Incheon: Asiana Business Lounge East, Terminal 1
If you’re departing from Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport, the Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (East) offers a quiet place to reset before takeoff.
This isn’t a flashy, over-the-top flagship lounge. It’s practical. It’s clean. It’s organized. And for many travelers, that’s exactly what you want before a long-haul flight.
Here’s what to expect.
First Impressions: Surprisingly Cozy
One thing I genuinely appreciated is that Asiana didn’t lean heavily into bold branding inside the space. Instead of saturating the lounge in airline colors, they opted for warm wood tones and beige marble finishes throughout. The result feels clean, not sterile, and warm.
The entrance hall in the Asiana Business Lounge East at Incheon, Terminal 1
It was busy enough that it took us a minute to find a table for two — but it never felt chaotic. There were no lines for food or drinks, no loud conversations, no sense of crowd pressure.
Much of the seating along the walls is divided into small, semi-private sections — but most of those only contain one seat per space. They’re ideal for solo travelers who want quiet, not as convenient for couples or families.
You can notice the seating area to the right only has 1 seat inside the cubicle.
If you’re looking for group seating, your best bet is at the entrance or near the food area, where most of the two-top and larger tables are located. Options for sitting together are more limited than the overall seat count suggests.
Food & Beverage: Slim Selection
Let’s talk about what most people care about — the food.
The selection during our visit was modest.
There were:
4 hot food options
2 soups
2 cold finger sandwich options
A small salad bar with 3 lettuces, cherry tomatoes, sliced oranges and 2 cold pastas
A decent selection of ramen cups
I probably had 3 or 4 bowls of this soup, I enjoyed it that much.
Pro tip: if the sweet pumpkin cream soup is available when you’re here - FILL UP. It was so delicious, a winner in my book.
Beverages were basic:
The main liquor bar set up. It is self serve.
Pepsi soda machine
Bottled water
One espresso machine at the food station, One at the alcohol station
A large self-serve alcohol setup near the entrance
I’ve experienced more substantial lounge buffets, but I also view lounge food as a perk — a convenient way to save money at the airport — not an entitlement. I appreciate the benefit, while understanding it won’t always fully satisfy my American tastes.
On this trip, it was just my husband and me. No kids to entertain and no picky eaters to plan around. Had our children been with us, I would’ve found the selection severely lacking.
Stacks on stacks of ramen in the Asiana Business Lounge EAST
Ramen is hit or miss in our house. The Toowoomba pasta was spicy for a kid’s palette. And the only fruit available was sliced oranges — not exactly filling for growing appetites. There were “real brownies” at one point, but looking back through my photos and videos, I honestly can’t remember where I found them in the lounge. That must’ve been the only dessert option also because I’m a dessert girl, and I would’ve tried each one.
Massage Chairs, Showers & Views
Tarmac views from the lounge.
Massage chairs are available — but securing one isn’t easy. They tend to stay occupied.
Showers are available inside the restroom facilities, which is a major plus for long-haul travelers.
When we visited, it was still daylight outside, so we were able to watch the aircraft taxi to and from the gates… And who doesn’t love to watch airplanes!
Practical Lounge Info (Good to Know)
ASIANA AIRLINES / Star Alliance lounges at Incheon Airport, Terminal 1
Location: Terminal 1 near Gate 11, 4F
Hours: 05:00 - 22:00
Access timing: There is no strict limit for how early before your flight you can access the lounge, but if you’ve flown through Incheon then you know a lot of airline check-in counters don’t even open until 3 hours before your flight - this is what would limit your time here
Included with: Business class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members (+1 guest), Priority Pass Card holder (+1 guest)
Paid access: Not available
Crowds: It was comfortable from 16:30-19:00
Families: Kids are welcome; Children under the age of 2 are allowed as a free guest.
Pets: Allowed but must stay in their carrier
This lounge review reflects our firsthand experience in October 2025.
