Star Alliance Business Class lounge
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This gem of a lounge is in many regards the best business class club at LAX.
After going through security, follow the signs to airline lounges, then make your way up to the top mezzanine, two levels above the main atrium. Signage is lacking: just take the Time Tower escalators to the top floor. Friendly agents will be standing by outside the lounge to expedite your entry.
Star Alliance Business Class lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Star Alliance Business Class lounge LAX design
Navigating the Star Alliance Lounge is like unwrapping a carefully packed beautiful gift. Every corner yields a surprise: a private room, a piece of art, a stunning photograph by Peter Lik, an elegant divider or partition, a quote or reference to LA, a quiet room. The space is huge—1,675 sqm or 18,000 sqf—and the layout offers the perfect compromise between space and privacy.
Photography by Peter Lik at the Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles
The main lounge area boasts a timeless, elegant and serene design with dim lights, gorgeous hardwood floors, and high ceilings. Partially drawn white curtains contrast with the dark furniture and create a homely, living room ambiance, while carving out smaller and more intimate spaces. The feeling of serenity that exudes from the architectural firm Gensler’s design is accentuated by light background music with a Hollywood vibe. Quotes and artwork inspired by LA dot the lounge.
The Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles features an elegant residential decor.
The vibrant dining area boasts a wine wall, communal tables, and café-style seating.
The vibrant dining room at the Star Alliance Business Class lounge Los Angeles
For a more intimate ambiance, stop by the darker, more isolated space across the dining area, where comfortable couches and a communal table await.
Star Alliance Lounge LAX dim area
Adjacent to the lobby is a semi-private space with a trompe-l’oeil style “library”. The room is ideal for families with young children, or as a secluded retreat.
The “library” at the Star Alliance Lounge LAX
Power and USB ports are plentiful and accessible from virtually every seat, except in the dining area.
Star Alliance Business Class lounge LAX amenities
The Star Alliance Lounge offers the strongest line-up of amenities for business class passengers at Los Angeles airport.
Adjacent to the main lounge area is a large dining area. A variety of cold and hot entrees cater to different tastes, with a wide range options including salads, traditional American fare, and an Asian noodle bar. The generous selection provides for a hearty meal on the ground.
Star Alliance Business Class lounge LAX hot breakfast offerings
A large assortment of beer, wines, Champagne, spirits and liquor are available for self-service. A full bar is also available, ask a friendly bar tender for the handcrafted concoction of your choice. There are also a wide variety of soft drinks, as well as several espresso machines throughout the lounge.
Self-service wine and liquor at the Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles
The bar links the main lounge to an elegant indoor terrace overlooking the terminal. Patrons may relax in a front-row seat with a bird’s eye view over the stunning LCD displays featuring creative and addictive animations by local artists.
Star Alliance Business Class Lounge Los Angeles indoor terrace
The real highlight of the Star Alliance Lounge, however, is the outdoors terrace. Walk through the lounge and follow the zen path dotted by indoors plants, and you’ll reach a large rooftop deck with sweeping views of the tarmac and Hollywood hills in the distance. In true LA fashion, there are seats with fire pits, a water feature, and yet another bar. A treat for airplane geeks all day—the terrace offers unspoiled views of the northern runway—the outdoor space is especially popular at sunset in the cooler weather.
The outdoor deck with fire pits is one the standout features of the Star Alliance Lounge LAX.
When it’s time to freshen up, eight well-appointed shower suites are available. The spacious rooms come with a large walk-in shower, a toilet, a sink, towels, and bath products. Inquire at the shower reception, then make your way through the spa-like hallway with hardwood floors and dim light. Should there be a wait, you’ll be handed a buzzer.
Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles shower suite
Other amenities include a large theater room, which doubles as an informal napping room, as well as a selection of newspapers and magazines. The lounge lacks a formal business center, but tablet computers also be checked out at the front desk for use within the lounge. Complimentary Wi-Fi is also available.
Star Alliance Business Class lounge – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Star Alliance Business Class lounge LAX bottom line
The Star Alliance Business Class lounge at Los Angeles airport is a superb facility and the nicest Star Alliance branded club worldwide. Incidentally, it is managed by Air New Zealand who has a reputation for operating classy lounges.
Unfortunately, Star Alliance’s expansion at LAX means that the lounge gets painfully busy at peak times, especially in the evenings when multiple flights depart around the same time. Wi-Fi may be accordingly slow, and patrons may not be able to fully appreciate the serenity of the design.
A boarding pass at LAX will let you into any terminal, so even if you are flying Air Canada or United, you may want to make the trek over to TBIT just to enjoy the Star Alliance Lounge. It’s a long walk, so plan accordingly. The lounge can be reached airside from United’s terminals 7-8, where as from Air Canada’s terminal, you’ll need to re-clear security.
For information on other lounges at LAX, possible alternatives, and connections between terminals, check out our Definitive Guide to the LAX Lounge Scene.
- The elegant and serene design.
- The ample space.
- The indoor and outdoor terraces.
- The food selection.
- The crowds at peak times.
- The lack of proper work spaces.
- The slow Wi-Fi.
Star Alliance Business Class lounge at Los Angeles, CA (LAX) welcomes:
- First Class passengers, departing on the same day on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline from the local airport (+1 guest)
- Business Class passengers, departing on the same day on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline from the local airport (no guests.)
- Star Alliance Gold passengers, departing on the same day on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline from the local airport, in any class of service (+1 guest)
- United Club members departing on a Star Alliance flight (no guests)
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members departing on a Star Alliance flight (no guests)
- Customers holding an invitation issued by an airline.
Guests must be departing on the same day on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline.
Cards accepted
Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide
When flying a Star Alliance member airline.
United Club
When flying a Star Alliance member airline.
4.0 / 5, based on 145 reviews
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Overall ratings
I’ve used this lounge a couple of times and it really isn’t my favourite. Food is mediocre at best and the service is so bad I once got told “I’m going on my break” when I tried to order a drink at the bar which ended up leading me to complaining to the manager who promptly apologised and offered to put me in the first class lounge with al a carte dining
The outside seating is nice, and being in LA you can use it pretty much everyday
After seeing the gorgeous photos of this lounge online, I was so excited to see it in person, and it didn’t disappoint. The chic, modern design was wonderful and calming, and there were so many different areas to sit in. There was even a movie-theater like room which had a TV and was dark so you could rest. The outside terrace was really cool as well. The food was wonderful. It was such a great perk to our Singapore Airlines Business Class tickets to Japan. I would definitely visit this lounge again!
Top notch lounge, with shower suites, decent food selection, 2 terraces, one facing inside and one outside.
Top shelf bar.
Only thing missing is a nap room or area.
This lounge is wonderful for having showers and an outside patio area that overlooks the planes and runway.
Huge lounge with plenty of seating in many different areas including indoor terrace with terminal view and fantastic outdoor terrace with runway view and fires burning at night.
Good choice of food items on the buffet and several stations throughout the lounge like a noodle bar and cheese station. Nice selection of beverages at 2 bars and several self service stations. Everything was valentine-themed that night – very nice touch…
Free WIFI, newspapers and magazines, TV room. Very nice restrooms and showers.
Very nice lounge with plenty of seating in many different Areas including indoor terrace with view into the terminal and outdoor terrace with runway view.
Nice buffet with good choice of hot and cold items and noodle bar. Good selection of beverages with many beers and spirits and 2 bars.
Free WIFI, newspapers and magazines. TV room and very nice bathrooms and showers.
Nice interior and plenty of seating in many different areas including an indoor terrace with a view into the terminal and an outdoor terrace with apron view.
Self service buffet with nice choice of several warm dishes and many other items. Also available is a noodle bar. Good selection of beverages, self service and bar with service.
Free Wifi, newspapers and magazines, media room. restrooms and showers are very clean and nice looking.
Jemericoy,
Could you clarify a couple of points on your visit:
1) Did you go from street side to airside at TBIT on this visit or did you cross over in another terminal and then walk to TBIT, remaining airside?
2) Was your flight to the East Coast part of a flight overseas or was your flight from LAX purely domestic?
3) Did you gain access to the lounge as a United Airlines passenger or as a result of having Star Alliance Gold status through United Airlines, or by flying any airlines beside United or having Gold status from an airline other than United?
Thanks for your help. I don’t want to alter my plans and then be unable to access the lounge
Guys,
Can you reconcile your review with this from Star Alliance? Star Alliance says only passengers flying out of the TBIT can use the Star Alliance Business Class lounge. Link:
http://www.staralliance.com/documents/20184/666798/sa_lounges_LAX_walking_directions_EN.pdf/2ad11fae-f977-43e9-aa4c-58f65e44e898
Can you also reconcile access? The Star Alliance website states that for United Gold members, only members who are flying internationally from TBIT can use the Star Alliance Business Class lounge. Link:
http://www.staralliance.com/en/lounge-access-policy
Thanks
The Star Alliance web site is out of date. The page you mention was probably written before the opening of the T4/TBIT connector.
Also, you will have access as a United Gold member even when flying domestically.
For more information on how to navigate LAX see https://loungereview.com/ultimate-guide-lax-airport-lounge-scene/
can this be accessed even if one is flying out of Terminal 7?
Yes, it can. See https://loungereview.com/ultimate-guide-lax-airport-lounge-scene/ for details.
Hands down the nicest lounge I’ve ever been in. I seriously thought I wandered into a first class lounge by mistake. This is worth the walk over for any star alliance gold member (or united club member) even if you are not flying international and have a couple hours to kill. I was taking a redeye later in the night to the East coast after a ling day at work and it was a great pre-flight dinner option as well as a chance to take a shower and change.
Fine lounge with plenty of seating in many different areas, including a fantastic terrace with great runway and apron-view. One of the nicest lounges I have seen.
Food selection is kind of average but not bad. There are self-service bars for beverages and two bars where you can order drinks. Selection is very nice.
Free WIFI, small selection of newspapers and magazines, dedicated TV-room and more TV`s and flight-info displays throughout the lounge. Showers and restrooms are very nice.
As far as Business Class lounges are concerned, it doesn’t get much better than that in the US.