Korean Air Opens New Lounges in Seoul, Plans Upgrades to JFK Lounge

After 3 1/2 years of construction, Korean Air is opening its all-new first and business class lounges at Seoul’s Incheon Airport (ICN) this week.

The renovated Prestige Class West Lounges opened today, April 16, and will be followed by the opening of the airline’s prestigious First lounge on April 17.

Let’s take a look at the details and how you might be able to get access the next time you pass through Incheon.

Korean Air’s New Lounges at Seoul Incheon Airport

Clocking in at over $74 million, the lounge overhaul project was costly. It was also an essential project, given the increased capacity that will be required once Asiana merges fully with Korean.

The new first class lounge, which is over double the size of its predecessor, has been designed with privacy as a main concept. The space includes 11 private suites where passengers can take a moment to truly relax before a flight. There is no mention of any additional cost to use said suites.

An à la carte dining experience with traditional Korean fare will be paired with high-end tableware from brands like Baccarat and Riedel, Bernardaud, and Christofle. Elsewhere, the lounge will feature massage chairs and shower suites with private powder rooms.

At over 2,615 square meters (8,579 square feet), the new Prestige Class West business class lounge has enough capacity to seat up to 420 passengers at once. Seasonal Korean and Western dishes are served from manned cooking stations and an expansive buffet.

Korean has also joined the trend of using work from local artists to give both of its new lounges a true Korean identity.

In further lounge news, Korean plans to upgrade its lounge offering at New York’s JFK.

Some Delta Passengers Are Eligible To Use Korean Air’s Lounges at Seoul

Thanks to both Korean Air and Delta being SkyTeam members, some Delta passengers flying from Seoul back to the U.S. can also use Korean’s new lounges.

Travelers on Delta flights to Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), or Seattle (SEA) in Delta One can use Korean’s business class lounges, including the new Prestige Class West Lounge.

SkyTeam Elite Plus members (the equivalent of Delta Gold Medallion or higher) are also eligible to use Korean’s business class lounges, regardless of cabin class.

As for the new first class lounge, access is restricted to first class passengers — a cabin Delta doesn’t offer.

Priority Pass and other lounge memberships are not valid for entry.

Final Thoughts

From the images provided, Korean Air’s refreshed lounges look like tranquil spaces to dine and relax before a flight. I’ll be passing through the lounge in a couple of months and will be back with a full review.