Tl;dr – The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX is a solid business-class lounge with reasonable amenities, consistent service, and reasonable food and beverage offerings. More importantly, it’s a comfortable place to hang out in the massive terminal that is Tom Bradley International. I especially enjoy the lounge’s outdoor terrace.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, I visited the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX twice before flying out to Asia, both times onboard Singapore Airlines. My first visit kicked off a journey to Kathmandu, Nepal, via Singapore. The second visit preceded my fifth freedom flight to Tokyo’s Narita airport. This review is an amalgamation of these two visits to this lounge. The Star Alliance LAX is considered a business-class lounge, and by no means is it the most lavish you’ll ever see, but I’m a fan of this lounge. It’s large, comfortable, and has some solid amenities. OK, let’s jump into it!
The Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Location and Entry Rules
In the cavernous terminal that is Tom Bradley International, the Star Alliance Lounge is one of the easier lounges to get to.
Once you clear security, you’ll want to head towards the tall display pillar – the Time Tower – in the center of the terminal atrium. Hop on the elevator here (or ride the nearby escalators up) to the 6th floor, and you’ll pop out in front of the lounge entrance.
There are several ways to gain entry to Star Alliance Lounge at LAX. The most straightforward methods of accessing the lounge – each of which includes one guest entry – are as follows:
- Travelers flying internationally in Business or First Class on a Star Alliance member airline receive complimentary access.
- Star Alliance Gold members (not through United Status) departing on any Star Alliance flight (even domestic flights) receive complimentary access.
- United Airlines elites – MileagePlus Premier Gold and up, flying internationally on any Star Alliance carrier, regardless of cabin, receive complimentary access.
- Lounge memberships like United Club and Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Club, provided you’re flying a Star Alliance airline, will also grant you access.
- Paid entry. You can purchase a day pass for $75 for 3-hour access.
It’s worth mentioning that the Star Alliance lounge has some out-of-alliance partnerships with carriers such as Air Tahiti Nui, Virgin Atlantic, and Philippine Airlines, so you’ll want to refer to the lounge’s website for the specifics on how to gain access when flying those airlines. Lastly, access for Air New Zealand’s Koru Club and Elite Partner travelers is only available when flying on Air New Zealand. Notably, these entry methods might come with complimentary guest access.
Lounge Layout
Immediately after entering the lounge, you’ll pass a closet for luggage storage.
From there, as you continue down the hallway, you’ll find seating on both sides of you. The main bar is off to your left, behind a few sections of cushioned chairs. On the back side of the bar is the first of two patios – this one opens up to the terminal’s atrium.
The lounge leans on its locality thematically. The decor takes inspiration from the glitz and glam of Hollywood, and you’ll see this in everything from the shimmery curtains, artwork, entryway, and wine display.
Continuing on the main hallway, to your right, you’ll pass by the main buffet and food area. A bit further along is the back of the lounge, where you’ll find a hallway to showers and my favorite part of the lounge—the outdoor patio that looks onto the tarmac. On both of my visits, I decided to spend most of my time on the back outdoor terrace, delighting in watching planes pull out of the gate, dock, take off, and land.
You’ll find firepits out here, which are a nice touch if you visit before an evening departure.
During busier hours, the outdoor patio bar may be open, making it convenient not to hop back inside to refresh your drink.
I really do appreciate this space within the lounge, as it’s great for relaxing and getting some fresh air before spending 15 hours in the cabin.
Food & Beverage
The food in the lounge is plentiful (the team does a good job of refreshing the offerings), though it’s more ‘heavier apps style’ than entrees. You’ll find wraps, half-sandwiches, salad, cheese, crackers, pretzels, parfaits, fruit, chips, and desserts. To be clear, you can easily fill up on this stuff if you’re looking to; this just isn’t a lounge that goes hard on the hot food options, at least after breakfast hours.
The one exception is the noodle bar.
In the rear right side of the buffet hall, you’ll find a noodle bar allowing you to craft your bowl. You can select from different noodle types, broths, protein fillings, and toppings.
Indeed, everyone is a star at the Star Alliance Lounge.
As far as alcohol is concerned, the main bar is a full one, and you can expect mid-premium spirits brands.
The wine selection is OK. It rotates, and you’ll find a lot of ubiquitous value labels like Michael David, Oyster Bay, and Daou. On one of my visits, they were serving up Zonin prosecco for a sparkler, though if you prefer Champagne, there was some at a dedicated sparkling bar.
Facilities
I arrived after spending some time at the Hyatt Regency LAX on both of my visits to this lounge, so I was already freshly showered and clean for my long-haul flight. Thus, while I never tested the showers, I did peek into them, and they appeared to be in good condition/working order.
I’ve never used the luggage storage service either—I prefer to keep my belongings with me—but having this around is a bonus if you’ve got a long layover and want to move about freely without worrying about your things.
Service
The service in this lounge was strong, though my interactions were limited. I’ve enjoyed some brief, pleasant conversations with the bartending staff while ordering drinks, and I can remember warm welcomes from the front desk staff. Additionally, as this lounge does numbers, it’s impressive that the team members do a good job keeping the place tidy.
Overall Thoughts
TBI at LAX is one of the largest international terminals in the world. As such, it’s an airport where lounge access is key, so you can have a comfortable place to retreat before flying out. The Star Alliance LAX lounge is worth a visit!
