Asiana Business Lounge
International Concourse
Seoul Incheon.
Incheon is regularly advertised as one of the top airport’s in the world. I had been through Incheon on international connections many times. Indeed, it is a easy and pleasant experience. This was my first experience that I have had departing Incheon as a passenger.
We had an easy, hassle free, check in with Thai Royal Silk Business. Our boarding cards on Thai were issued to BKK and onward to DXB. We were also given a hand written Star Alliance Lounge invitation.
We were directed over to a huge several hundred person long security screening line up. There were no priority queues for business class so we joined the masses. MrsWT73 wasn’t impressed by this, but really there was no other alternative. Thankfully, there were over 10 security screening check point lanes being fed from this one single line and so it moved relativity quickly. My carry on was flagged for additional screening. They unpacked the bags looking for liquids and quickly lost interest in it when they discovered everything was in compliance- allowing me the lovely opportunity to re-pack it.
The conformity of Asiana flight attendants and the uniform look they provide:
After the bag was put back together, we took the train over to the north satellite concourse. The north satellite concourse appeared to be where most non Asiana airline flights departed from, including the newer Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge, Cathay Pacific Lounge and an outpost of the Asiana First and Business Lounge. The main terminal building holds the main Asiana First and Business Lounges that grace the trip report pages here most often.
The Asiana Lounge is found up the escalator immediately after the subway train, on the upper level.
The Asiana Business Lounge was a similar copy in appearance to the Asiana lounges in the main concourse, less the beautiful open air windows and feel of the main lounges. It included the traditional black centerpiece Young Chang piano.
Overall, the experience was sort of like hanging out in your grandma’s house. It had an older décor with many things not working or broken but that no one seemed interested in fixing.
Our visit was at 8 AM or what one would normally consider breakfast time. At this hour, the coffee machine was broken. Scrambled eggs were out when we arrived, but once they ran out – there were no more to be had until 930 AM. I read this sign and understood breakfast to be between these hours, not 7:30 AM AND 9:30 AM. I asked about this and was informed that I had missed out and would have to wait until 9:30 AM. Seriously? This would be how you’re treating your supposed best passengers? (Okay, as a points redeemer instead. They are still hard earned miles!
)
As a result, I had a toasted cheese sandwich.
There was also a small office area, and working printer. I actually used the facility to print some email confirmations of our Burj Al Arab reservations.
Sometimes lounges are memorable and make for a great experience. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. Not because of anything bad, but aside from the lovely piano and the library feel, there wasn’t much to this place that made it feel different than any other lounge. We didn’t stay too long here and opted for the more pleasant terminal and a leisurely walk to the gate.