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If you are flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on United Airlines, you will need to know the best LAX airport lounge. Your lounge access depends on your class of flight, which airline you are flying with, and your status with an alliance like Oneworld, Skyteam, or Star Alliance.
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 best if you are flying in on United?
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. United Polaris Lounge Terminal 7
The United Polaris Lounge Terminal 7 is available for departing or connecting United Polaris Business Class passengers and departing long-haul Star Alliance Business or First Class customers. If you are flying Business on United, alternatively you could use the Star Alliance lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
This lounge is super stylish with a blue and grey color scheme and floor-to-ceiling windows to one side with super views of the planes. There are single seats in half-booths and groups of seats by the windows. There are cafe seats by the buffet. In the middle of the lounge is a long bar with hand-crafted cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, and barista-made coffee.
The buffet is excellent. At breakfast, there are hot sausages, fried potatoes, and scrambled eggs, as well as loads of cold dishes, including rocket and cheese, to sprinkle on your food. There are soups, salads, bread, cheeses, cold cuts, oatmeal, granola, or muesli with fresh berries. There are pastries and muffins too. At lunch, there are pre-prepared mini sandwiches, Vol-au-vents, what looked like mini quiches, rice, pasta, chicken dishes, huge bowls of salads, and much more besides. The afternoon desserts are also a dream, properly restaurant level with brownies, pots of fruity, creamy things, plus if all that doesn’t fill you up, there’s a juice bar too.
Finally, there’s a separate restaurant-style a la carte restaurant within the lounge if the buffet doesn’t fill you up. This newly renovated lounge also has modern shower suites and daybed suites with classy bedding for napping.
This United Polaris lounge is one of the best airport lounges at LAX mainly because it is so smart, there is a la carte dining, they have nap rooms and great shower suites.
2. Star Alliance 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 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.
Star Alliance airlines include United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, etc. There are airline-specific agents for passengers who travel on Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Asiana and Air, and New Zealand within this lounge to help passengers with any issues related to their flights.
This large Business Class lounge is excellent, perhaps even better than Centurion lounges, and has an outdoor terrace with plenty of outdoor seating, obstructed views of the planes, and a fire pit. There’s also a grill for barbecues. A large indoor balcony with a full-service bar overlooks the terminal interior.
The hot and cold buffet has lots of fresh food, including four salad options and a noodle bar. Hot food includes coconut chicken curry, sun-dried tomato mac and cheese, and beef stew with vegetables. There are also snacks including bread, crisps, cheese, dips, cold cuts, salads, sandwiches, hot food, and dessert including fruit.
Spirits, wine, and beer are self-serve, though there are bartenders if you want a cocktail. There’s Mumm Napa brut sparkling wine and bottles of Asahi, Corona, Kirin, and Sam Adams Boston Lager in the fridge.
There are 8 showers within the Business Class lounge (but not the First Class Lounge) which is useful. These contain a dental kit, shaving kit, hairdryer, towels, and Soaptopia toiletries.
The food selection is extensive in this lounge, and the outdoor patio area makes it unique. This is a lounge worth spending time in.
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