Lounge Review: Korean Airlines KAL lounge at LAX

4
a room with chairs and tables
Seating Lounge
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I normally fly Delta to East Asia but I recently flew China Airlines to Taiwan to try out a different airline. Since China Airlines flys non-stop from the Tom Bradley International Terminal, it gave me an opportunity to visit the Korean Airlines KAL lounge in LAX. If you have a Priority Pass membership, you can enter for free. Here’s what I found inside.

 

Korean Airlines KAL Lounge

The lounge is located on the 5th floor after you clear the TSA line. Look for an elevator tucked away on the left-hand side before you pass the Duty-Free shop. This elevator takes you to the lounge entrance.

I had a red-eye flight with a boarding time of 1:20 am, so I figured I had plenty of time to relax in the lounge and explore all of the amenities. However, when I entered the lounge, only a few people were inside, because it was closing in less than an hour.

What kind of lounge closes so early in the evening!?!?

 

Korean Airlines KAL Lounge Seating

The interior seats are spaced out allowing enough room to really stretch out your legs while sitting down. I like that they’re not crowded together so you can have your own personal space. The Korean Airlines KAL Lounge offers many different styles of chairs to choose from – whether you are trying to relax or work on last minute business reports before your flight, you’ll find one that fits your needs.

Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Side View
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Table Top
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Interior View
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Interior View

 

The Korean Airlines KAL Lounge also has an outside patio section overlooking the interior of Tom Bradley International Terminal. I prefer this section because it was much quieter than the inside.

a man sitting in a chair
Outdoor View
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Outdoor Seats

 

Korean Airlines Lounge Food and Beverage Options

The food and drink selection was very limited, with only a few small bites and a handful of soda and juice options. You can also order free beer, wine, and house liquor from the bar. You may need some extra drinks to get over how disappointing the food and beverage options are in this lounge.

Usually, international lounges offer several hot dishes or a number of snacks to munch on. I’m not sure why the Korean Airlines KAL lounge had so little in comparison.

I would suggest if you’re planning on coming on an empty stomach, plan to go downstairs and get some real food from the food court.

Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Noodle Station
a bowl of pasta and vegetables on a tray
Small Bites
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Sandwiches, wraps and sushi rolls
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Snacks
a group of water dispensers next to a silver container
Juice and Tea
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Beverage Selection
Korean Airlines KAL Lounge
Milk and Cereal

 

Hours of Operation

The Korean Airlines KAL Lounge is open daily from 12:00 am to 8:00 pm.  However, the hours are subject to change according to KAL international flight schedules.

 

The Bald Thoughts

I wasn’t impressed with the Korean Airlines KAL Lounge in LAX. The food and beverage selection was sub-par. The seats were cushioned nicely but I could see dirt in the fabric. I would only recommend coming to this lounge if you need to escape from the crowded gate or find yourself wanting some free alcohol.

 


4 COMMENTS

  1. I had a similar, totally subpar experience there. Simply put, it stinks! I tweeted Korean about it, for what it’s worth, and they told me to fill out their online comment form.

  2. I’ve been to the lounge also. I pretty much only stayed for about 10 minutes or less. It is nice that they have the different seating options but otherwise the lounge was just a bit disappointing. What did you end up getting to eat in the food court downstairs?

    • I’m not sure what Charlie ordered. He likes food from Southeast Asia, so I’m sure he found a restaurant offering something he liked since the food offered by the lounge was sub-par.

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