More than ever, I walked away from the airport lounge and headed straight to the gate.
With so many travelers eligible for lounge access soaring through the skies, many outposts continue to suffer from overcrowding. This leads to waiting lists for entry, dirty tables inside, and understocked (and disappointing) buffets.
If I get to the airport early, I stop by the lounge to see how full it is. If it’s not too crowded and I can locate a quiet place, I’ll pass. Otherwise, I’ll just head to the terminal to locate a quiet area to sit and catch up on work.
However, some rooms continue to receive visitors, regardless of the attendance situation. In fact, several new salons have opened their doors this year and will surely continue to move forward.
Assuming I have access, I’ll even get to the airport early to one of those nine lounges.
June marked a major turning point in Delta Air Lines’ premium strategy when the airline opened its first Delta One lounge in New York.
I called this roughly 40,000-square-foot area a “stunning masterpiece” and stand by those words. In fact, of all the lounges featured in this article, the Delta One lounge is arguably the best.
It features a charming design, a brasserie-inspired restaurant with seating for 140, a spa area, marble showers, a shoe-shining station, a terrace and much more.
Given the number of Delta One travelers departing from John F. Kennedy (JFK), the exhibit can get very busy in the afternoon. Despite this, I do everything I can to locate myself inside.
I promise you, it’s worth it.
Related: Review of the new Delta One Lounge in New York, a stunning masterpiece
Earlier this year, American Express opened its new flagship Centurion lounge. This is an approximately 26,000-square-foot outpost at the world’s busiest airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
This new Atlanta Centurion Lounge temporarily has my favorite in the entire network. It features locally-encouraged design, exclusive amenities (two outdoor terraces and a whiskey bar), and top-notch food and beverages.
While many Centurion lounges are a journey, the one in Atlanta is a real must-see, to the point that you’d even wait in a (short) line to get in.
After all, the issuer has created a network of lounges that cardholders want to visit. The result is constant overcrowding, which can be especially frustrating when you want to grab a bite to eat or cool off with a match.
Related: First Look: Inside Amex’s Stunning New Centurion Lounge in Atlanta
JFK Terminal 8 necessarily has the de facto headquarters of the airlines of the Oneworld alliance, including American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Iberia.
When British Airways co-located with American, the two airlines unveiled 3 new lounges (two new and one renamed and expanded).
The ultimate chic and exclusive of the 3 is called Chelsea Lounge. It’s necessarily a first-class living room that replaces American’s Flagship First Dining and BA’s Concorde Room.
The champagne bar is noteworthy, and the food and drinks presented are some of those served on the ground by any of the carriers.
The menu is created by chef Ayesha Nurdjaja, who was noted for her New York hits, Shuka and Shukette.
Related: American Airlines and British Airways Unveil Beautiful Lounges at JFK Terminal 8
United Airlines Polaris Lounges are committed to those traveling in premium cabins on long-haul routes (with even stricter regulations than those in the Flagship Lounge).
They feature bistro restaurants with table service, upgraded lounges, trendy bars and more.
The latest Polaris living room is located in the Washington, D. C. domain. at Dulles International Airport (IAD). It builds on a solid foundation established through the carrier’s six existing Polaris lounges.
Thanks to its sumptuous design, lively artwork, and eye-catching bar, the Dulles location is my favorite in the entire system.
I can’t wait to see what United is doing in Denver, the only United center that doesn’t yet have a Polaris room.
Related: First look inside the new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles
For years, American Express was the only credit card issuer that had lounges at airports, but that was replaced when Capital One revealed it was getting into the lounge game.
While the issuer already operates an outpost at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Capital One opened its moment, and arguably most exciting, lounge at IAD last year.
In fact, IAD lately has other rooms with credit card logos; Aside from the United Polaris lounge, I’d say the Capital One outpost is the nicest in the entire airport.
Capital One covers all the bases, but I’m a fan of the show’s takeout fridge and the delicious tapas-style food served in the lounge.
Related: What to Expect at Capital One Airport Lounges
American has an all-new lounge design that debuted at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
This new DCA living room features a unique wood fireplace and muted tones that herald a sense of relaxation.
American has also been turning to the food featured at its Admirals Clubs, and I’ve actually enjoyed some of it over the past few months.
That said, if I pass by the DCA, I approach this room to find a quiet corner where I can take up some paintings while enjoying the atmosphere.
(However, my DCA living room selection will possibly be replaced soon with the upcoming opening of the American Express Centurion Lounge. )
Related: Inside American’s Surprising New DCA Admirals Club, the First of Its Kind
Chase quietly entered the credit card airport lounge game in 2022 with an outpost in Hong Kong, but the issuer has since been in trouble with the Sapphire Lounge through The Club network.
This year, Chase opened a stunning two-story, 21,000-square-foot lounge at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The area includes an a la carte restaurant, a game room, a facial bar and more.
Better yet, even a special living room within a living room called Reserve Suites, which can be reserved for as little as $3,000.
These are some of the most sumptuous rooms of any airport in the world. Of all the places, who would have thought you’d find them in LaGuardia?
Related: Chase just unveiled its LaGuardia lounge and it’s the best in the entire airport
Delta Air Lines opened its Sky Way terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2022. While all Delta travelers now use the upgraded departures and arrivals lounge, those heading to the Sky Club are in for a treat.
In fact, the new terminal is home to a stunning 30,000-square-foot Sky Club, with some of the most modern amenities located in an airport lounge.
My favorite is the massive Sky Deck, open year-round, with a retractable roof, edge-to-board bar, and perspectives of the platform, runways, and Hollywood hills in the distance.
This Sky Deck has one of the most productive spots for spotting aircraft in all of LAX.
Inside, the lounge features two enormous sideboards, a sublime coffee cave covered in Italian mosaics, personal phone booths, spacious bathrooms and much more.
Other Sky Club establishments, such as the new ones in Boston and New York, were on the shortlist; Los Angeles is the point of reference.
Related: First look at Delta’s new Sky Club in Los Angeles
Some travelers know that LAX’s Qantas First Lounge is the most productive in the United States.
While I necessarily go there, it offers impressive food and drink features in a spacious dining room. There’s also a long bar stocked with premium spirits.
The downside to this living room is that the living room and sleeping spaces can get very busy. Furthermore, the interior perspectives of the terminal do not offer any natural light (nor any aerial observation options).
The elite top-tier Oneworld Emerald can use this lounge, with a few notable exceptions for American Airlines travelers.
While not technically an airport lounge, Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge at New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station deserves a special mention.
In fact, in writing this guide, this was the first screen for which I met a value that arrived early.
The club’s locally encouraged design surpasses most domestic airport lounges, and the food and beverage offerings are quite impressive for Amtrak.
There’s even an outdoor terrace overlooking the workout station, as well as a wide variety of indoor seating areas.
It’s simply a shame that United has ended its partnership with Amtrak, part of which included reciprocal access to the living room. Otherwise, it could be considered simply as an airline lounge.
Related: New York’s New Bar? Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge
Most airport lounges on those days necessarily value the visit due to the crowding. With travel demand at record levels, there are many more eligible travelers than there are seats in the living room on the busiest travel days.
In many cases, I don’t think it’s worth spending more time at the airport in a lounge. However, there are nine exceptions in the United States.
From upscale amenities to above-average culinary offerings, I find myself adding time to prevent at one of the nine lounges listed above.
If I missed any programs, let me know.
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