LAX TBIT Lounge access
Mar 19, 2019, 1:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TYS
Programs: DL Diamond, Amex Plat, Priority Pass, Hertz Gl, SPG Gold Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 220
LAX TBIT Lounge access
I flew on DL194 from LAX to ATL this week; DL uses a 777 that departs from gate 133 in TBIT rather than from T3. I didn't have much time before the flight but found myself confused about access to any Lounges in TBIT and gave up looking.
As I may do this again soon, i was wondering if a better strategy is to go to the Delta SkyClub in the domestic terminal and transfer airside to TBIT in time to board
what do others do?
As I may do this again soon, i was wondering if a better strategy is to go to the Delta SkyClub in the domestic terminal and transfer airside to TBIT in time to board
what do others do?
Mar 19, 2019, 2:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
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Posts: 4,422
There is a KAL / Skyteam lounge in TBIT; with your Priority Pass you can access this lounge between 12:00 - 18:00 daily. I'm not sure if a domestic DeltaOne fare would gain you access to this lounge (or even if you were flying D1).
Mar 19, 2019, 7:35 pm
#4
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I flew on DL194 from LAX to ATL this week; DL uses a 777 that departs from gate 133 in TBIT rather than from T3. I didn't have much time before the flight but found myself confused about access to any Lounges in TBIT and gave up looking.
As I may do this again soon, i was wondering if a better strategy is to go to the Delta SkyClub in the domestic terminal and transfer airside to TBIT in time to board
what do others do?
As I may do this again soon, i was wondering if a better strategy is to go to the Delta SkyClub in the domestic terminal and transfer airside to TBIT in time to board
what do others do?
The lounge also sucks. No one likes it. In fact in general no one likes any KE lounges. Even ICN lounges aren't reviewed greatly.
Mar 19, 2019, 9:56 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
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Posts: 4,635
Yeah, unless you are on an international ticket you don't get KAL via SkyPriority Elite Plus. There is no D1 service though you get the D1 seats with domestic first class service, so no lounge access. I'd use T2 SC if you have a way in as a domestic flight. But otherwise, I'd also avoid the KAL lounge, it sucks. for PP, I use the PF Chang's restaurant (though there can be huge lines).
Mar 20, 2019, 3:22 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
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I ended up walking to T5, touring around the former DL concourse which now belongs to AA, then exiting security there and taking a shuttle bus to the Westin Hotel, where a branch of the Daily Grill restaurant chain is located. Had a great dinner there and then took the shuttle bus back to LAX, recleared security and took a nap in the T2 SkyClub before my red-eye LAX-ATL-DCA trip.
Mar 20, 2019, 3:38 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
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The hate for the KAL lounge at LAX is overhyped, IMHO. Not worth a special trip, but it's really no worse than a Skyclub. It can get busy, but there are seats. Limited selection of brand name spirits available to self-pour, average buffet food offering, nice "terrace" overlooking TBIT lobby.
Mar 20, 2019, 5:23 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 245
Here's an odd situation. What if you're flying LAX-ATL, then connecting to Canada, all in first class? If departure is from T2 or T3, you get Skyclub access; that seems to be settled (in other FT threads). But if you depart from TBIT, would the courteous KAL dragons reject you? Do they even know that Skyclubs admit such a passenger?
Mar 20, 2019, 5:31 am
#9
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Here's an odd situation. What if you're flying LAX-ATL, then connecting to Canada, all in first class? If departure is from T2 or T3, you get Skyclub access; that seems to be settled (in other FT threads). But if you depart from TBIT, would the courteous KAL dragons reject you? Do they even know that Skyclubs admit such a passenger?
Mar 21, 2019, 11:34 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2013
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The hate for the KAL lounge at LAX is overhyped, IMHO. Not worth a special trip, but it's really no worse than a Skyclub. It can get busy, but there are seats. Limited selection of brand name spirits available to self-pour, average buffet food offering, nice "terrace" overlooking TBIT lobby.
Mar 21, 2019, 12:12 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
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The hate for the KAL lounge at LAX is overhyped, IMHO. Not worth a special trip, but it's really no worse than a Skyclub. It can get busy, but there are seats. Limited selection of brand name spirits available to self-pour, average buffet food offering, nice "terrace" overlooking TBIT lobby.
I still visit the KE lounge when I’m in TBIT and need a shower or a pleasant seat out on the terrace. The seating and physical space are mediocre but perfectly fine. But you should think of it as essentially a glorified waiting room, not a source of food and beverage. Many passengers would be better served by simply springing for an overpriced but tasty meal in the food court below the lounge in the atrium.
Mar 21, 2019, 2:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC/PHX
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I feel that the catering in the lounge is far below even Sky Club standards. The wine is Woodbridge, for example, which I consider worse than even Delta’s worst Sky Club wine in the dark days of cost cutting a few years ago. The buffet is squarely in sad bins of fried rice and prepackaged snacks territory - hardly worth even visiting. I think it’s objectively worse than nearly every domestic Sky Club, and far worse than The Club independent lounges as well.
I still visit the KE lounge when I’m in TBIT and need a shower or a pleasant seat out on the terrace. The seating and physical space are mediocre but perfectly fine. But you should think of it as essentially a glorified waiting room, not a source of food and beverage. Many passengers would be better served by simply springing for an overpriced but tasty meal in the food court below the lounge in the atrium.
Mar 21, 2019, 4:47 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,364
The hate for the KAL lounge at LAX is overhyped, IMHO. Not worth a special trip, but it's really no worse than a Skyclub. It can get busy, but there are seats. Limited selection of brand name spirits available to self-pour, average buffet food offering, nice "terrace" overlooking TBIT lobby.
TBIT is brand new, It is an international gateway. It should be much better than than the typical Sky Club.
I spent a few years transiting TBIT using the *A lounge . It is friggen awesome compared to the KE lounge.
Sep 5, 2019, 7:45 am
#15
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Just a note, I am on a similar trip to the OP, I arrived on DL40 and the same aircraft continues from TBIT 133 to ATL.
The KAL Lounge opens at 8:30a, the flight departs at 8:15a, so this is no help.
A curious choice by DL to do this and offer no lounge in TBIT as I assume many paid J passengers are on this route, and there isn't really time to shuttle to T2/T3 and back. Sure would have liked a shower.
The KAL Lounge opens at 8:30a, the flight departs at 8:15a, so this is no help.
A curious choice by DL to do this and offer no lounge in TBIT as I assume many paid J passengers are on this route, and there isn't really time to shuttle to T2/T3 and back. Sure would have liked a shower.