The striking Tom Bradley International Terminal in Los Angeles just got even better, as Qantas, British Airways and Cathay Pacific have opened a new business lounge for passengers flying on oneworld member airlines. The new lounge can accommodate 400 customers, and when its final phase is completed early next year, it will seat 600. Combined with the new 200-seat first class lounge, this more than doubles the size of the previous facility.
The stylish and spacious lounge has a contemporary design reflecting Californian culture, combined with signature elements from each airline, built around a communal fireplace and central glass atrium providing natural light.
In the lounge’s dining area, visitors can choose from menus, designed by Qantas chef Neil Perry, based on signature Qantas Lounge favourites with influences of multicultural California, including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Korean and US West Coast street food.
Californian food carts similar to the pop-up dining concept offer freshly prepared dishes such as crumbed cod tacos with red cabbage slaw and lime chipotle mayo and Asian-spiced chicken wings. At the cocktail bar, customers can select signature cocktails or premium wines, or have the barista service create the coffee of their choice.
The lounge also offers an enhanced hot and cold buffet, faster wi-fi, new workstations and nine shower suites with Aurora Spa amenities, with seven more shower suites to be available soon.
Qantas, which has developed and will manage the new facilities on behalf of its fellow oneworld members, has partnered with Sofitel to offer a service experience consistent with the standards across its Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Singapore lounges.
This includes a hosted experience for customers travelling in First, Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyers and oneworld Emerald members with exclusive services including shirt pressing, shoe shining and priority access to showers. Upon completion the lounge will also include a family zone.
Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey said, “As well as an overall upgrade, we have significantly increased the amount of space for our premium customers. It is designed to reflect the culture of California, while providing a place to relax, socialise and work before a flight.”
The lounge is available to passengers booked in first or business class on oneworld airlines departing from the terminal, or customers holding Emerald or Sapphire status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme booked in any cabin on a oneworld member airline flight from the terminal. When the new first class lounge opens, passengers booked in first class and Emerald cardholders will be offered the use of that new facility.
Other oneworld member airlines operating from LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal include airberlin, Iberia, Japan Airlines and LAN Airlines.