Star Alliance will open its latest airport lounge facility this week, located on level 6 of Los Angeles airport’s revamped and expanded Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
The new 1,675 sqm facility replaces Star’s existing lounge at LAX which dates back to 2007, and will officially open on Wednesday.
The lounge is being managed by Star Alliance carrier Air New Zealand, although the carrier will not actually move from T2 into TBIT until next year. The new facility will also allow ANZ's transit passengers to clear customs and use the new facility, instead of being restricted to the airline’s transit lounge as is currently the case (see news, July 2012).
A total of eight Star carriers currently use TBIT: ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, THAI and Turkish Airlines.
Designed by architectural firm Gensler, the lounge includes "a unique open air terrace, offering panoramic views of the northern runway towards the Hollywood Hills", with features including fire pits and a water wall.
Facilities include seating for 387 business class passengers, a bar area, library, "den", study and "media room", as well as eight shower rooms and a first class area seating up to 42 guests.
Free wifi is available throughout, and devices can be charged via traditional power outlets or USB power ports. Guests travelling without a computer can also request tablet devices for use within the lounge.
Décor is "inspired by a contemporary interpretation of modernist L.A. architecture of the 1950s and 1960s", with black and white images taken by photographer Peter Lik, and a ceramic tile feature created by local artists.
The new lounge follows the opening of Star Alliance’s facility at Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires earlier this year (see news, January 14), and joins the group’s other lounges at London’s Heathrow T1, Nagoya International airport and Paris CDG T1.
Mark Caswell
