New Star Alliance Lounge to Open in Los Angeles on 25 September 2013

The new Star Alliance Lounge located at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officially opens its doors tomorrow (25 September 2013), welcoming all First, Business and Star Alliance Gold Card passengers departing on Star Alliance member airlines from the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).

The new premium customer facility offers space for around 400 Business Class and Star Alliance Gold passengers, including an exclusive area for First Class passengers.

Designed by global architectural firm Gensler, the 18,000 square foot (1,675 square meter) lounge features a unique open air terrace, offering panoramic views of the northern runway towards the Hollywood Hills.

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab said, “Lounge access on a global scale is one of the Alliance benefits most sought after and valued by our customers. The fantastic new lounge in Los Angeles is testimony to the fact that alliances add value over and above what individual airlines can offer. We are certain that our passengers will highly appreciate this top of the line facility.”

Member carrier Air New Zealand was appointed to develop and manage the Alliance’s new lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, which is part of the expansion of TBIT.

The lounge’s experience zones are designed to accommodate passenger needs ranging from social gatherings to quiet time away from home.

In addition to the outdoor terrace, the lounge offers a bar area for socializing, a library space, a den, a study and a media room. For those wishing to freshen before their flight can do so in one of eight shower rooms available.

Guests wishing to work will be able to do so from various locations throughout the lounge, which is equipped with high-speed wi-fi and offers printing, fax and copy services on request.

In addition to traditional power outlets customer can also make use of USB power ports to recharge their mobile devices. For those traveling “light”, tablet computers are available on request for use in the lounge.

The design of the lounge is inspired by a contemporary interpretation of modernist L.A. architecture of the 1950s and 1960s. This concept is in line with new guidelines for Star Alliance branded lounges, which aim to better meet the evolving needs of  today’s traveler while at the same time introducing a local flavor in each location.

Black and white photos, inspired by L.A. and shot by renowned photographer Peter Lik, complement the Alliance’s corporate colors. The lounge incorporates other new look brand elements Star Alliance has adopted for use in its lounges around the world.

In addition to local design inspiration, Star Alliance also selected locally sourced products and furniture wherever possible. Its glazed ceramic tile feature walls were created by local artisans.

The Alliance worked closely with the Green Building Council of America to ensure all materials and furniture are sustainable. The lounge project team is now pursuing LEED Gold certification. LEED is a green building tool which covers the entire building lifecycle and provides third-party verification of green buildings.

In total, eight Star Alliance member carriers operate out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal – ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, THAI and Turkish Airlines. Air New Zealand will move to the terminal in mid-2014, at which stage its Koru Lounge in Terminal 2 will close. Together, these airlines account for more than 30% of Star Alliance’s international flights in and out of LAX. With all member airlines operating wide body aircraft from TBIT, this translates into more than 50% of the Alliance’s international seats on offer in and out of LAX.

In addition to the new lounge in the TBIT, Star Alliance member carriers offer the following lounge facilities at LAX:

Terminal 1 US Airways Club
Terminal 2 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge,
Air New Zealand Koru Lounge (until mid-2014)
Terminal 6 United Club
Terminal 7 United Club and United International First Class Lounge

Lounge access is one of the key benefits offered to Star Alliance Gold, First and Business Class customers, who have access to more than 1,000 lounges across the Alliance’s global network.

LAX represents one of Star Alliance’s main international hubs in the USA and is served by 15 member airlines (in addition to the airlines operating from TBIT, these are Air Canada, Air China, Avianca, Copa Airlines, United and US Airways). Together they offer around 485 flights daily in and out of LAX to 85 destinations in 18 countries.