge is a polished, welcoming space that’s worth lingering in before a flight.
