Airline alliances rarely operate lounge facilities of their own. The individual airlines usually open a lounge at a particular station and the alliance flyers then have access automatically. This is why it has taken almost 25 years for a oneworld lounge to be opened.
This facility is in Seoul, is 555 square metres in size and seats up to 148 people. No oneworld airlines are based in the South Korean capital city, but seven of them do serve the airport, so it makes sense for there to be a common lounge located there.
The New Oneworld Lounge
The oneworld press release states the lounge was created with Swissport, the ground handling company responsible for the ASPIRE lounges around the world. I’ve never thought much of these lounges personally, so I raised an eyebrow at the use of “award-winning ASPIRE Airport Lounges” to describe them.
Overall Thoughts
I really don’t think you will find a oneworld lounge at an airport near you anytime soon. People have been speculating that it might happen in Amsterdam since the closure of the British Airways lounge, but I’ve seen no evidence for this.
For myself, I am not really a fan of a generic airport lounge and while this looks good, it hasn’t inspired me in any way. The excitement for me is seeing what the airlines have done to differentiate themselves from the pack. It’s why the Cathay Pacific lounges are still some of the greatest out there, with their fabulous design by Studio Ilse.
What do you think of the new oneworld lounge in Seoul? Are there any particular non-airline lounges that you’ve found to be amazing? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
Like planes? See my “Does anyone remember” series.
Flight reviews your thing? Mine are all indexed here.
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
All images via oneworld.
Those seating options look lovely and varied. looks like a lovely lounge to visit.
Yes, I’ll be interested to see what kind of food they have on offer there, whether it’s totally Korean inspired or reflective of the alliance as a whole.