Asiana Airlines First Class Lounge Seoul/Incheon, Republic of Korea (ICN) – Photo Review

Posts about this around-the-world trip:

Asiana Airlines A380 First Class – New York (JFK) to Seoul/Incheon (ICN)

Asiana Airlines First Class Lounge Seoul/Incheon (ICN)

Singapore Airlines 777-300 First Class – Seoul/Incheon (ICN) to Singapore (SIN)

Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge (SIN) – The Private Room

Singapore Airlines 787-10 Business Class – Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

Bangkok Airways ATR-72 Economy Class between Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) and Luang Prabang, Laos (LPQ)

Luang Prabang City Tour

Bicycle Tour To Tad Sae Falls, Laos

Hotel Review – Villa Nagara, Luang Prabang, Laos

Hotel Review – Marriott Executive Apartments, Bangkok, Thailand

Qatar Airways 777-300ER Business Class – Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) to Doha, Qatar (DOH)

Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge Doha, Qatar (DOH)

Qatar Airways 777-300ER Business Class (Q Suites) – Doha, Qatar to New York, NY (JFK)

Asiana First Class Lounge ICN

I had been very impressed on previous visits to Asiana Airlines’ business-class lounges in Terminal 1 and the Concourse at ICN.  (I had access to those lounges when they were part of the Priority Pass system without flying Asiana.)  The decor, seating, and beverages were so well done I very much wanted to try the Asiana first-class lounge one day.  Surely it would be even nicer.

Accordingly, after a fantastic flight in first class from New York to Seoul on Asiana’s A380, I was looking forward to spending the layover in Asiana’s first-class lounge before continuing to Singapore in first class on Singapore Airlines.

Location, Hours and Access

The Asiana First Class Lounge is located one floor above the concourse level near Gate 42.  It is open from 06:50 to 21:00 daily.  The lounge is open to passengers flying first class on Asiana or other Star Alliance carriers and top-level members of the Asiana Club frequent-flyer program.

Layout and Seating Areas

To the left of the check-in desk is a handy directory.

The large room in the middle of the lounge is divided into several smaller seating arrangements. 

Dining

A dining area and buffet occupy the far end of the main room.

Although there were only a few people in the lounge when I visited, the items on the buffet were fresh and flavorful.

All food was buffet style.  There was no menu to order from.

Showers

This lounge has great  shower facilities.

 

Providing slippers is nice.  And Asiana equips the shower rooms with the kind of amenities you’d find in a spa locker room.

 

Relaxing Rooms

The relaxing rooms are equipped with massage chairs.  These chairs massage the whole body or specific parts at varying levels of intensity.

Other Features And Services

The lounge has a luggage room, business center with fax, printer/copier and computers, speedy WiFi and the cheerful assistance of Asiana agents.  The housekeeping staff kept the seating, dinning and buffet areas clean at all times.

 

Overall Impression

The Asiana First Class lounge is a very nice lounge but just on par with its business-class lounges at ICN.  My expectation was that the first-class lounge at the home base of an airline that is one of the best in Asia would present a standard to match its in-flight product and service.  Compared to the Asiana business-class lounges at ICN the biggest distinguishing factor of the first-class lounge was that it was uncrowded.  Is it a coincidence that Korean Air’s first-class lounge at ICN fails to match the standards of its in-flight service?