Review: China Airlines Dynasty Lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), A Gates
…Friendly staff and good food can’t rescue this lounge
The China Airlines Dynasty Lounge at the A gates of SFO’s International Terminal leaves a lot to be desired. The staff in the lounge is very nice and work hard. The food is good too! However, it’s one, small, crowded, plain room. Priority pass travelers have other options.
The summary:
The lounge is on Floor 4 of the A gates in the International Terminal. The entry is rather featureless: one small sign that looks like the sign for a doctor’s office before you enter and a backdrop behind reception with an unattractive outlet right below China Airlines logo.. After presenting my priority pass to the agent at reception, I entered the one white room.
And that’s the lounge. A white room with tables, chairs, and a sofa. And crowds – especially before flights to Taipei! I was surprised they didn’t restrict entry to Priority Pass members.
On the right, just past the entry is some self-serve alcohol. Then you pass what appears to be (or was) an actual bar – but it’s really a cooking station. A very friendly woman made me a wonderful pork noodle dish – it was fresh and delicious! Past this cooking station, there is a small hallway to the washrooms, then on the right is the main buffet. With some featureless items: fruit, pastries, and small sandwiches. However, the buffet is rescued by some hot dishes of rice, meatballs and cooked vegetables. There is also a refrigerator with soft drinks and an espresso machine.
Internet access is free and worked well. But outlets were hard to fine. This entire lounge seems like a temporary space until something new comes along. As I got ready to leave, I saw a line of people waiting to get in.
The wrap
…The details. Date – April 26, 2025. Rating: Pass on this lounge – unless it’s your only option! Access: Priority pass
..What I like: The cooked noodle dish, the friendly in-lounge staff.
..What I don’t like: Crowds, décor, lack of outlets.
Previous Post
Unlock the Adventure: Frontier's Go Wild! Pass is Here
Next Post
Unlock VIP Travel Perks: Is Founders Card Worth It?
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Millions Watch Remarkable Delta Flight Attendant Comfort Passenger Mid-Flight Anxiety Attack in Viral Video
We all know that flying can be stressful, but for nervous passengers, the experience can be completely overwhelming. An anxiety or panic attack at 35,000 feet can be completely debilitating, and intervention is often needed to stop someone from being completely overwhelmed. A Delta Air Lines flight attendant has now...
Live from a Lounge
Royal Jordanian commences flights between Amman and Mumbai
Royal Jordanian has arrived in India again, after more than a decade. The airline has resumed flights between Amman and Mumbai today.
The post Royal Jordanian commences flights between Amman and Mumbai appeared first on Live From A Lounge.
Live from a Lounge
Air India will make planned cancellations on many widebody flights as it tries to bring schedule integrity back
Air India will implement a planned cut of 15% international capacity, operated by its 787 and 777 widebody fleet, in an effort to bring back schedule integrity and to account for various geopolitical issues. Here is what we know so far.
The post Air India will make planned cancellations on many...
Nerd Ka Travel
American Airlines: Now Featuring Dynamic Upgrades and Dynamic Disappointment
American Airlines is making changes to how AAdvantage members use their miles for upgrades. The airline will retire its mileage upgrade award chart effective August 12, 2025, at midnight CT and has introduced a new instant point upgrade system. While […]
Frequent Miler
The Edit by Chase Travel℠ is suddenly interesting…
The Edit by Chase Travel℠ has suddenly become interesting. The Edit is Chase’s answer to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR). Just like FHR, The Edit offers elite-like hotel perks for a curated selection of hotels and resorts when you book through their program. The reason The Edit has suddenly...
Frequent Miler
Amex offering as high as 175K Membership Rewards on the Platinum card
American Express updated the public welcome offer on the consumer Platinum card yesterday and it’s now possible to earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards when spending $8,000 in the first 6 months. Note that ‘as high as’ wording though, as there’s no guarantee that you’ll receive an offer as...
One Mile at a Time
No Annual Fee Mesa Homeowners Card: Too Good To Be True?
We recently saw the introduction of the Mesa Homeowners Card. Okay, that’s not exactly the sexiest card name, and the card’s lack of obvious affiliation with a major bank might make some people skeptical. However, the card offers some really good benefits, all with no annual fee.
The Bulkhead Seat
Iberia Plans Ambitious Expansion With New Routes, Premium Lounge, More Staff, and New Aircraft
Iberia is a Spanish airline that is owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), which…
The post Iberia Plans Ambitious Expansion With New Routes, Premium Lounge, More Staff, and New Aircraft appeared first on The Bulkhead Seat.
Points With a Crew
Should you buy Choice points with a 30% discount? (Deal Ends Friday)
Choice Hotels is offering a discount on buying points, expiring this week. Buying points can be a great way to boost your balance, but only if it makes sense for your patterns of earning and redemption. Does this new promotion fit that criteria?
Frequent Miler
Chase removing Sapphire family rule, expanding 48 month rule & allowing new cards without welcome offers
Yesterday’s news was dominated by the announcements of a revamp of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the upcoming launch of a Sapphire Reserve for Business card and upcoming changes to redemptions in the Chase Travel℠ portal. There were some other Chase-related tidbits relating to these cards that were flagged by...
One Mile at a Time
Air India Cancels Hundreds Of International Flights To Ensure Stability
It has been a really rough several days for Air India. Last week, we saw the crash of an Air India Boeing 787, in an accident that can only be described as tragic, horrific, and mysterious. With the cause of the accident still not known, regulators have ordered Air India...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Surviving On Borrowed Cash, JetBlue Slashes Flights And Grounds Planes As It Warns Of Shaky Consumer Confidence
JetBlue says it will slash underperforming routes and ground planes after economic uncertainty and ‘shaken consumer confidence’ killed off any hopes the beleaguered airline had of breaking even later this year. While the airline remains optimistic that travel demand might rebound later this year, any recovery won’t be enough to...
Frequent Flyer Bonuses
Marriott Bonvoy Escapes – Save up to 20% at over 2,700 Marriott Hotels Worldwide
This week’s Marriott Bonvoy Escapes are now available for booking for stays at select hotels Worldwide. With Marriott Bonvoy Escapes members can save up to 20% on last minute stays between June 23 and July 13 that are booked by this Sunday. If you are unfamiliar with Marriott Escapes, they...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Save Up to 20% With Marriott Bonvoy
You can save up to 20% with Marriott Bonvoy off of the guest room standard rate when you stay at your choice of participating hotel and resort properties worldwide with its Escapes promotion, which offers exclusive savings every other Thursday through Sunday across select destinations...
...but you must...
The post Save Up...
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Air India Slashing Long-Haul Flights By 15% As Enhanced One-Time Safety Checks Expand to Boeing 777 Fleet
Air India will slash international flights operated on widebody aircraft by 15% as enhanced one-time safety checks expand to its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft, the embattled carrier announced on Wednesday. The decision came nearly a week after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, tragically claiming...
Frequent Miler
Great Flying Blue business class award availability to/from Europe
We noted a few months ago that business class award availability between the US and Europe using the Flying Blue program was appalling, with fewer than 20 nonstop routes available at its 60,000 mile pricing for the next year. That has changed – at least for the moment – as...
Live and Let’s Fly
A First Class Upgrade Snafu That Perfectly Sums Up American Airlines
American Airlines is trying to become a more premium carrier and I believe it is taking this goal very seriously. But a recent upgrade snafu demonstrates that the carrier has a long way to go and must focus immediately on improving its technology. American Airlines Wants To Be Luxury, But...
View from the Wing
American And Southwest Tried To Kill JSX—Now It’s Expanding With Luxury Turboprops At Up To 1,000 Airports
JSX appears to have survived the lobbying onslaught against it by American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Air Line Pilots Association.
Continue reading American And Southwest Tried To Kill JSX—Now It’s Expanding With Luxury Turboprops At Up To 1,000 Airports...
Recent Stories
-
Hilton Honors Aspire Card Review: Strong Perks, Worth The Fee
June 19, 2025
-
Millions Watch Remarkable Delta Flight Attendant Comfort Passenger Mid-Flight Anxiety Attack in Viral Video
June 19, 2025
-
Royal Jordanian commences flights between Amman and Mumbai
June 19, 2025
-
Air India will make planned cancellations on many widebody flights as it tries to bring schedule integrity back
June 18, 2025
Reviews
Read the latest reviews for road warriors and frequent flyers.
-
Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill (Regency Suite) review – Updated for 2025
June 18, 2025
-
Hotel Review: Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong
June 18, 2025
-
Spirit Ridge, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt: An In-depth Review – Fantastic Stay and a Deerspotters Delight
June 17, 2025
-
Accor Hotel Chain With Free On-Demand Porn Continues to Expand
June 17, 2025
