I had a 3,5 hours overlay in Los Angeles on my way to Miami. My flight was scheduled to depart at 1:05 am. I arrived on an Alaska Airlines flight. The Alaska Airlines Boardroom closes at 10 pm. I am a holder of the Priority Pass through my American Express, which gives me access to quite a few lounge at LAX. Unfortunately, none are located in Terminal 4 where my flight will depart to Miami. The closest one is the Korean Airlines Lounge in the International Terminal which is connected to Terminal 4 by a walkway. Read this post for instructions on how to get to the Tom Bradley International Terminal from Terminal 4 via the walkway. The big advantage at the Korean Airlines Lounge is, that it is open until 1 a.m.
Update 2020.02.25: Korean Airlines Lounge changed its access for Priority Pass Members. The lounge itself is open from 7:00 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. but access for Priority Pass cardholders is only allowed between the hours of 11:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. That’s a big setback, as this lounge is one of the best Priority Pass lounges at LAX. Luckily an American Express Centurion Lounge will open later in 2020 nearby.
When I arrived the lounge was very crowded with people waiting for their planes to leave, but it cleared up very quickly. Check-In was quick and easy and the staff was very efficient at the check-in process. However, I had a couple of issues. Wi-Fi was down, the coffee maker was broken – so no cappuccino for me tonight. Only regular coffee was available. Unfortunately, they didn’t even put a sign on the machine. Besides some snacks, they also have a bar without bartender for self-service. They offer different sorts of liquors and besides the beverages in the food area, they also have Budweiser and some other beers.
At that late hour, there were small sandwiches, microwave noodles and some veggies available. Good enough for me at this time. They also cleaned up the tables and seating areas very quickly after guests left. That got new guests a space to sit down and relax.
My favorite feature of this lounge is the outside terrace which gives you a great view of the terminal It’s also a lot cooler outside on the terrace compared to the lounge inside.
Inside you can hear the announcements when planes start boarding. If you sit outside, you won’t hear them really well and maybe miss your announcement. Also, be aware that the announcements are only for flights of the International Terminal and not any other terminals. Give yourself enough time to make it back to your terminal and gate.
Peter has a passion for Traveling, Photography, and Geocaching. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. “Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker.” Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com
Some of Peter’s photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more.