What's coming up: New airport features and airline enhancements

Star Alliance Lounge in Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport's (left) new Star Alliance Lounge, designed by global architectural firm Gensler, features an open-air terrace that offers panoramic views of the northern runway towards the Hollywood Hills.

The 1,675 sq m premium customer facility offers space for around 400 Business Class and Star Alliance Gold passengers, including an exclusive area for First Class passengers.

In addition to the outdoor terrace, the lounge offers a bar area for socialising, a library space, a den, a study and a media room.

There are eight shower rooms available for those who want to freshen before their flight.

The lounge is equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi and offers printing, fax and copy services on request.

Customers can also make use of USB power ports to recharge their mobile devices and request the use of tablet computers. Eight Star Alliance member carriers operate out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal -- ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, THAI and Turkish Airlines.

Air New Zealand will move to the terminal in mid-2014, at which stage its Koru Lounge in Terminal 2 will close.

Lounge access is one of the key benefits offered to Star Alliance Gold, First and Business Class customers, who have access to more than 1,000 lounges across the Alliance's global network.

Qatar Airways' Privilege Club revamped

Qatar Airways has unveiled details of the enhancements it is making to the frequent flyer programme -- Privilege Club.

The new programme will be effective from Friday, and some of the changes in Qatar Airways' Privilege Club Programme include introduction of a New Platinum Tier.

Platinum will be introduced as the highest tier level in the programme, offering superior benefits and privileges to members who have earned at least 600 Qpoints within a 12-month period. Qpoints are awarded to members to achieve a particular membership status.

Qcredits, a brand new reward benefit, will be awarded to Gold and Platinum members and can be redeemed for a selection of services such as complimentary upgrades and Excess Baggage on Qatar Airways flights, payment of award fees (incurred during the change or cancellation of award tickets) and guest lounge access at Doha International Airport.

Upgrades to the next membership tier will now be easy to achieve as Qpoints earned within any 12-month period will be evaluated daily.

Privilege Club's tier renewal criteria have also been modified to consider flights in the last 12 or 24 months to make tier renewal more convenient.

Incheon International Airport's new Terminal 2

South Korea's Incheon International Airport (below) has broken ground on its new Terminal 2. Gensler, as the collaborating design architect with the HMGY (Heerim-Mooyoung-Gensler-Yungdo) Consortium, designed the $2.5 billion project to be constructed in two phases.

When complete, the 72-gate, 7.4-million sq ft terminal will effectively double the airport's size and boost its role as a key asset to Korea's fast-growing economy. The project comprises a second airport control tower, train station, parking facilities and an airside Intra Airport Transit (IAT).

The building form was inspired by an Asian Phoenix. In Korea, this mythological beast is a symbol of authority, longevity, strength and balance. According to Mr Keith Thompson, Gensler principal and leader of the firm's global aviation design practice, the terminal will be "very intuitive to navigate and present unique experiences like the vast interior gardens featuring native Korean foliage".

One of the new terminal's claims to fame - besides welcoming visitors to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics - is that it will shuttle business travellers from train to gate in 13 minutes.

Inside the terminal, visitors will encounter vast amounts of greenery to lighten air-conditioning and ventilation loads. It's all part of a comprehensive plan for the terminal to be energy efficient by making its own energy and cleaning its own air.

Amenities include VIP lounges, a landside shopping and retail district, aircraft observation deck, a transfer hotel, sculpture and exhibition areas, and gardens featuring waterfalls, indoor streams and koi ponds.

This article was published by the Special Projects Unit, Marketing Division, SPH. herworldPLUS Get more stories from herworldPLUS. Sg travellers

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