First Look: Delta One Lounge Opens Its Doors at LAX

When Delta invited me to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for a preview of the airline’s second Delta One lounge, I didn’t realize I would barely have to pass through the airport at all. That is to say, the new Delta One lounge, which officially opens this week, on October 10, is a luxurious enclave that is completely cloistered from the hustle and bustle of ordinary airport life — a chance to opt out of the typically chaotic public experience entirely.

Following the grand-opening of the airline’s grand Delta One Lounge in New York JFK, this is the second top-tier lounge in the carrier’s network.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

I entered through the dedicated Delta One check-in area, filled with a proprietary aroma like a five-star hotel lobby and stocked with its own snacks and drinks. As a working journalist on site only for the event, I didn’t have any luggage, but an agent nevertheless assisted me in passing my laptop bag through a dedicated security checkpoint in the first-floor reception area — no line, no fuss.

From there, I headed up to level four in a private elevator and walked straight into the new Delta One lounge, directly connected to Delta One’s elite check-in area, for a completely private and high-touch experience.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

It’s the second such space in the U.S. after the location at JFK — and a more intimate one. For scale, JFK’s version is nearly 40,000 square feet, whereas LAX’s is just over 10,000, with seating for about 200 guests. Available exclusively for Delta One flyers, the space is located adjacent to the Delta Sky Club at Terminal 3 — itself a grand (and still relatively new) offering.

Soothing Decor

The new lounge’s atmosphere is elegant and calming, with decor meant to showcase the beauty of Los Angeles — its natural and manmade splendor. The main Icon bar has a color palette done in sunset hues, with leather and walnut accents and a quartzite and onyx back bar that evokes the colors of the coast. Overhead, a feature ceiling nods to the Pacific Ocean.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

There’s a distinct old Hollywood vibe here, with dramatic wall lighting fixtures in the library lounge and dining rooms. Details like fluted walnut paneling and oculus-inspired ceilings evoke various L.A. architectural styles, including Modernism and Art Deco.

Spaces for Relaxation, Work, Socializing

Standout spaces within the Delta One lounge include the so-called library (just right for dining and working) as well as a landscaped outdoor terrace with tarmac views and room for 26 travelers amid accent pillows from Delta One’s luxury brand partner Missoni.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

The Italian fashion house also makes its recognizable imprint on vases, pillows, and coffee table books in the library lounge area. A robust and whimsical collection of artwork in the lounge comes from artists around the world, meant to wink at the global reach of the major U.S. hub.

Away from the more social spaces is the wellness room, with eight private relaxation pods equipped with zero-gravity chairs and full-body massage chairs. Lighting this space is a lamp designed to help the body acclimate to time zones and minimize jet lag. This quiet space also offers wellness-themed drinks, spa water, refreshing towels, and product samples from Grown Alchemist.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

Top Tip: There are no showers located in the Delta One lounge itself; rather, there are dedicated shower suites for Delta One passengers in the adjacent Sky Club space.

Food and Beverage Program

In the lounge, all food and drink is served to the table; grab any seat at a server will come along with a menu. Travelers can order from a regularly changing menu of dishes, including crispy duck tacos, steak frites, and roasted corn pizza.

I sat in the library and tried the truffle parsnip soup, followed by the salmon with haricot verts, both flavorful and smartly presented.

Photo: Courtesy of Alesandra Dubin

A changing selection of location-themed bento boxes showcases dishes from Paris, Tokyo, and Boston (all Delta One destinations from LAX). Similarly, the bar serves up signature cocktails represented by airport codes: For instance, a mai tai-like cocktail represents Tahiti (PPT), and a gin drink winks at London (LHR).

At the other side of the lounge is also a sushi bar available year round — a feature only available at LAX. Rounding out the options is a sophisticated tiered dessert table set with an array of cloches filled with various confections.

Delta is LAX’s No. 1 global carrier, offering nearly 160 peak-day departures out to 60 domestic and international locations.