Marisa Garcia Etihad Airways has opened its new First and Business Class Lounge at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
And It’s Got The Everything.
The LAX lounge is designed to harmonise with the experience at the airline’s other flagship lounges in the U.S., in Washington, D.C. and New York’s JFK.
Etihad’s new LAX lounge also comes up to the high standards set by the experience at the airline’s collection of 15 Premium Lounges world-wide, including in Abu Dhabi where the airline has: a new dedicated signature First Class Lounge and Spa in Terminal 3, Premium Lounges in Terminals 1 and 3, a Premium Lounge within a unique US Pre-clearance facility, and the Premium Arrivals Lounge.
In Europe, Etihad Airways features signature lounges in Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Dublin, and Paris. The airline has also opened luxurious lounges in Sydney and Melbourne.
“As a world-leading airline, Etihad Airways continues to redefine travel, setting new benchmarks for innovative service on the ground and in the air,” says Martin Drew, Etihad Airways Senior Vice President Americas.
“Our new First and Business Class Lounge in Los Angeles demonstrates our unwavering commitment to travellers on the US West Coast, and in the United States as a whole, by providing them with the intuitive hospitality they have come to expect from our people and our brand. It gives us great pleasure to inaugurate this facility,” he adds.
Like all of its lounges, Etihad’s new LAX lounge reflects the airline’s Reimagined ground-to-air brand experience. It is an excellent example of a broader industry trend towards starting the journey early on through airside spaces which match the decor onboard.
Like the airline’s ambitious Reimagined cabins, the lounges combine the best of modern interior design while representing the hues and textures of the airline’s home base, Abu Dhabi.
‘Modern Arabian’ decorative elements include geometric patterns found in the traditional and modern architecture of Abu Dhabi, as well as the contours and colours of Abu Dhabi’s desert landscape.
Experience It All
Etihad aims to give customers an experience more akin to a hotel stay than a traditional airport lounge.
The emphasis is on calm, with many spots for guests to relax, refresh (showers, of course), dine, enjoy entertainment and recharge their batteries (both figuratively and literally).
There’s plenty of room for those who need to get some work done before departing too; with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the lounge, and multi-zone electrical and USB power outlets, available to keep those devices charged up.
Those who need extra privacy can also book a separate VIP area (a wise choice for start-studded LA).
Just Dishy
A dining area and showcase bar offer plenty to please the palate. Guests are catered to by a dedicated staff of waiters and bar tenders who, like the reception and lounge staff, have been undergone a dedicated hospitality training program.
Dining is available both buffet-style and à la carte and menus feature dishes inspired by the flavours of California, the Middle East, as well as International cuisine, updated frequently. Chefs prepare food on-site using fresh, local, sustainable and ethically sourced seasonal produce. The wine card offers Californian and European labels, selected to match the dishes served.
Not Your Typical Tipple
A sculptural showcase bar, which has become a hallmark of Etihad Airway’s lounges, features ten leather bar stools with dedicated USB power points.
The airline offers cocktails and mocktails from a bespoke menu developed with London-based beverage consultancy Fluid Movement.
A signature drink, the Los Angeles, is inspired by the diverse culture of the City of Angels and includes Tequila and homemade rice milk, spiced and enriched with cocao nib and chili liqueur, finished off with a spiced, cotton candy highball using the lounge’s own cotton candy machine. (I know!)
Other signature cocktails and mocktails are named after the airline’s leading destinations (Abu Dhabi, New York, Melbourne, Shanghai, Paris, Mumbai, Sydney and London). All feature ingredients which reflect the cities’ favours, prepared and served by specialist mixologists.
If you’re craving a good Mojito, fret not. The airline offers a selection of ‘modern classics’ including something called a Mach 10 Mojito. (Which. Sounds. So. Fast!)
Plus, Negroni aperitif is mixed, barrelled and aged behind the bar. (So there’s that.)
You don’t have to drink to enjoy Etihad’s new LAX lounge though, just find a nice spot in this 407m2 pre-flight boutique hotel lobby, and imbibe the unique ambiance.
To access, you must be an Etihad First Class and Business Class Guest, or an Etihad Guest Platinum, Gold and Silver member, or Etihad Airways Partner Platinum and Gold member, flying on EY170 from LA to Abu Dhabi.
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