Review: Star Alliance Business Class Lounge LAX – Stunning Terrace, Average Food

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The reviews from my summer 2025 trip to Australia continue, and this time I found myself at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with a few hours to spare before my United Polaris flight to Melbourne (MEL). I had just arrived from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), where I had visited the United Club near Gate B6. My connecting flight to Melbourne also departed from Terminal 7, so I had no reason to venture elsewhere. Except, of course, I wanted to visit another lounge.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the Star Alliance Lounge in Paris CDG, I was keen to check out its counterpart at LAX. The only problem was that the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge was located in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), a solid 25-minute walk from Terminal 7.

I decided to make the trek, and fortunately, the terminals are connected airside, so I did not have to go through security again. But wow, a 25-minute brisk walk in an airport is no joke, particularly when you have a long-haul flight ahead of you. I certainly wouldn’t recommend doing this if you have less than a couple of hours between flights. In fact, unless you have a generous layover, I’d stick with a lounge closer to your departure gate.

That said, I was glad I made the effort. The Star Alliance Lounge at LAX is genuinely impressive, with elegant interiors, an inviting main bar, a massive dining area, and two standout terrace areas that give it a distinct SoCal feel. Unfortunately, not everything about the lounge lived up to its impressive design.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – At a Glance

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Location and Access

The Star Alliance Lounge is on the sixth floor of the Tom Bradley International Terminal, in the central atrium. After security, head to the main terminal atrium and take the elevator near the clock tower up to Level 6. If you’re departing from TBIT, reaching the lounge is fairly straightforward. However, if you’re connecting through another terminal, factor in the extra walking time.

For my visit, I travelled in United Polaris Business Class from LAX to Melbourne, which gave me access to the lounge’s Business Class section. Star Alliance Gold members travelling on eligible Star Alliance flights can also access the lounge, generally with one eligible guest. Qualifying international Business Class passengers can enter based on their ticket, although the ticket alone does not normally provide complimentary guest access.

The entrance itself is quite striking. The black-and-gold Star Alliance branding looks chic and premium, with a discreet reception desk positioned alongside the entrance. After a quick scan of my boarding pass, I walked down a long entrance corridor with polished wooden flooring, warm lighting, and walls decorated with several Skytrax awards the lounge has received over the years.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Layout and Seating

My first impression was that the lounge looked more like an upscale hotel lounge than an airport waiting area. The interior combines beautiful wooden flooring, dark wood ceiling beams, neutral furnishings and warm lighting. The overall design feels elegant without being overly formal, and I particularly liked how the lounge transitions between smaller, intimate seating areas and much larger open spaces.

The layout is quite extensive, with a long central walkway connecting different sections of the lounge. Immediately to the left of the entrance, several seating clusters with sofas and wingback chairs were separated by sheer white drapes. A large display of magazines sat near the main walkway, a throwback to when airport lounges were filled with printed newspapers and magazines. It was nice to see that some lounges still offer them.

The seating mostly featured charcoal and grey tones, complemented by occasional yellow and blue chairs, small white side tables, and warm table lamps. There was plenty of variety, whether you were travelling alone, with a partner, or in a group.

On the right side of the walkway, smaller seating areas were tucked into their own alcoves. I liked these sections as they offered a more secluded alternative to the larger lounge areas.

As I continued toward the back, the lounge opened into its main seating area, with the bar occupying one side and the dining facilities on the other. This was a much larger space with clusters of armchairs, sofas and coffee tables spread across a carpeted floor. The furnishings were modern and comfortable-looking, although the number of chairs packed into some sections made the layout feel a little busy.

Interestingly, the lounge was largely unoccupied during my visit, so finding a seat was easy. I imagine the experience would be quite different during the evening rush of international departures. One thing the lounge certainly does well is offering passengers a choice of environments. You could find a quiet corner to read, settle into a sofa with a drink, catch up on work or sit closer to the bar if you preferred a more social atmosphere.

And then there were the two terrace areas, which, in my opinion, were the real highlights of this lounge.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Indoor Balcony and Outdoor Terrace

To the left of the main seating area, just beyond the bar, is an open-concept balcony overlooking the busy Tom Bradley terminal below. This feature is interesting because, although it feels like a separate terrace, it is actually indoors and overlooks the terminal’s shopping and passenger circulation areas.

The balcony features a long communal work counter with high chairs, plus individual lounge chairs and sofas arranged along the glass railing.

Massive windows and the terminal’s distinctive curved architecture bring in plenty of natural light, while indoor plants and small table lamps add a nice touch. I quite enjoyed this section. As a solo traveller, I found it an excellent spot to get some work done while watching the activity below in the terminal.

For anyone looking to get some work done, take a call, or simply enjoy the open surroundings, this is one of my preferred seating areas.

The open-air terrace overlooking the tarmac

Located toward the back of the lounge, past additional seating areas and the media room, the terrace is an impressive open-air space overlooking airport operations.

The terrace features a mix of comfortable outdoor sofas, lounge chairs, low tables and taller bar-style seating. Light-coloured furnishings, dark cushions, wooden decking, and greenery give it a relaxed rooftop-bar feel. The space also features fire features, a covered bar counter with overhead umbrellas, and an outdoor grill setup. All of this, with views of aircraft and airport activity in the background.

Unfortunately, the outdoor bar and grill were not operating during my visit. That was a shame, because the space looks perfectly suited to an evening gathering with friends or family, especially with the fire features lit and the outdoor bar in use. I could easily imagine spending a couple of hours here over drinks before a long-haul flight.

Even without an active bar, this terrace was easily my favourite part of the lounge. Very few airport lounges in North America offer an outdoor setup quite like this, and I appreciated being able to step outside without leaving the secure airport environment.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Food and Drinks

Unfortunately, the food offering was where the experience started to lose some of its shine. That was particularly disappointing because the main dining area is visually one of the lounge’s most impressive sections – the enormous wine-bottle display running along the wall behind the buffet.

Unfortunately, the food served in front of this impressive display was nowhere near as memorable.

The cold buffet included wraps, sandwiches, and salads. During my visit, some of the options included:

• Caesar chicken club wraps
• Smashed chickpea and falafel wraps
• Salami, mozzarella and roasted pepper sandwiches
• Assorted salads and lighter bites
• Fresh fruit and snacks

The hot food selection included maple barbecue chicken, roasted carrots and Swiss chard with basil pesto, rice pilaf and other vegetable dishes. There was enough variety to put together a meal, and the vegetarian options were welcome. But nothing about the selection really stood out. The food was fairly standard airport lounge fare. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either.

Another food station featured a make-your-own noodle soup setup, with hot broth and an assortment of toppings and condiments. The options included chopped vegetables, herbs, onions, chicken, and kimchi, letting passengers customize their bowls. Unfortunately, the station was also the most disappointing example of the buffet’s upkeep. Food bits were scattered around the counter and serving area, and the overall presentation looked untidy. It wasn’t particularly busy when I visited, which made the lack of attention to cleanliness around the dining stations even more surprising.

I don’t expect every Business Class lounge to offer à la carte dining or restaurant-quality meals. But when so much thought and effort goes into the physical space, I expect the food presentation and quality to follow suit.

Star Alliance Lounge LAX – Other Amenities

Beyond the main seating and dining facilities, the lounge also offers a media room, quieter seating areas and shower facilities for passengers looking to freshen up before a flight. I walked past the media room on my way to the outdoor terrace but did not spend time there. Similarly, I didn’t use the shower facilities, so I can’t comment on their condition or service.

 

Star Alliance Business Class Lounge LAX – Takeaway

The Star Alliance Business Class Lounge at LAX is one of the most impressive airport lounge spaces I’ve visited in North America. I particularly enjoyed the indoor balcony overlooking the terminal and the open-air terrace with views of airport operations. Both spaces bring a different dimension to the lounge experience, and I can easily see myself spending more time in either on a future visit.

But I keep coming back to the food. The buffet was unremarkable; the presentation didn’t match the impressive dining setup, and the food stations were generally poorly maintained. Having access to the United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 7 meant I was fortunate enough to experience both lounges before my flight to Melbourne. And despite being thoroughly impressed by the Star Alliance Lounge’s physical space, I preferred the United Polaris Lounge overall.

Having visited the Star Alliance Lounge in Paris CDG, I can see a familiar theme emerging. Star Alliance does an excellent job creating elegant lounge spaces with distinct design features, but the food experience doesn’t always match.

If I were departing from TBIT with a couple of hours to spare, I would happily return, particularly for the outdoor terrace. It’s an excellent spot to unwind before a long flight, and the space is genuinely enjoyable overall.