Incheon Airport Asiana Business Lounge Review - Central & East Lounges
Here's a detailed review of Asiana Business Class lounges at Incheon Airport (ICN), focusing on the Central and East lounges, plus insights from the now-closed West lounge.
Cover photo: "The Asiana Lounge Central at Incheon International Airport" by David from Simply Aviation, December 19, 2023. Source: Twitter
🔍 Key Context
West Lounge status: The Asiana Business Class Lounge West has been permanently closed.
Asiana now operates Central (near Gates 25-26) and East (near Gate 11) Business Lounges.
Reviews for "West" are older, so while informative, some aspects may not apply now. I'll distinguish between what applies broadly and what was specific to the West lounge.
🛋️ Asiana Lounge Business Class Central (ICN) — What It's Like
Design & Layout
The Central lounge was opened in November 2018 as a replacement of the older flagship near Gate 28.
It has a modern, relatively upscale design with lots of natural light (large windows, dramatic tarmac/concourse views).
Décor leans toward living-room style: dark wood, earth tones, hardwood floors, indirect lighting, and some semi-private spaces.
Seating is varied: semi-enclosed pods, booths, dining tables, work-table style seating near the lobby, and a theater-style TV area.
Amenities
Food & Drinks:
Buffet with cold items, salads, instant noodles. Four rotating hot entrees (e.g. fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, beef & potatoes) depending on time.
Drinks include the usual: soft drinks, espresso/coffee/tea, a selection of liquor, beer, wine. Some local options like soju/sake and Asiana's craft beer are available.
Dessert / sweets are less common. Some offerings may be bland or limited.
Facilities:
Multiple shower rooms/suites, clean and reasonably spacious, with toiletries.
Business centre/computers/printers are available.
Massage chairs in some pods or private pods.
Plenty of power outlets and USB charging points at many seats.
Other:
Good WiFi.
Newspapers/magazines, secure lockers, etc. Standard but useful.
👍 What's Good / What Shines
Very comfortable seating; many individual or semi-private spots if you want some peace.
Beautiful views and lots of daylight help make the lounge feel open and not claustrophobic.
Showers are a highlight — good for long flights. Clean, well-organized.
👎 What Has Room For Improvement (Especially From Traveler Feedback)
Food quality & variety is often a weak point. Some hot items are bland, or presentation isn't great. The dessert/sweets selection is often minimal.
At busy/peak times, the lounge can get crowded, which affects the quiet, the availability of good seats, and sometimes the service (buffet restocking, cleaning).
Some say that while there are many seats, not all have good power/USB outlets; those that do are desirable and often taken.
🔍 Asiana Business Lounge "West" (Historic / Until Closure)
While now closed, the West lounge gives a useful comparison for what Asiana had been offering before. Many reviews say:
Spacious, lots of natural light and high ceilings.
Similar amenities: showers, massage chairs, buffet, drinks, etc. But food tends to have been average; quality drops compared to more premium lounges or pre-flight expectations.
Service and cleaning were generally acceptable, though again crowding hurts the experience during peak hours.
✅ Verdict: Is Asiana Central Lounge Worth It?
If I were in your shoes flying through ICN (Seoul-Incheon) and had access, here's how I'd assess:
Yes, it's a solid lounge for most business travelers. If your priority is comfort, showers, a decent place to work or rest before your flight, it delivers well.
Best uses: arriving somewhat before your flight, during mid-day or non-peak hours, so you can enjoy the space without the full crowds. If you're connecting and have time, it's definitely worth going.
Not best if you're expecting top-tier culinary offerings or luxury-level food (e.g. high-end desserts or multiple premium dining stations) — in that case, other neighboring / competing lounges might do better.
Small strategies: go early for showers (before evening rush), choose seating away from the buffet if you want quiet, check if there's a newer (less busy) lounge option such as the East one.