Qantas, British Airways, Cathay Pacific get larger LAX lounge

By David Flynn, May 7 2015
Qantas, British Airways, Cathay Pacific get larger LAX lounge

Qantas has opened a new wing at its Los Angeles Business Lounge, in partnership with Oneworld members British Airways and Cathay Pacific, and marking the completion of a multi-million dollar upgrade to its LAX lounges.

The extension provides room for 200 more travellers, boosting the business class lounge's total capacity to 600, with another 200 in the adjacent Qantas first class lounge. The total footprint is a staggering but stylish 42,000 square feet.

Central to the expansion is the opening of a new kitchen to boost the preflight dining options, which now extends to a second buffet with a do-it-yourself juice station plus a dedicated dining area.

The large communal dining table is equipped with AC and USB power sockets to keep your laptop, tablet or smartphone charging up while you chow down.

However, Qantas says its original plan to serve 'a daily plate with matching premium wine or beer' has been put on hold for now.

Out in the main part of the lounge the Californian food carts will remain to serve street food such as pulled pork tacos, speciality hot dogs, crumbed cod tacos with red cabbage coleslaw and lime chipotle mayo, and Asian-spiced chicken wings.

As before, the lounge’s overall menu is influenced by the multicultural nature of Los Angeles, including Italian, Mexican, Chinese and Korean alongside ‘US West Coast’ cuisine, and delivers what Qantas consulting chef Neil Perry has described as "the very best airport lounge food in America, by a long way."

Qantas has also made room for a business zone with six Apple iMac desktops and a wireless printer, plus a small family zone which in peak holiday periods is enlarged with children’s furniture, toys and games.

Finally, there are now 16 shower suites where you can freshen up before your flight with Aurora Spa ASPAR amenities.

"The completion of this project represents our significant investment in the US market" says Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Regional General Manager for The Americas.

"Together with Los Angeles International Airport’s renovations, Qantas now offers truly world class facilities for international travellers and our lounges in the US are second to none."

Also read: Qantas Los Angeles first class lounge brings luxe to LAX

A uniquely LA look

The Qantas Los Angeles Business Lounge plays off its location to shape a unique "look, feel and food" offering, similar to what the airline has done at its Singapore and Hong Kong lounges.

For an LAX lounge this means “a contemporary design reflecting Californian culture”, according to Qantas and lounge designers Woods Bagot.

A cornerstone of this is an internal circular fireplace around which passengers can sit and relax.

But the rest of lounge’s decor also makes nods to its SoCal origins with iconic American-designed furniture and warm woods.

However, to prevent things getting too dark and heavy, there’s also a central glass atrium to bring some natural light into the lounge.

And what’s a modern airport lounge without a cocktail bar?

The Qantas Los Angeles Business Lounge is open from 6.30am to midnight for the following passengers:

  • Qantas, Cathay and British Airways business class and first class travellers
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members
  • Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club Gold and Diamond members
  • British Airways Executive Club Silver and Gold members
  • Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members
  • Qantas Club members

Read our first-hand review of the new Qantas Los Angeles Business Lounge

David Flynn travelled to Los Angeles as a guest of Qantas.

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David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

QantasFF Platinum

16 Feb 2012

Total posts 153

Wow! Now that's taking style and experience to a new level! It'll make me get an earlier connecting flight so i can experience more of the lounge next time i fly out to AU!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Jan 2015

Total posts 30

Simply stunning. Always look forward to spending time in that lounge. However I am curious to find out from all you guys how this lounge compares to other qantas business lounges world wide. Does it set the standard or is there better one elsewhere?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

02 Jul 2011

Total posts 1379

dls1976,

The also near new Qantas Lounges in Hong Kong and Singapore are also very good (and there are many similar elements - eg the entrance podiums)

Other outstation lounges (Auckland, Bangkok, Honolulu, Tokyo) are older and more average. Most of the International domestic lounges are also older apart from the standout First Lounges in Sydney in Melbourne

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

Luckily it sound like AKL will be upgraded in next 12-24mths. I'm not sure whether it is smart for QF to keep lounges in BKK & NRT for the small number of flights going there now. Better off using other oneworld lounges.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Nov 2011

Total posts 186

I have often wondered that about smaller ports and justifying the presence of a dedicated Qantas lounge. One aspect of this lounge that I like is that it's is joint operated and run by three of the bigger OW carriers that have a heavy LAX presence. I am guessing that Qantas must have a bigger share to have naming/branding rights etc.  eitherway surely this represents a good way to manage non-hub ports. BKK has a daily Qantas/BA and multiple CX flights a day. Surely it would make better economical sense for the three to operate a lounge with more of a CX theme given their superior presence...

 

as for Tokyo the QF lounge gets heavy patronage with 3-4 JQ and the daily Qantas flight, but in need of a refit for sure.  JAL first class lounges are a way better option for OWE in Tokyo

07 Oct 2012

Total posts 1251

Not anymore as its my understanding that JQ flights have moved to the new terminal at NRT. So only 1 747 QF per day, soon to be A330

abc
abc

14 Nov 2011

Total posts 21

I used it last night.. Tues there. It was great.. No crowding and plenty of room. The bar area was a little busy, but elsewhere, great. The old TBIT is thankfully a distant and bad memeory.

Qantas

07 Jun 2015

Total posts 6

Does anyone know if the complimentary passes I have to Qantas Business Club lounges will allow me to enter this lounge?  I tried to use them once before in the OneWorld lounge and was turned away.  Will they allow me entry this time?  Is this a OneWorld lounge as well?

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2449

It's the same lounge at LAX, and no, Qantas Club passes cannot be used here as it's technically a Oneworld Lounge, not Qantas lounge.

Qantas

07 Jun 2015

Total posts 6

Thanks Chris.  I thought it would work this time as I keep reading it is a "Qantas" loung :(  Any other ideas for access short of upgrading my tickets?

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

23 Jul 2014

Total posts 11

Just a quick one...does anyone know if you can access the Qantas Lounge at TB with the 3 day Admirals Club pass?  The AA website is vague.  Noting only 'select Qantas Lounges'.

 

Thanks!


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