Qantas has given its long-running Oneworld business class lounge at LAX a facelift after nearly 12 years in operation. Overall it’s more of a refresh with new furniture and paint, not a reinvention.
The lounge, located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, has been around for over a decade. It’s a joint venture between Qantas, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, and serves as the primary premium lounge for a wide mix of Oneworld carriers departing Los Angeles. I’ve been to the lounge at least a dozen times and previously reviewed the lounge.
A refresh Local Look
The biggest change is aesthetic. The dark, mid-century look has been swapped out for something lighter and more “California coastal.” Think brighter finishes, timber accents, and a space that finally lets in more natural light. There is even a new a new skylight in the dining area. Yet still no views outside. Afterall, the lounge didn’t move locations.
It’s a noticeable improvement over the old, slightly cave-like interior. But if you were hoping for something on the level of Qantas’ flagship lounges in Sydney or Melbourne, this isn’t it. This is still somewhat dark, with views to nowhere.
Despite the changes, the mid-century modern fireplace did remain. So travelers can still relax by the fire before a flight.
More Seats – The biggest Change
Arguably the most important upgrade isn’t visual, it’s capacity. The lounge now seats about 570 guests, up from roughly 500.
That matters, because this lounge has historically struggled with crowding, especially during the evening wave of long-haul departures to Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. More seats won’t eliminate the issue, but it should at least make peak times slightly less painful. As Oneworld has grown, so has the lounge. LAX is served by Alaska and Hawaiian in T6, American Airlines in T4 and British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, JAL, and Qantas, and Qatar Airways in TBIT.
The Bottom Line
This refresh fixes some long-standing issues: the space is brighter, seating is more efficient, and the lounge should handle crowds slightly better. There’s even more power outlets as we all have become more device focus over the last decade and need more juice.
But let’s be clear, this is still the same lounge at its core. If you’ve visited before, you’ll recognize it immediately. For a major international gateway like LAX, this feels more like overdue maintenance than a bold upgrade. It’s better, but it’s not raising the bar.
