Lost in Translation: The Qantas First Class Lounge LAX and KAL Lounge

As a bit of a reboot until things can be backfilled, I’m jumping ahead in trip reports to mid-2016.

As a oneworld Emerald, we were able to stop by the first class lounge at LAX.  Due to apparent lounge rules, it’s not possible to hop between the business class and the first class oneworld lounges in the Tom Bradley terminal.

Qantas Lounge LAXThe lounge features a large seating area looking inwards towards an atrium, a bar, and a sit-down dining area.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAXQantas First Class Lounge LAXQantas First Class Lounge LAXQantas First Class Lounge LAX

The far end of the restaurant overlooks the security checkpoint and ticketing hall.

Qantas Lounge LAXQantas Lounge LAXAs our flight to Osaka was delayed, we sought out lunch from the restaurant which offered tasty (and complimentary) fare in contrast to the terminal outside or the Admirals Club in adjoining Terminal 4.  The lunch menu read as follows:

Qantas Lounge LAX lunch menuLunch service wasn’t quite ready to begin, so we wandered around the lounge for a bit.  Between waiting for lunch to start and the length of service of a three course meal itself (from appetizer to dessert took about an hour), this was not a quick bite before catching a flight.

I started with the spiced tofu salad, dropping the chicken.  My girlfriend ordered the salt and pepper squid.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Tofu SaladQantas First Class Lounge LAXAdditionally, we ordered a set of sautéed mushrooms in garlic butter for the table.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX Sauteed mushroomsI ordered the casarecce with broccolini, chili, and parmesan as my main course.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX

For desert, we picked the chocolate fondant with raspberries and marscapone.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX chocolate fondant

Outside of the restaurant, though, the immediate, self-serve food offerings were a bit sparse.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAXQantas First Class Lounge LAXQantas First Class Lounge LAX

It is possible to order from the restaurant menu while sitting elsewhere in the lounge:  We asked for a fruit plate from the staff and had one delivered to our chairs.  Nevertheless, I’m not quite sure where this would leave you if the restaurant was changing over from breakfast to lunch as it was when we first arrived.

Qantas First Class Lounge LAX fruit plate

With a bit of time to kill, we hopped over to the KAL lounge across the hallway using Priority Pass.  The lounge was a bit more crowded than the Qantas lounge, and the self-serve food less interesting.

KAL Lounge LAXKAL Lounge LAX KAL Lounge LAX KAL Lounge LAX KAL Lounge LAX KAL Lounge LAX KAL Lounge LAX

The KAL lounge, however, did manage to have plentiful outlets everywhere, thereby resolving one of my biggest pet peeves when traveling.

KAL Lounge LAX

 

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