The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX is one of my favorite lounges in the world and I’m happy to report the lounge is back to normal. All the services and amenities have returned and it doesn’t look like they implemented any cost-saving measures either.
This is one of my favorite business class lounges and it’s always a joy for me to visit before any long-haul flight. The lounge is a massive space with a beautiful indoor balcony, an incredible outdoor terrace, excellent food options, and plenty of comfortable spaces to rest, relax, and be productive before your flight.
The lounge is located airside in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B). Once you pass through security, make a right-hand turn and take the elevators up to the sixth floor. The lounge is open from 8:30 AM to 1:00 AM daily and is accessible by premium cabin passengers traveling on any Star Alliance partner flight and Star Alliance Gold members traveling in any class of service.
As you enter the lounge, there is a coat and luggage storage room to the right of the attendant desk. The storage room is unsecured but it is monitored by the front desk agents.
The lounge is smartly designed with a main seating area for relaxation and socialization and smaller, private rooms for additional peace and quiet. The main seating area offers a variety of comfortable seating options such as armchairs and couches to relax by yourself or socialize with your fellow passengers. Light curtains are used to divide the massive space and give the main seating area a sense of intimacy.
There is a dedicated workspace located in the back of the lounge and an enclosed library room for increased privacy and productivity. Electrical outlets are located by all the seating areas and password-protected WiFi is provided throughout the lounge.
If you want to chill out and relax in front of a TV, there is a small media room to catch up on the day’s news or zone out with some mindless programming. There are no day rooms to lay down so if you want to shut your eyes for a bit, this would be the place to do it.
If you are connecting from another flight or just need to freshen up before your flight, shower suites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The dining room is located in the center of the lounge with plenty of seating for individuals, couples, and groups to share a meal together.
The self-serve buffet station offers a great selection of hot and cold dishes for breakfast including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, waffles, and smoothies.
During my visit, the pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) station was replaced with some packaged, instant noodle soup. However, Matthew over at Live and Let’s Fly tells us that the noodle station is now back!
In the back of the dining area, there is a self-serve beverage station, espresso machine and a small selection of wines. If you’re looking for something more substantial, a hosted bar is located in the center of the lounge with a wider selection of alcoholic drinks to choose from.
If the main seating area is a little too claustrophobic for you, then head over to the indoor balcony and enjoy some “fresh air” and people-watching below. The indoor balcony overlooks the international departure terminal and it even has its own bar so you don’t have to walk too far for a drink.
But my favorite part of the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX, and the reason why it’s my favorite lounge in the entire Star Alliance network, is the impressive outdoor terrace. This incredible space is a perfect place to sit and relax, day or night, and enjoy a glass of wine or just watch the planes taking off nearby.
Star Alliance Lounge LAX Bottom Line
There is no doubt the Star Alliance Lounge LAX is one of the best business-class lounges in the world and I’m so glad it is back to normal. I have had the pleasure of visiting this lounge several times now and it still amazes me every time. The lounge is spacious and offers a variety of useable spaces for passengers to rest, relax, or be productive before their flights and the outdoor terrace is a literal breath of fresh air.
Have you visited the Star Alliance Lounge LAX? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
The other reviews included in this series:
- Star Alliance Lounge LAX
- SAS Business Class, Los Angeles to Copenhagen
- SAS Gold Lounge, Copenhagen
- Pontus in the Air American Express Lounge Stockholm
- Hilton Tallinn Park
- Eventyr Lounge Copenhagen
- SAS Economy Class, Copenhagen to Los Angeles
Star Alliance Lounge LAX At A Glance
The Star Alliance Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport sits on the sixth floor of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT, Terminal B), airside. Passengers reach it by taking the elevators near the clock tower in the central atrium after clearing security. It is one of the most praised business-class lounges in the Star Alliance network worldwide and consistently draws attention for its generous outdoor terrace, a feature that most US airport lounges simply do not offer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Airport / Terminal | Los Angeles International (LAX), Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT / Terminal B) |
| Location within terminal | Sixth floor, airside; take the elevator near the clock tower in the central atrium after security |
| Hours | 8:30 AM to 1:00 AM, though Sundays may open at 9:00 AM |
| Who can enter | Business or first class passengers on a same-day Star Alliance flight departing TBIT, where all departures are international; Star Alliance Gold members in any cabin on a same-day Star Alliance flight; Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members on a same-day Star Alliance flight |
| Guest policy | Star Alliance Gold members may bring one companion traveling on the same Star Alliance flight; first class passengers may also bring one companion on the same Star Alliance flight |
| Priority Pass | Not accepted |
| Paid entry | Available via the Star Alliance website for eligible passengers not otherwise qualifying |
| Showers | Eight shower suites, first-come first-served |
| Food | Self-serve buffet plus noodle bar; central dining room |
| Bar | Self-serve beverage station and espresso; hosted full bar; second bar on indoor balcony |
| Standout feature | Large outdoor terrace with fire pits, tarmac views, and plane-spotting |
| WiFi / Power | Password-protected WiFi throughout; electrical outlets at all seating areas |
Who Can Access The Star Alliance Lounge LAX
Access to the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX is restricted to passengers with a qualifying ticket or status on a same-day departing Star Alliance flight from TBIT. The specific groups who can enter are as follows.
Business and first class passengers traveling on any Star Alliance member airline international flight departing that day are eligible. This covers airlines including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, United, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air, Asiana, Air New Zealand, and all other Star Alliance carriers.
Star Alliance Gold members are eligible regardless of the cabin they are booked in, as long as they hold a same-day boarding pass for a Star Alliance international flight departing from TBIT. Star Alliance Gold is the top tier of the Star Alliance status structure and is recognized across the full Star Alliance membership. Each Gold member may bring one companion who is also traveling on the same Star Alliance flight that day.
Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members presenting a valid membership card that displays the Star Alliance Lounge logo, together with a same-day Star Alliance boarding pass, are also eligible for entry.
The lounge does not accept Priority Pass, Lounge Key, or equivalent third-party access programs. Travelers arriving at TBIT without qualifying status or a premium cabin ticket who want lounge access should check whether a paid day pass is available through the Star Alliance website before their travel date.
Paid Entry: Who Can Buy Access
The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX offers a paid access option for passengers who would not otherwise qualify through status or cabin class. Passes are purchased in advance through the Star Alliance booking portal and cover a set window of time. This allows economy and premium economy travelers on Star Alliance flights to use the lounge before their departure.
Availability is subject to lounge capacity, and the program is intended to supplement rather than replace the complimentary access tiers. Travelers interested in purchasing a pass should check the Star Alliance paid lounge entry page directly for current pricing and availability before their travel date, as capacity varies and bookings are time-limited.
Is The Star Alliance Lounge LAX Worth It
For Star Alliance business and first class passengers departing from TBIT, the lounge is worth building extra time into the airport arrival to enjoy. The combination of a large, well-segmented interior, a full buffet and noodle bar, eight shower suites, and the outdoor terrace puts this facility comfortably above most carrier lounges in the US. The terrace in particular is a genuine differentiator: an open-air space with fire pits and clear sightlines to the tarmac is uncommon at any North American airport lounge and is reason enough for a TBIT regular to treat this as a destination rather than a waiting room.
Star Alliance Gold members with a long layover or an early arrival at TBIT get significant value from using the showers before a long-haul flight and spending time on the terrace rather than in the main terminal. Travelers without qualifying status or a premium cabin ticket have the paid access option to consider, which is a reasonable proposition for the quality of the facility relative to sitting in the terminal. The lounge does not participate in Priority Pass, so cardholders looking for a complimentary option at TBIT will need to look elsewhere in the terminal.
- Best for: Star Alliance business and first class passengers; Star Alliance Gold members with a layover or early arrival at TBIT
- Worth noting: No Priority Pass; no dedicated nap rooms; the bar is well-stocked but not extravagant; peak international departure banks can fill the lounge
- The standout: The outdoor terrace with fire pits makes this one of the best lounge experiences at any US international gateway
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Access The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX?
The lounge is open to passengers flying business or first class on any Star Alliance member airline on a same-day departing international flight from TBIT, and to Star Alliance Gold status holders traveling in any cabin class on a same-day Star Alliance flight. Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide members presenting a valid membership card and a same-day Star Alliance boarding pass are also eligible. First class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members may each bring one companion traveling on the same flight.
Can You Use Priority Pass at The Star Alliance Lounge LAX?
No. The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX does not participate in Priority Pass, Lounge Key, or other third-party access programs. Travelers holding Priority Pass at LAX have other options in the terminal but the Star Alliance Lounge in TBIT is not one of them.
What Are The Star Alliance Lounge LAX Hours?
The lounge is open daily from 8:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Hours can shift with the seasonal flight schedule, so it is worth confirming current hours directly with the lounge or the Star Alliance website before an early or late departure.
Where Is The Star Alliance Lounge LAX Located?
The lounge is airside on the sixth floor of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT, Terminal B) at LAX. After clearing security, take the elevator near the clock tower in the central atrium to reach the sixth floor. The lounge serves international departures.
Does The Star Alliance Lounge LAX Have Showers?
Yes. The lounge has eight shower suites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each suite comes with towels, a hair dryer, and toiletries. Showers are particularly useful for passengers connecting from a long-haul arrival before their next departure.
Can Star Alliance Gold Members Bring a Guest?
Yes. Star Alliance Gold members are entitled to bring one companion, provided that companion is also traveling on the same Star Alliance flight departing from TBIT that day. First class passengers are subject to the same one-guest allowance under the same condition.
