Among one of the most popular metropolitan travel destinations in the whole of the Asian continent, Seoul opened its arms to over 10 million foreign visitors last year. The bustling South Korean capital has just become the address for oneworld Alliance’s first fully-branded airport lounge, and it’s not difficult to see why.
Incheon International Airport is served by seven of the alliance’s thirteen member airlines, including Qantas, American Airlines and of course, Hong Kong’s very own Cathay Pacific. With more than 60 weekly flights to and from Seoul, these oneworld carriers offer a bridge between the vibrant Asian city and over 900 destinations across the globe. Despite their considerable presence at one of the busiest airports in the world, none of the oneworld carriers have ever had their own branded Incheon sanctuaries so to speak. But that’s a reality of the past.
“Our new Incheon lounge resets the benchmark for contemporary travel and will serve as the blueprint for future oneworld lounges in select airports around the world,” says Gerhard Girkinger, Vice President, Customer Experience, Delivery and Membership at oneworld Alliance.
If you’re a Cathay Diamond or Gold member; a oneworld Emerald or Sapphire member; a First or Business class passenger travelling on a oneworld carrier flight; or a Cathay Silver member flying with Cathay Pacific, then you’re in luck. The brand new space is open for you daily from 7:30am to 11:45pm.
Designed by Dutch creative studio D/DOCK, the 555 square-metre oneworld lounge is a kaleidoscopic sanctuary nestled atop the duty-free shops of Terminal 1’s departure area. The interiors are playful with contemporary flair, glowing with groovy saturated hues that illuminate a meandering path between curved countertops and plush couches awash in shades of oneworld blue. It reminds one of the space-age retro futuristic designs of the ‘70s, when people dreamed up a much more exciting image of modern spaces than what we’re familiar with today. But it’s entirely fitting for the new oneworld lounge, where expansive views of planes along the tarmac remind us that no destination is too far out of reach.
Though certainly a feast for the eyes, the lounge’s design details are not without meaning; many actually pay homage to Korea’s rich heritage and culture. Ripples of perforated screens serve as a portal between the lounge and the outside world, drawing inspiration from the handmade hanji paper that is used for doors and windows in traditional Korean homes. Stare a little longer at the fixture above the bar and you’ll notice it’s the silhouette of a Joseon period gat turned upside down. Head to the farthest corner of the lounge to relax among candy-coloured light fixtures that take after the colourful paper lanterns that light up the nation during the annual lantern lighting festival known as yeondeunghoe.
Whether you’re stopping by for some peace and quiet, or looking to forge meaningful connections with like-minded individuals, this oneworld oasis has curated spaces and experiences to cater to every want and need. Having collaborated with global aviation hospitality services provider Swissport for the lounge, the alliance has entrusted the Swissport Korea team to take care of daily operations. With them at the helm, delicious bites, tipples and welcoming smiles are available throughout the day. Once you’ve had your fill of the luxuries, retreat to an individual study to catch up on work, hunker down in a booth seat for some privacy, or step into a spacious shower room to prepare yourself for the journey ahead.
“Wherever we see an opportunity to collaborate with other oneworld carriers, we want to use it to create a safe, resting place where our members and customers can truly enjoy and relax before going on any of our flights,” says Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay Pacific. “We put our heads together and [thought about] how we can elevate the entire Alliance customer experience as well.”
“To us, customers are at the centre of everything we do, so being customer-centric is very important. A lot of our travellers are premium travellers that want to have a place where they can relax and enjoy before they board our flights, so wherever possible we want to provide them with a good lounge experience.”
Editor
Alyanna Raissa J. PayosCredit
Lead image: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific
