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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the largest airport hubs in the United States, with nine terminals. It has a large number of airport lounges, but which lounge is the best First Class lounge at LAX?
Most international airlines fly out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at LAX, but some leave or arrive at terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. It is worth noting LAX’s terminal buildings are connected airside, so you can walk or shuttle between airport lounges if you’re flying out of a different terminal from the lounge that you want to use.
If you are staying in Los Angeles, we have reviewed the best executive club lounges at hotels in Los Angeles and the best Marriott hotels near Disneyland as well as the best hotels near LAX.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can access airport lounges for free if you have an unlimited Priority Pass or an Amex Platinum card. To get extra bonus referral points and advice on the Platinum American Express and other free lounge access credit cards, have a read of our best credit cards for luxury travel.
1. Qantas First Class Lounge, Tom Bradley International Terminal
The best First Class lounge at LAX is the Qantas International First Lounge. It is located after security on Level 5 of Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. If you do have access, you will thoroughly enjoy this lounge experience.
You can access this lounge if you are:
- Flying in first class on Qantas (one guest is allowed)
- You are a Platinum One or Platinum frequent flyer with Qantas and your next flight is Qantas or Oneworld (one guest is allowed)<
- You are a Oneworld Emerald frequent flyer traveling on Oneworld (one guest is allowed)
- American Airlines elites traveling on North American flights, except Mexico City, don’t have access
- Your next onward flight that day is in International First on Oneworld (one guest is allowed)
This airport lounge is spacious with plenty of seating and conference rooms that can be reserved. The Qantas First Class lounge has self-serve soft and alcoholic drinks, but it doesn’t have a buffet. Food is delivered as table service, restaurant-style, with freshly prepared foods from a seasonal menu. The salt and pepper squid and the coconut chicken salad comes highly recommended, but all the food in this lounge is excellent. There are also some snacks like crisps in one of the self-serve drinks areas.
Near the dining area, there’s a long bar with spirits, cocktails, and coffees, etc. You can order drinks at the bar or from servers in the dining area or self-serve them in the lounge seating areas.
It is worth noting that there is no complimentary spa, there are no sleeping areas, and that there are no work stations in this lounge. There is also no view of the tarmac from this lounge.
2. Star Alliance First Class lounge, Tom Bradley International Terminal
There are seven exclusive Star Alliance branded lounges around the world. Local architects have created these with regional flair to leave you with a positive and lasting memory of that country’s culture. The Star Alliance lounges are located in Buenos Aires (EZE), Los Angeles (LAX), Nagoya (NGO), Paris (CDG), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Rome (FCO), Amsterdam (AMS), and Sao Paulo (GRU).
The Star Alliance lounge, Tom Bradley International Terminal, is accessible to Star Alliance Gold members with same-day boarding passes and those traveling on a Star Alliance Business or First Class. United Gold and Star Alliance Gold members on a United domestic flights can also access the lounge.
There is also a separate Star Alliance First Class lounge nearby that offers a similar setting but with fewer people and a la carte dining. You can choose between a small buffet and an à la carte menu in the First Class lounge, with your meal delivered table service to you.
The entrance of the First Class lounge is stylish with Herman Miller chairs. Inside the lounge, there are very few seats. The lounge is extremely quiet and has four classy dining tables with white tablecloths at the back. The view is uninteresting right out to other lounges inside the terminal but not down to anywhere interesting, not even the internal foyer.
There is a very nice but small buffet with cheeses, little glasses of dessert and fruit, smoothies and sandwiches, noodles and dim sum, and of course, there is the a la carte restaurant food.
While this lounge is undoubtedly First Class, its tiny size means there isn’t much to watch, and you may actually prefer the more lively Star Alliance Business Class lounge.
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