Star Alliance’s First Lounge in Asia: A Look Inside
Star Alliance lounges are open to travelers with Star Alliance Gold status or passengers in premium cabins.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Published · 1 min read
Written by
Contributing Writer 
Edited by
Editor & Content Strategist 
Star Alliance, one of the three big airline alliances, announced its first branded lounge in Asia, located at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), a major hub for international travel in southern China.
The new lounge, which opened on Nov. 21, 2024, is located in Terminal 1. It’s available to first and business class passengers on flights operated by Star Alliance airlines and those with Star Alliance Gold status. The lounge is open 24/7 and has showers — two features that will make it stand out as particularly useful for international travelers.
Currently, 10 Star Alliance airlines operate from Guangzhou’s airport, including Air China, ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines. The Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is the 12th busiest airport in the world in 2023 by number of passengers, according to data from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It saw a 141% increase in passengers from 2022 to 2023, as Asia travel rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the 15 busiest airports in the world, it’s now the fastest-growing one by number of travelers.
Because anyone with Star Alliance Gold status can enter, you can access the new lounge if you have United Premier Gold, Platinum or 1K status, or equivalent status with any other Star Alliance member airline.
Learn more: The complete guide to Star Alliance
Asia’s first Star Alliance lounge
The new lounge features amenities designed for modern travelers, including:
- Workstations and comfortable seating.
- Shower suites.
- VIP room for private group meetings, available on request.
These are all standard lounge amenities in line with what’s currently available in Terminal 1 at CAN, including a Priority Pass lounge and several airline lounges.
The Star Alliance lounge reflects the Pearl River Delta region's culture with local art. There’s a Tea Appreciation Corner, which will be open on special occasions.
Guests can choose from a variety of food options, from light bites to regional specialties. A dedicated bar counter serves curated drinks.
If you aren’t traveling through China any time soon, you can check to see if your next destination has another Star Alliance lounge. There are other Star Alliance lounge locations in Amsterdam, Bueno Aires, Los Angeles, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.
Why this location and what’s next?
As Guangzhou continues to grow as a significant hub for international travel, Star Alliance plans to open another branded lounge in the upcoming Terminal 3 at the same airport. Construction is expected to be complete sometime in 2025.
Top photo courtesy of Star Alliance.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
Airport Lounge Cards from our Partners
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Rewards rate 1x Miles
Intro offer 70,000 Miles
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards rate 1x-8x Points
Intro offer 125,000 Points
More like this
Related articles
