oneworld Alliance Lounge, Seoul Incheon

Frequent flyers who hold elite status with a oneworld airline have undoubtedly set foot in many oneworld member airlines’ lounges worldwide. But the alliance’s extensive lounge network now includes two oneworld-branded lounges, the first of which opened in Seoul’s Incheon Airport with Amsterdam following shortly after.

Unveiled in early 2024 and coinciding with the alliance’s 25th anniversary year, the oneworld Alliance Lounge in Seoul caters to high-tier frequent flyers of seven (soon to be six) oneworld member airlines operating from Incheon.

With Qantas currently flying out of the South Korean capital, I take the opportunity to venture into the new oneworld Alliance Lounge before an overnight leg to Sydney.

Lounge details and location

After clearing the automatic passport control in Terminal 1 of Seoul’s Incheon Airport, I don’t need to trek far to the oneworld Alliance Lounge. Signage directs me down the hallway immediately ahead, where an escalator takes me to the first floor. You can’t miss the bright, inviting entrance of the lounge.

The oneworld Alliance Lounge in Seoul is open every day between the hours of 7:30 am and 12:50 am.

Conveniently, the lounge is located in the centre of the terminal near Gate 28, so you’re never more than a 10-minute walk from the departure gate of your oneworld flight.

It’s hard to miss the striking entrance of the oneworld Alliance Lounge.

The bright yellow oneworld signage is visible immediately after clearing passport control in Terminal 1.

Head up the escalators and the lounge will be behind you.

Lounge layout and seating

Saunter through the luminous arches and into the colourful space of the oneworld Alliance Lounge. Drawing from South Korean culture and featuring oneworld’s vibrant branding, the interior seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary elements to form a warm space. Separately, the colours, shapes and textures can seem like a mismatch of sorts. But I’m genuinely impressed at the level of cohesion here – everything just seems to work.

The lounge occupies a modest pocket of Terminal 1, with large windows that lend to natural lighting and tarmac views. Unfortunately, my visit falls during nighttime, but the dim lighting signals a wind-down. Indeed, this lounge is a respite from the buzz of the terminal below.

Evidently, careful consideration has gone into building distinct zones throughout the lounge’s open-plan layout. There are desks ideal for catching up on emails and dedicated dining tables beside the buffet area. Couches are great for those travelling in a small group, and you’ll find solo pods on the far end of the lounge.

The colours, shapes and textures work well together without being too overpowering.

There’s a small dining area adjacent to the buffet – perfect for positioning yourself for seconds.

A small meeting room near the entrance allows for privacy, while the couches are great for groups or families.

Perch yourself between the buffet and the bar.

The space is divided into distinct zones.

The designs are fascinating.

Flying solo? You may want to settle into a private pod near the end of the lounge.

Cushy chairs and ample lighting make this corner ideal for curling up with a book.

I’d imagine that these seats would be popular with aviation enthusiasts during the day!

Though these couches provide prime tarmac views for small groups.

Food & beverage in the oneworld Alliance Lounge, Seoul

Dinner is served during my visit, with the hot buffet housing a rotating selection of Korean and Western dishes. Among the choices are seafood soup tteokbokki, beef bulgogi, pork short ribs, lasagna, rice, curry, and mushroom soup. Staff are attentive, promptly replacing empty trays with new choices. By the time I return for seconds, there’s a new range to choose from. Prefer a snack instead? Small bites are aplenty, with a selection of biscuits, crackers and muffins.

Though it looks small, you can enjoy a substantial feed at the buffet.

Western and Korean hot dishes are on rotation, with choices like lasagne, beef bulgogi, short ribs and tteokbokki.

For your sides, choose from a selection of salads or build your own.

Dried snacks include mixed nuts, pretzels and biscuits.

Tea and coffee is self serve, and you’ll find more snacks here like muffins and lollies.

Of course, no lounge is complete without a bar. Here, you’ll find ‘The 25’, a signature cocktail crafted by Ago Perrone from London’s renowned The Connaught Bar in celebration of oneworld’s 25th anniversary. If the cocktail’s global flavours don’t tickle your fancy, you can ask the bartender to craft your favourite tipple. Self-serve spirits are also available by the buffet.

Korean staple Cass beer is on tap.

‘The 25’ cocktail by Ago Perrone from The Connaught Bar in London, in celebration of oneworld’s 25th anniversary.

Self-serve spirits are available by the buffet.

Chardonnay and sparkling wine are also on offer.

The bar greets you as you enter the lounge.

Uniquely – and, perhaps, as a nod to its South Korean identity – the oneworld Alliance Lounge has a cup noodle station. If, like me, you’ve ever traversed the neon-lit streets of Seoul hunting for a quick late-night feed, you’ll be familiar with the cultural significance of the humble instant noodle. Sometimes, that comfort in a cup is all you need before a long flight.

The cup noodles are strategically positioned next to the hot water.

A humble cup of Korean instant noodles waiting to be devoured.

Amenities in the oneworld Alliance Lounge, Seoul

The basics are covered in terms of amenities you’d expect to find at an international lounge. There’s a small meeting room and workspace, a handful of showers, a baby change room, and lockers at the entrance to store personal items.

As far as connectivity goes, powerpoints are plenty in supply. Oh, and the Wi-Fi here is fast – I clock a whopping 419 Mbps download speed. To put that into perspective, that’s about 6-7 times the average internet download speed in Australia.

You’re never too far away from a power source.

USB ports can also be found around the lounge.

You can still power up your devices even when you’re by the bar.

The bathrooms are clean and modern.

There are three cubicles in the female bathroom, which is ample for the size of the lounge.

The departures board isn’t limited to oneworld flights.

How to access the oneworld Alliance Lounge, Seoul

The guest list for the oneworld Alliance Lounge in Seoul is slim, with access only granted if you meet one of the requirements below:

• By status: oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers travelling on any oneworld airline.
• By class of travel: Business Class and First Class passengers travelling on any oneworld airline.

It’s worth mentioning that my visit to this lounge was prior to my Seoul-Sydney flight with Qantas. From mid-2025, Qantas will no longer fly this route, instead handing the reigns to Jetstar. This leaves no direct oneworld routes between Australia and South Korea. Though Jetstar has a partnership with Qantas, the low-cost carrier itself is not part of the oneworld Alliance. So, you can’t use your Qantas Gold/Platinum status (or corresponding oneworld Sapphire/Emerald status) to gain access to the oneworld lounge before a Jetstar flight.

While your opportunity to experience this lounge on a direct flight to Australia is limited, you can still gain access before flying any of the below oneworld airlines out of Seoul Incheon Airport:

• American Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• SriLankan Airlines

Earn Qantas Points towards your next flight!

Our verdict

Previously, passengers departing from Seoul Incheon Airport on non-Korean carriers mostly had the option of third-party lounges, the bulk of which are accessible with Priority Pass. So, the addition of the oneworld Alliance Lounge is welcome for passengers of the many oneworld member airlines that operate out of Seoul.

Visually, the lounge is stunning. I love upscale neutrals as much as the next person, but it’s refreshing to see a vibrant palette for a lounge done well. All the standard amenities are on offer, including a hot buffet with a good variety of dishes, showers, workspaces and a bar. The Wi-Fi is notably speedy, and the lockers at the entrance are a convenient touch.

With that being said, there’s nothing that particularly stands out about this lounge. In the same regard, there’s nothing overly terrible about it, either. The space functions as intended – to be a quiet sanctuary for eligible passengers to escape the bustle of the terminal. It’s a clean, modern lounge – and sometimes that’s enough.

Would I make a special trip to Seoul to visit this lounge? Probably not. And with Qantas withdrawing from the Seoul-Sydney route, it’s even harder to justify the detour. But if you find yourself in this neck of the woods, for whatever reason – be it K-pop, K-drama or, in my case, stocking up on Korean skincare – then it’s worth poking your head in. Even if only to say you’ve visited the world’s first oneworld-branded lounge.

Also read: Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 Economy (Seoul-Kuala Lumpur-Perth)

Photography by Victoria Kyriakopoulos, who visited the lounge as a guest of oneworld while flying at her own expense.