New Los Angeles lounge
Almasalla- Arab Travel Portal News – Qantas, British Airways and Qantas have opened a new Business Lounge for passengers flying on oneworld member airlines from Los Angeles’ Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Today, the new Business Lounge can accommodate 400 customers. When its final phase is completed early next year, it will seat 600. Combined with the new 200-seat First Class Lounge, this more than doubles the size of the previous facility.
The new Business Lounge is available to passengers booked in First or Business Class on oneworld airlines departing from the terminal, or customers holding Emerald or Sapphire status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme booked in any cabin on a oneworld member airline flight from the terminal.
When the new First Class lounge is open soon, passengers booked in First Class and Emerald cardholders will be offered that new facility.
The stylish and spacious Business Lounge has a contemporary design reflecting Californian culture, combined with signature elements from each airline, built around a communal fireplace and central glass atrium providing natural light.
In the lounge’s dining area, visitors can choose from menus, designed by renowned Qantas chef Neil Perry, based on signature Qantas Lounge favourites with influences of multicultural California, including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Korean and US West Coast street food.
Californian food carts similar to the pop-up dining concept offer freshly prepared dishes such as crumbed cod tacos with red cabbage slaw and lime chipotle mayo and Asian-spiced chicken wings.
At the cocktail bar, customers can select signature cocktails or premium wines, or have the barista service create the coffee of their choice.
The lounge also offers an enhanced hot and cold buffet, faster WiFi, new workstations and nine shower suites with Aurora Spa amenities, with seven more shower suites to be available soon.
Qantas, which has developed and will manage the new facilities on behalf of its fellow oneworld members, has partnered with Sofitel to offer a service experience consistent with the standards across its Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Singapore lounges.
This includes a hosted experience for customers travelling in First, Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyers and oneworld Emerald members with exclusive services including shirt pressing, shoe shining and priority access to showers.
Upon completion the Business Lounge will also include a Family Zone.
Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey said: "The new Los Angeles Business Lounge is proof of our on-going investment in our product to ensure we provide the best travel experience possible for our customers when they are on the ground and in the air.
"As well as an overall upgrade, we have significantly increased the amount of space for our premium customers. It is designed to reflect the culture of California, while providing a place to relax, socialise and work before a flight."
Cathay Pacific’s Senior Vice-President Americas Tom Owen added: "Cathay Pacific travellers are accustomed to a premium lounge experience due to our renowned airport lounges in Hong Kong and around the world, and the new Los Angeles business lounge certainly delivers on this expectation."
British Airways’ Head of North America and Asia Pacific Customer Service and Operations Steve Clark stated: "This new lounge facility reflects British Airways’ commitment to delivering customer service excellence both in the air and on the ground."
Qantas serves Los Angeles from Sydney and Melbourne with two Airbus A380s a day, and from Brisbane with a daily Boeing 747. Cathay Pacific serves Los Angeles with four flights a day from its Hong Kong hub. British Airways operates two A380s a day to Los Angeles from its London Heathrow hub.
Other oneworld member airlines operating from LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal include airberlin, Iberia, Japan Airlines and LAN Airlines.
American Airlines is housed in Terminal 4, next door. Its affiliate US Airways is based in Terminal 3.
