Upon entering the Korean Air Prestige Lounge at Los Angeles (LA) International Airport at 11 a.m. local time on the 1st, the spacious open area and Korean-style artworks placed throughout were the first things to catch the eye. Unlike the bustling atmosphere of the airport, the interior of the lounge was quiet, and the generously spaced seating allowed for a relaxed rest.
This is a lounge that Korean Air newly opened in March after investing approximately 65 billion won. The Prestige and Miler Club lounges are located on the fifth floor, while the First Class Lounge is situated on the sixth floor. With a total area of 1,675 square meters, it is 1.27 times larger than before. It is the largest in scale among the lounges directly operated by Korean Air overseas.
On this day, about seven months after the renovation was completed, traces of the effort put into the renewal could be seen in various parts of the lounge. The interior, which used warm-toned wood and stone materials, featured works with Korean colors, including buncheong pottery and moon jars. It appeared to focus on creating an atmosphere closer to a high-end hotel lounge rather than simply a space to settle one's stomach before a flight.
As the space expanded, there was also room in the seating. From table seats to sofa-style seats, options could be chosen according to the purpose of use, and it was not difficult to sit at a distance from other passengers. In particular, the balcony terrace set up on one side of the lounge provided a more open feel than the indoor seats thanks to its open structure. It was suitable for resting before a long-haul flight while having a meal or drinking coffee.
While the variety of food in the lounge itself gave the impression of being somewhat less than that of the Korean Air Prestige Lounge at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2, the open-kitchen-style live station resolved all disappointments. Korean Air introduced the live station, which prepares food on the spot, to the LA lounge after starting with Incheon International Airport.
On this day, at the live station, it was possible to order pork gomtang (pork bone soup) from Ok Dong-sik, who appeared in the Netflix variety show "Black and White Lisa 2." The pork gomtang, featuring pork served in a clear broth, had a taste worthy of a full meal, unlike the buffet food commonly found in airport lounges. In addition, kimchi and vegetable dumplings, meat dumplings, abalone porridge, janchi guksu (noodle soup) using anchovy broth, and steamed egg were available. The composition stood out for its focus on enhancing the quality of freshly prepared dishes rather than increasing the number of buffet items.
In the beverage service, differentiation unique to the LA lounge was noticeable. Korean Air provided signature blend coffee and local craft beer that could only be tasted in LA. Rather than simply replicating the services of the Incheon Airport lounge, it added the regional characteristics of LA.
In fact, one of the three beers served on this day was "Noz Zap West Coast IPA," a local beer brewed by Boomtown Brewery, which is based in LA. It was an attractive beer that offered vibrant fruit aromas while retaining the characteristic bitterness of an IPA. In addition to champagne and red and white wines, 10 types of cocktails, including Manhattan, Martini, Old Fashioned, and Negroni, could be ordered. The wine was served in wine glasses similar to those used in restaurants, rather than the small glasses typically seen in general airport lounges. Although a small difference, it well matched the sophisticated atmosphere of the dining space.
Convenience facilities necessary for passengers using long-haul routes were also equipped. Inside the lounge, there were shower rooms, phone booths, and spaces where work could be done. The Wi-Fi speed, which had been repeatedly pointed out in past LA lounge reviews, was also directly checked. Measurements taken around 11:30 a.m. on this day recorded 122 Mbps for download. The download speed is about five times the 25th Mbps generally recommended for streaming 4K video. While there were speed differences depending on location, it was sufficient for watching high-quality videos or doing work.
The LA lounge is also an overseas hub for the lounge premiumization strategy being pursued by Korean Air. If the Prestige Lounge at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 excels in abundant services such as diverse food and experience facilities, the LA lounge attracted attention with its relatively quiet and spacious environment and food and beverages that highlight local characteristics. In particular, the fact that passengers preparing for long-haul flights to Korea could enjoy familiar foods like pork gomtang and dumplings prepared on the spot while also tasting local LA beers revealed the identity of the lounge.
in INDUSTRY
