Lounge Review: Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
After a few impressive first experiences with the Plaza Premium Group (in terms of the beautiful Aerotel Singapore in Changi Airport as well as the Plaza Premium Lounge in Singapore), I was very curious to check out the Plaza Premium Lounge in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport - it is worth noting that at the time of writing, there are four different lounges that travellers may gain access to. Since I had an OCBC VOYAGE Card with me, I could bring a guest to enjoy unlimited access to all participating Plaza Premium Lounges around the world.
Click HERE to find out more about Airport Lounge Access with Credit Cards!
Honeycomb Seats
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
I visited the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 (Zone D) - there are two Plaza Premium Lounges here in Terminal 1 and two more in Terminal 2 (the latter ones are apparently bigger and more impressive). Similar to what I have seen in Singapore, the lounge here features the signature Honeycomb seating which is perfect for solo travellers looking to catch up on work or simply want more privacy - each one of them is also equipped with a light and a power socket to charge your devices before your flight.
Main Dining Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
Similar to the design in Singapore and Penang which I have previously visited, the Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) features an open and contemporary design that uses earthly shades to create a welcoming environment. During my time of visit (approximately 2:00PM), the lounge was very quiet and everything was kept in tip top condition - the chairs were arranged nicely and the tables were all free of clutter.
Main Dining Area
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
The Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) here at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport has a number of different seating configurations - the main dining hall features more casual seating which resembles that of a restaurant. If would like more privacy, there are lounge chairs located at the different corners of the lounge as well as the honeycomb-style seating which I have previously mentioned.
Food and Drink Selection
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
While Champagne is not served in this lounge (it is not the SilverKris Lounge after all), they do have a red and white wine, chilled beers in the refrigerator as well as coffee and tea by the side. If you are feeling peckish, the lounge also stocks up on smaller bites like cookies and nuts.
Taiwan Beer on Tap
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
I was quite impressed to see a beer tap here at the Plaza Premium Lounge since I usually only see them at flagship lounges like the SilverKris Lounge in Singapore and the ANA Lounge in Tokyo. I am personally not a huge beer person but more options and variety are both great things to have.
Hot Food Selection
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
The food options here at the Plaza Premium Lounge in Taoyuan Airport is also quite decent - there is a selection of hot dishes which featured crispy spring rolls, fish, spaghetti and vegetables during my visit. Travellers who wish to have something that is made a la minute can also order from a menu that rotates from time to time (more on this later!).
Cold Food Selection
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
If you prefer to have a lighter meal, salads are also available and there were a number of desserts by the side for those with a sweeter-tooth.
One of the more impressive features of the Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport has got to be the a la carte dishes which you can order from one of the lounge staff - there is no limit to the number of dishes you can order so if you are there early and wish you try more dishes, feel free to go for it. While some dishes were really quite delicious (e.g. the Teryaki Chicken), I did find some of them to be slightly lighter in flavours. These dishes that have been photographed above rotate on a regular basis and they may or may not be available during your time of visit.
Comfortable Seats
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
Instead of having my meals in the main dining area, I decided to park myself in a corner of the lounge where it is dimmer and more conducive for resting - power sockets (including a USB charging point) are also available in-between seats so you can charge your devices prior to your flight. With that being said, most flights are now equipped with in-flight seat power unless you are flying on a low cost carrier that does not have that feature (or charge for it like Scoot).
Comfortable Seats
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
The quietest area in my opinion has got to be this row of chairs beside the kitchen - it is carefully tucked away and it is easy to miss it if you do not walk around. While I am certain that the lounge is not always this quiet, I did find it to be a place to hang out before the flight (especially if you are not traveling in Business Class) - the place is beautiful, the food is decent and the seats are very comfortable.
Comfortable Seats
Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) - Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
You will find a bathroom here in the Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 1 Zone D) but if you are looking for a shower, you will have to head down to the main one in Terminal 2 (Zone A) instead - the latter is a 1,100 sqm lounge with a seating capacity of 200. Travellers who wish to utilise the lounge on a paid-basis can opt for a 2, 5 or 10 hour lounge package for NT$1,300 (SGD 60), NT$2,000 (SGD 92) and NT$2,400 (SGD 110) respectively.
The Travel Club Lounge in the Satellite Terminal of KLIA might be a good spot to work before your flight, but the subpar food and beverage offerings make it a poor choice for those seeking quality refreshments.