We recently flew Business Class from Tokyo to Los Angeles and had the chance to check out the Qantas First Class Lounge in LAX Airport, prior to our domestic flight to Colorado with American Airlines. With a last minute Terminal change for our connecting flight, we arrived at 6:00am and cleared customs and immigration very quickly, to arrive at the lounge by 6:30 am.

Given so few long haul flights depart before 9:00 am from LAX + anyone on a morning flight needing to clear check in and security first, we had the Qantas First Class Lounge all to ourselves for the first hour of our 2.5 hour visit. Read along for our full review of our experience visiting the Qantas First Class Lounge in LAX, with highlights covering the a la carte dining, Australian coffee and service.

Access to the Qantas First Class Lounge at LAX Airport is reserved for a specific set of travellers. This includes oneworld international First Class customers and oneworld Emerald members, who enjoy the privilege of accessing the lounge regardless of their airline of travel. Additionally, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines Emerald members can enter the lounge when flying intercontinental itineraries, although certain exemptions may apply.

Other oneworld Emerald members are also granted access when travelling on any oneworld flight, irrespective of their cabin of service. Each individual is allowed to bring one guest, and Qantas Frequent Flyers have the additional benefit of being able to bring in their immediate family members, enhancing the inclusivity of lounge access privileges.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Layout

Located on Level 5 of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at LAX, The Qantas First Class Lounge is open from 6:30 am until boarding time for the last Qantas flight departure of the day.

The best way to describe the layout of the lounge is that it is a large room with many seating zones plus two exclusive VIP rooms located towards the front of the lounge. We were greeted by friendly front desk staff in Qantas uniforms who showed us through to the lounge.

Featuring a spacious and contemporary interior, guests are greeted by Californian Knoll furniture and American oak walls creating an inviting atmosphere. First impressions of the Qantas First Class Lounge is that it is quite large, although the seating area, while not overly private, offers ample space for relaxation and dining.

There are rows of chairs facing each other with limited isolated seating which we found to be an inconvenience as most of the charging points were near wall outlets. It would be great to see some device charging stations implemented closer to where seating is for practicality given the importance of device charging nowadays.

There are also no tarmac views, which is disappointing for a First Class Lounge, however the natural lighting filters through a glass wall indirectly which provides nice lighting. Similar to Sydney and Melbourne First Class Lounges, patterns, colour choices and design styles are the same, and yes, the disorienting carpet, (which perhaps is starting to get a little dated in feel) was also in the Qantas First Class Lounge in LAX Airport.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Dining And Beverage Options

With the Qantas First Class Lounge all to ourselves early in the morning, we were able to indulge in a leisurely breakfast with a total of 15 staff looking after us which was quite the treat! We would imagine that at peak departure times from the afternoon to the evening, when most Qantas and oneworld intercontinental flights depart, it would be much busier and a different experience.

The Qantas First Class Lounge has a Neil Perry-inspired a la carte menu, offered in the restaurant area which takes up a decent amount of space in the lounge. Given the quietness of the time we arrived at the lounge, we were greeted and seated by Sofitel-trained staff, and had our orders taken.

The breakfast was fresh and served quickly, we also tried the signature lemonade given at the time of the day which was nice. The coffee, an oat latte, was exceptional and by far the best we had had on our trip so far.

Served not overly hot (this is the case with most American-made coffee), we can assume that Qantas has sent their own trainers from Australia to up-skill the local staff to be able to achieve that result on US soil. It is also important to note that Qantas specifically provided a beautiful coffee machine and Vittoria coffee beans from Australia to enhance the overall experience.

There were a range of bottled beverages to choose from in an iced bucket as well, with orange juice, champagne, wine, and still water on offer.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Extras

After flying 10 hours from Japan, and being the only customers present in the lounge at the start, we were able to enjoy a nice shower to freshen up before our next domestic flight.

Showers and toilets are of standard, nothing incredibly flashy or luxurious, with a combined toilet and shower in one room towards the back of the lounge and standard toilets just at the front of the lounge. Shower ‘suites’ provide Aurora Spa soaps and shampoos/conditioners.

The service overall was a real highlight for us during our visit as we were looked after with a ratio of 15:4. Qantas usually has a pretty reputable history for their service in lounges so this was somewhat expected entering a Qantas First Class Lounge.

Qantas First Class Lounge Summary

Other than the range of comfortable seating, nice restaurant style meals and ability to shower, there isn’t too much in the way of an X Factor for the lounge. With styling a bit outdated for 2024, suggestions include perhaps a slight interior refurbishment where needed (e.g. new carpet please!) and easier accessible power ports.

Food for the breakfast service was delicious, the coffee magnificent and the service was exceptional. We overall enjoyed our experience at the Qantas First Class Lounge in LAX and would recommend it over the United Club LAX Airport lounge purely for the showers, food and coffee, however it wins with better outside (tarmac) views.

If you're looking at flying First Class, or even Business Class, get in touch with an airfare specialist today!