One of the best ways to make a trip more pleasant is to relax in an airport lounge before your flight. If you fly American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and other Oneworld Alliance airlines, you can choose from up to 620 Oneworld lounges. However, you'll need to get access to Oneworld lounges through Oneworld elite status, a qualifying ticket or a lounge membership.

Here's everything you need to know about Oneworld lounges — from how to get Oneworld lounge access to how to find one for your next trip.

3 types of Oneworld Lounges

Oneworld boasts that travelers can access up to 620 airport lounges. However, access varies by lounge type. Here's an overview of the three main types of Oneworld lounges.

1. Oneworld airline lounges

The most common types of Oneworld lounges are operated by Oneworld airlines. These include American Airlines Admirals Club, Flagship Lounges and Alaska Airlines' Alaska Lounge. These Oneworld airline lounges are generally available to:

Oneworld elites at the Sapphire and Emerald levels.

Business- and first-class passengers traveling on any Oneworld airline.

For example, almost all Heathrow Terminal 5 Oneworld lounges are operated by British Airways. However, an Alaska Airlines MVP Gold elite status member can access Sapphire-branded Oneworld airline lounges, as MVP Gold corresponds to Oneworld Sapphire elite status. You don’t even have to be flying Alaska to use these lounges.

You can get lounge access with MVP Gold even when flying American Airlines across the Atlantic. Likewise, an American Airlines business-class passenger can access Sapphire-branded Oneworld airline lounges.

Learn more: Oneworld Alliance pros and cons

2. Oneworld-branded lounges

In addition to airline-operated lounges, Oneworld is developing a network of Oneworld-branded lounges. As part of Oneworld's 20th anniversary in 2019, the alliance announced it would begin rolling out Oneworld-branded and managed airport lounges. So far, only one of these is currently in operation.

The Oneworld lounge at LAX isn't branded with any particular airline logo. Instead, it's simply referred to by Oneworld as the "Los Angeles Business Lounge." This lounge is generally available to Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites and business- and first-class passengers flying on any Oneworld airline.