Opened in 2014, the oneworld Lounge Los Angeles is the chief Business Class lounge for oneworld carriers departing the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Despite its name, the lounge is not operated or managed by the oneworld alliance, unlike the newly opened oneworld Lounge in Seoul. Instead, it is jointly operated by Qantas, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, and managed by Qantas. As such, it is no surprise that the lounge is otherwise known as the Qantas International Business Lounge.

Lounge Access Rules

Passengers with a same-day reservation on Qantas, Cathay Pacific, British Airways and oneworld First Class and Business Class flights are eligible for access. Passengers connecting to a oneworld flight from an international long haul oneworld flight in First Class and Business Class are also eligible for entry. When accessing by status, passengers holding at least oneworld Sapphire status are eligible for access. Refer to the Qantas website for specific details.

Location

The oneworld Lounge is located on Level 5 in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Once airside, head up one level from the Departures Level 4. When you follow the signs pointing to the lounge, you’ll get on the escalators which will land in front of the lounge’s entrance. If you choose to take the lifts, walk straight past the Qantas First Class Lounge and the Korean Air Lounge. You’ll find the oneworld Business Class Lounge by P.F. Chang’s.

oneworld Lounge Los Angeles

After visiting the Qantas First Class Lounge next door, I popped into the oneworld Lounge for a quick visit. At the reception, the friendly lounge agent was confused about why I was accessing this lounge despite having access to the First Class Lounge. I was promptly invited in after I explained that I just wanted to visit the lounge.

On this occasion, I was accessing the lounge before my Japan Airlines flight back to Tokyo. Although I was flying in Economy Class, I had access by virtue of my Cathay Diamond tier membership, equivalent to oneworld Emerald.

The lounge is more or less rectangular in shape, enveloping a courtyard area that gives the lounge a bit of daylight. The space itself is separated into several distinct areas, including a bar, a main lounge area, a dining area, and a relaxation area. I will be elaborating on each area in the sections below.

Bar

Immediately to the right of the reception area is the bar area, where you’ll find a fully stocked and tended bar along with a bunch of seats viewing the interior of the terminal. In addition to the self-poured selection of wine, a range of cocktails and espresso-based drinks are also available on request.

The focal point of the bar area is perhaps the fireplace, which has a circular sofa enveloping the ring of the fireplace area. Surrounding it on its outer ring are leather lounge chairs in pairs arranged facing each other. You’ll also find one of the lounge’s toilets behind this area.

Lounge Seating

The main seating area of the oneworld lounge is essentially L-shaped, spreading from the reception to running parallel to the food spread by the dining area. The majority of the seats here feature sofa chairs and swivelling lounge chairs arranged facing each other. The lounge seating also enfolds the windows facing into the courtyard, giving some daylight to the space. Sadly, just as is the case at the Qantas First Class Lounge, not many seats feature power outlets.

In addition, towards the back of the lounge, you’ll find a more casual and relaxed seating area. The space features lighter palates and hues than the rest of the lounge, which is a nice change to the otherwise gloomy feel. For one, the atmosphere and seating here remind me of a casual bistro with lots of relaxed leather lounge chairs and coffee tables. In addition, there is also a long communal table in the centre. Frustratingly, power outlets are rather hard to come by here as it is in the rest of the lounge.

Dining

The oneworld lounge has a dedicated dining area, which feels a bit small relative to the size of the lounge. Located next to the buffet spread towards the back of the lounge, you’ll find a dozen of so proper dining tables, alongside a high-top circular table in the middle.

In addition, there are also communal tables scattered in the lounge, which is also an ideal setup for a small meal.

Food and drinks

Dining at the oneworld Lounge consists of a buffet offering with two food spreads. Compared to the selection at the Alaska Lounges, I found the food to be better in terms of quality and taste. This is no surprise since the lounge is managed by Qantas, after all, which is known for better lounge food.

In addition to a handful of bain-marie-contained hot dishes, you’ll also find packaged pastries and a range of cold dishes. There is also a pancake printer, like those you’ll find in an Alaska Lounge. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Finally, in addition to the drinks available at the bar, a range of juices, soft drinks, water, and tea and coffee are also available in the buffet spread.

Relaxation Area

On a corridor between the back of the lounge and the reception is a small relaxation area, with half a dozen Eames lounge chairs facing the window. There is also a single row of sofa chairs along the interior wall. Given its location away from the bar and the dining area, the relaxation area is also the quietest, making it ideal for a quick rest.

Amenities

Business Centre

A small business centre with a printer is available at the oneworld Lounge located to the left of the reception area. This consists of a small alcove with six desks and a high-top work area with five seats, each with power outlets. One of the desks features a printer, which seems to be straightforward enough to use.

Showers

The oneworld Lounge has nine shower suites located towards the back of the lounge, in the same area as the toilets. These shower suites are each equipped with a dedicated sink and toilet, alongside a stall with rain and handheld showers. Unfortunately, however, I was not able to get a picture on this visit.

Toilets

The oneworld Lounge has two pairs of toilets, one located behind the bar area and the other by the showers between the dining and relaxation areas. Each of the toilets is clad in marble and I found them to be clean, bright, and well-maintained.

WiFi

The oneworld Lounge maintains a WiFi network that is separate from that of the terminal. Like the Qantas First Class Lounge next door, the speeds were good and the network was easy to join.

Overall

Given its large footing and many seating areas, the oneworld lounge didn’t feel like it would get very crowded. This is perhaps one of the main strengths of the lounge, which is rare in North America. Moreover, I liked the lounge’s fully equipped bar and the adjacent fireplace, which made the lounge feel intimate and cosy. Although I might have preferred if the space was a bit less gloomy, the oneworld Lounge in Los Angeles is a solid Business Class lounge. I wouldn’t arrive early to use this lounge but I’d be happy to use it all the same if I didn’t have access to the Qantas First Class Lounge.

Read more from this trip here!