I'm use to flying Asiana where I normally have access to the lounge one way or another. I usually have status on Star alliance.

Now I have a flight on KE and I have no status. My flight is in just a couple days, so I'm not expecting anything.

Any real suggestions? Can I purchase a pass to the lounge?

Coming back I think I actually go through Chicaogo, so a lounge would be nice there too.

Thanks!

You can buy "priority pass" which is like $100 and pay like $25 everytime you use the contracted lounges. (I'm not sure about the price, visit www.prioritypass.com ) Then you can use KAL business class lounge in ICN and JFK. I don't think prioritypass-holders can use ORD's KAL lounge. But instead, they can use other lounges in ORD.

KE lounges do not sell one time entry passes unforunately.

Can I buy a one time pass to the Asiana lounge if I'm Flying KE?

I am not sure whether OZ lounges sell one time entry passes, but I can tell you there is absolutely no relationship between KE and OZ. So if OZ doesn't sell the passes, you're out of luck.

However, you might want to see if other carriers' lounges at the airport are selling such passes.

If you're based in Korea, get a platinum credit card from KEB. It costs something like 70,000 Won per year, but you'll get Asiana or Korean Air mileage for all your purchases (you need to decide which airline when you apply for the card), and you get free Priority Pass access to the KE lounges at airports in Korea as well as other airports around the world. There's some other benefits to the card as well. It's available to both Koreans and foreigners residing in Korea.

Thanks!
Do you know if the card gets you and one guest, you and family, or just yourself into the lounge? Is it just the KE lounge, or also the OZ Lounge?
So you could get OZ points, but use it for the KE lounge..

THanks again!


If you're based in Korea, get a platinum credit card from KEB. It costs something like 70,000 Won per year, but you'll get Asiana or Korean Air mileage for all your purchases (you need to decide which airline when you apply for the card), and you get free Priority Pass access to the KE lounges at airports in Korea as well as other airports around the world. There's some other benefits to the card as well. It's available to both Koreans and foreigners residing in Korea.

I think what "Soju" tells is priority pass. My dad (Korean and live in Korea) has platinum credit card on a bank (I don't remember the name of the bank), which costs 120,000won (130 USD) a year, and received priority pass card. It is free for himself, no matter how many times get in to lounges, and costs 25 USD for a company. You can take only one company at ICN KE lounges. Detail things are available in www.prioritypass.com. Here, you can check which lounges you can access, how many companies possible, etc. With this card, only KE business lounges are accessible, not OZ lounge. And you can accumulate 1mile / 1000won use of the credit card.

And, you should live in Korea to make this credit card.

Thanks!
Do you know if the card gets you and one guest, you and family, or just yourself into the lounge? Is it just the KE lounge, or also the OZ Lounge?
So you could get OZ points, but use it for the KE lounge..

THanks again!

BobbyBrown made an accurate reply, but just too add a few things...

If you get the card with KEB, there are several varieties...the Expat card (KE miles only) for 120,000 Won, or the Platinum available either as a KE mileage or OZ mileage card for 70,000 Won (plus I think 10,000 Won or something for the mileage part as opposed to just getting points in their points program vs. mileage). There is also a 120,000 Won version of the Platinum card which has more benefits. As an expat, you can get either the Expat or the Platinum, but if you want Asiana miles, you must choose the Platinum. Regardless of which card you can get your statement sent to you in English. The application form for the Platinum card is only in Korean, but as long as the bank personnel can help you out, it should be no problem to fill out that application. Their website (http://www.yescard.co.kr/English/) has all the pertinent information. The Platinum Asiana 700 is what I have. Regardless of the airline you're flying on, you can use the KE lounge. I generally use the KE Prestige Lounge at ICN.

BobbyBrown made an accurate reply, but just too add a few things...

Regardless of the airline you're flying on, you can use the KE lounge. I generally use the KE Prestige Lounge at ICN.

Any idea about what level of priority pass you receive? Do you have unlimited access to clubs worldwide or just the KE clubs at ICN. I wish I'd know b/c I recently purchased (approx. $350) a full pass for my wife.

Thanks.

Surprisingly it is the most expensive one ($399 or so). The credit card holder is free for endless times of visiting to any prioritypass-accessible-lounge in the WORLDWIDE. That's what I heard directly from the credit card employee, and it is $399 worth according to the prioritypass homepage, even though the credit card's annual fee is only $130. Hope this benefit does not change, so I don't want more people in Korea know about this. (Am I too selfish? ^^) I'm gonna delete my writings here in a month or so. If you live in Korea, just enroll this credit card!!

Wow! What a bargain. Does priority pass send you a card or do you show your KEB CC at the lounge entrances? I'm going to haul my butt to the nearest branch and sign up. Thats a fantastic deal!

I totally agree with you. They mail you a separate priority pass card. Plus, there are a lot more advantages becoming the platinum member - buy 1 domestic round ticket, get 1 free! The free ticket is for your company and you two should depart together. (not sure) I don't remember it is KE or OZ or both. Check benefits of various platinum cards. Incredible. Some of them offer in-door golf. My daddy has more than two platinum cards and enjoying his life. My mom, too. By the way, one thing I'm not sure is which bank's platinum gives priority pass. Kook-min or Ki-eop...

As I said before, I got mine with KEB (Korea Exchange Bank). It's only 70,000 Won for the midrange Platinum card that comes with the free priority pass, or 120,000 Won for the high-end Platinum card with more services, plus I think a 10,000 Won fee for the mileage portion of the card. Some of the services provided by the 70K card are:

*Free RT domestic ticket for companion or Jeju Shilla Hotel discount
*The full-feature Priority Pass card good for domestic use at all KAL and KAL Prestige Lounges and for international use as per Priority Pass designated lounges
*8% discount on International air tickets (only 6% on certain airlines)
*5% discount on Domestic air tickets
*Discount of 20-30% on foreign exchange
*Discount for car rentals
*Discount on gasoline
*Discounts at Duty-Free Shops
*Discounts at hotels and condominums
*Discounts at movie theaters
*Discounts at restaurants
*1 OZ or KE mile per 1,000 Won charged to card
*Free golf

The high-end (120K Won) card adds on:
*One night free stay at Jeju Hyatt
*Golf injury insurance

Other banks may have cards, but beware if you don't speak Korean that your statements and everything else may all be in Korean. KEB has specifically targeted non-Korean speaking expats with their product and have staff who speak English well to assist you.

Surprisingly it is the most expensive one ($399 or so). The credit card holder is free for endless times of visiting to any prioritypass-accessible-lounge in the WORLDWIDE. That's what I heard directly from the credit card employee, and it is $399 worth according to the prioritypass homepage, even though the credit card's annual fee is only $130. Hope this benefit does not change, so I don't want more people in Korea know about this. (Am I too selfish? ^^) I'm gonna delete my writings here in a month or so. If you live in Korea, just enroll this credit card!!

Actually, I don't think many Koreans or Asians in general use their Priority Pass cards. The Priority Pass card given away with credit cards is quite common in Asia. It's done also in Thailand, and I believe Taiwan and other Asian countries, but from reports I've read many Asians just like their Platinum card and may rarely even travel, and even if they do don't bother with the lounges. It's great for me, and like you was a bit hesitant to mention it for fear that too many people getting it would get the Priority Pass feature deleted. BTW, I've visited numerous Priority Pass lounges in Asia, and the KAL Prestige Lounge at ICN is clearly the best of them all. Some of them are a complete joke and hardly even worth the time spent to find them, ie. no computers/internet access, horrible selection of food/drinks, no showers, etc. I think I read that the KAL Prestige Lounge was voted the best PP lounge in Asia, and maybe in the world. For travelers out of ICN, it's great, but don't be expecting much outside of Korea.

Soju, you're right. (it's kinda fun to call your nickname, you know.) And I don't think there are a lot of Koreans in this forum.
Actually priority pass card makes fun to travel abroad. My mom and dad occationally comes to USA to see me, in AUS, and everytime they come via different cities, to enjoy different lounges. It means that they couldn't find satisfying lounge in USA yet. Usually cheap tickets require to via (even more than) a couple of cities, but they like it. Sometimes it is even confusing, they come to see me or enjoying lounges. haha.

BTW, I've visited numerous Priority Pass lounges in Asia, and the KAL Prestige Lounge at ICN is clearly the best of them all. Some of them are a complete joke and hardly even worth the time spent to find them, ie. no computers/internet access, horrible selection of food/drinks, no showers, etc. I think I read that the KAL Prestige Lounge was voted the best PP lounge in Asia, and maybe in the world. For travelers out of ICN, it's great, but don't be expecting much outside of Korea.

Would you mind mentioning which lounges in Asia have disappointed? We're based in Seoul and fly frequently to the US so its worth it for those benefits alone but my wife travels a good deal to other parts of Asia and I'd like to help her avoids dumps if at all possible.

Would you mind mentioning which lounges in Asia have disappointed? We're based in Seoul and fly frequently to the US so its worth it for those benefits alone but my wife travels a good deal to other parts of Asia and I'd like to help her avoids dumps if at all possible.

The Louis Tavern Lounges in Bangkok are just average. The Priority Pass can get you into their First Class Lounge there, which is definitely better than their Business Class Lounge, but still nothing special. No internet, no showers, very mediocre food, stale sandwiches, comfortable chairs with very few people there. Their Business Class Lounge at the intersection of Concourse D/E/F/G is the contract lounge used by about a dozen airlines at BKK and is packed solid most of the time - avoid at all costs. The other Business Class Lounge on Concourse A generally has plenty of seating. Still their lounges at Suvarnabhumi are much better than they were at Don Muang where they had ancient / very worn seating.

The More Lounge at Taipei was awful with regard to food and drinks. Their food selection was totally geared towards Chinese and I couldn't find anything at all to eat despite having not eaten breakfast or lunch that day. The decor of the lounge was fine and plenty of seating and plenty of open computers with internet access.

The Lounge at Denpasar is quite bad. Their internet there is so slow as to be practically unusable, but on top of that the connection cuts off every so often and needs to be reset and you lose anything you were working on. To top it off the chairs at the computers are extremely uncomfortable. There were only two computers there, but no problem getting a free computer because everyone gave up quickly after seeing how poor they were. Their hot food (fried rice and noodles) is stone cold and needs to be heated in their microwave, the result of which is very dry and tasteless. Their cold food /snacks isn't any better. Seating was okay, with lots of space. Better than sitting in the public seating, but I'd much prefer spending an extra hour at my hotel than at this lounge.

I've just briefly looked at some other airport lounges when transiting, but don't really have much to say about them, so will let someone else who does comment. I expect to be in Hong Kong soon and will hopefully have a chance to try out the lounge there.