Confirmed: first Oneworld-branded lounge for ICN
 

As suspected and rumoured, Oneworld has now confirmed its first Oneworld-branded lounge is soon to open at Seoul T1. Official ribbon-cutting in January but I hear a 'soft opening' could take place in the second half of December, if the lounge is ready in time. More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...d-seoul-lounge

This is good news. The lounge available for AA flyers was underwhelming to say the least.

Next? Berlin? Athens?

I'd always have thought Berlin would be on the list, especially as this was a new-build terminal.

Glad to hear that. It's about time!

After just a "few" years of delays :rolleyes:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c2d184f82.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...acedcaf88.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1486d7e6e.jpeg
staff says opening tomorrow!

Did the lounge open in the end?

Seems open. Some images from a Korean site.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a13be87e0b.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4bbff3a3d4.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ec05122b1d.jpg
As found on dprime here

In the post it also says passengers with Priority Pass will also be able to access the lounge from January. :eek:

Curious that we haven't seen a press release or similar official comms, as well as the blogsphere lighting up with this news.

Well, it was Christmas after all. Doubt a lot of PR people at the Oneworld org were working over the holidays.

FYI: more pics and first-hand details now up at https://www.executivetraveller.com/r...oul-icn-lounge

Interestingly, some Oneworld airlines are still sending travellers to their contracted ICN lounge, eg CX directed a mate to the Asiana lounge – but he'd head the Oneworld lounge was open so swung by there without problem.

Although the lounge opened in a 'soft opening' mode, Oneworld is holding off on a press release until the lounge's official opening later this month.

Really needed but the problem is that ICN belongs to Skyteam KE. I wonder if an Oneworld lounge can be made at their hubs these are LHR BA shared with Skyteam VS NRT/HND JL shared with Star Alliance NH and US SEA AS DFW & JFK AA and HKG CX.

I'd like to offer an answer but I can't quite understand your question – perhaps you could try rephrasing it? Is there a series of airports you're suggesting might also be good fits for Oneworld lounges?

Yeah, not sure what value a separate OW lounge would add at OW hub airports. In most if not all cases, the home airline’s lounge will be better than a hypothetical alliance-operated lounge and accessible by all OW F/J/status pax.