For beginners, booking an international business class award ticket is a milestone. It may be their first time in a lie-flat seat, getting real food when on a plane, and it will probably be their first visit to a decent business-class airport lounge.
They may have visited lounges in US airports with a Priority Pass membership, but The Club MSY isn’t the same as an upper-level lounge.
When departing LAX for an international flight on a Star Alliance carrier, passengers can access the Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
This post isn’t for those who have been to the lounge multiple times and grump about when the patio bar isn’t open. It’s for the newbies who have never been in a lounge like this before and might miss out on some of the “hidden” features.
First Things First
Star Alliance doesn’t make it easy to know who can access the LAX lounge. That is a post in itself, and, thankfully, OMAAT has a great explanation of who does and doesn’t have access to Star Alliance lounges. The important thing to know is that if you’re departing from TBIT on an international business class or first-class flight with a Star Alliance member, you should have access.
Finding The Lounge
The TBIT terminal at LAX is quite large. If you’ve never been there, finding the lounge can be challenging. One you’ve checked in and gone through security, get to the central atrium near the clocktower. You can take the elevator or escalators to the 6th floor.
Once you show your boarding pass to the agent, you can enter the club. If you don’t know any better, you’ll find a seat, get a drink from the bar and some food from the buffet.
I’m saying that’s a bad thing. However, if that’s all you do, you’re missing out on some things that make this lounge stand out from other locations.
We missed out on some of these on our last visit so I was sure to check them out before our flight from LAX to Singapore.
The Outdoor Deck
The outdoor deck is one of the great things about the LAX Star Alliance lounge. Plenty of seating makes it a great place to get some fresh air before a long flight. At night, there are several places to get warm by a fire on those chilly Southern California evenings.
To get to the deck, walk through the lounge past the dining area and showers. That’s where you’ll find the door to the deck.
The “Hidden” Noodle Bar
This one is easy to overlook if you don’t know where it is.
When you’re at the buffet line, all you’ll see at the end of the line are the soda and coffee machines. Hidden off to the side of that is a fully stocked noodle bar.
You get to choose the style of noodles and your ingredients.
Then you can choose your broth. There’s a vegetable and chicken option and a tomato basil soup.
Multiple Seating Areas
When you enter the lounge, you’re in the main area. There are several divided sections and most guests sit here. However, there are several other options. Off to the side are some quiet rooms and a media room towards the back of the lounge. There are seats near the buffet if you’re looking for dinner. In addition, there’s the interior deck which looks out over TBIT. The inside deck does have a separate bar, but it was closed during our visit.
The most important thing to know is that if the lounge is crowded, keep looking for seats. There’s a chance you can find a quiet corner. However, if it’s a busy time, you’re best to take the first seats that you find and then look to improve your location.
Final Thoughts
First-time guests will be amazed by the available food and drink options that they’ll often miss out on some of the things that make the LAX Star Alliance lounge stand out.
After our recent visit, I must admit that the lounge shows some age, with worn-out chairs that need replacing. However, it was a great place to spend some time before our long flight to Singapore.
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