LATAM Joins Delta At JFK Terminal 4

That SkyClub is already packed to the brim. Don't know how feasible it is, but maybe Delta should look into expanding or building a second smaller club closer to the headhouse.

Hopefully the Centurion Lounge in T4 opens soon

I think that since LATAM will still be a oneworld member on Feb 1 (until September), they'll still be obligated to provide lounge access for Emeralds and Sapphires in economy, per the oneworld lounge access rules [in theory]. I guess we'll have to wait and see if it's actually enforced.

Can we see Iberia or Royal Air Maroc take their place?

T4 is always full at JFK.

Where do they expect to create this space??

@lucky

Airlines are supposed to give OW elites the same access to lounges as their own members, including to contract lounges. Obviously this is an unusual situation, but I’m not sure how LATAM would be able to get out of that requirement (...before October)

Good riddance. LATAM and their passengers are dead to me.

@GuruJanitor

Not sure when you visit, but I have never seen the giant Skyclub in terminal 4 be too crowded. Even during the morning rush, there are plenty of tables available.

'including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines."

Hmmm...what about Alaska Airlines?

@Sam: Rush hour for that lounge is about 3pm-8pm (during the transatlantic push) when its routinely packed. While this only adds two peak-hour flights (GYE and LIM are near-midnight) it still won't help the crowding.

They're also going to have to find check-in space for these guys at what is otherwise peak time for T4.

@ST well there is always space in terminal 3 at JFK LOL.

In all seriousness the JFK lounge in T4 is packed. Didn't realize they are building a centerion lounge but it'll be nice to have both options.

... and what about SkyTeam or at least Delta‘s JV partners AF/KL?

A more packed T4 and a more cheerless T8...

@Sam - as ST and James noted, the nightly Europe departure rush is a madhouse. The morning departure bank doesn't even come close.

In short, LATAM really wants to divorce and stay away from American Airlines. It can't wait to move in with Delta, its new partner. Next year, LATAM will get rid of all oneworld's members (e.g. British Airways, Cathay..) and become a new elected child of the SkyTeam parent.

@ben delta is building an addition to T-4 apparently so that should easy congestion somewhat

I wish LATAM refused to sell stake to Delta

I wonder if DL will step up their lounges at JFK and ATL to match AA? AA has maintained the premium heavy 773s to GRU since receiving those aircraft as there very much is a market for Flagship lounges and a "First Class" cabin.
Even with a three-way Copa-Avianca-United tie up I cant see AA sliding further than a solid number two in the Latin American market. The amount of local city ticket offices, like MVD for example has three and Punta del Este which doesnt even have AA service gets one during peak season, combined with credit card deals (Santander, Itau, etc...) should help them remain a fierce competitor.

Lucky, what do you thing of Aer Lingus’ new uniform??

Excellent news, T8 bliss (for awhile at least). Adios LATAM and I'll see you at the next revolution.

Good Riddance on LATAM Leaving Terminal 8. I never cared for LATAM and if the Delta Fanboys are thinking They are getting Some PRIZE....may want to do a REALITY Check. As far as them vacating T8....AA owns it, I would pretty much They called the shots on when the eviction would occur. AA isn't perfect by Any means but the continual AA bashing is ridiculous to the point I rarely pay attention to the nonsense anymore. ONEWORLD losing LATAM is NOT a Loss after what they became with the TAM Merger...……..GARBAGE!

I prefer Terminal 4 much more than Terminal 8 (after Terminal 8's renovation is completed I may feel different.) I've been to the JFK Delta skyclub in T4 and I can always find a place to sit but perhaps it just depends on the timings. Also, the food/restaurant offerings at T4 is much better than T8.

@GuruJanitor @ST That makes sense that the rush is not during the mornings but during the evenings for transatlantic departures. The only evening departure I've taken on Delta from T4 was a 5pm JFK-ATH flight on the Thursday before Labor Day. The Skyclub wasn't too bad, but then again 5pm is on the early side for transatlantic and given the holiday weekend there would not have been many business travelers.

Anyone who thinks the move from T8 to T4 is good is clueless. Flagship lounge is 10x better than the sky club. Heck Newark has a nicer sky club than JFK. What a joke.

Booked a trip to Peru from SFO-JFK-LIM and was looking forward to the lounge on the layover, now I guess I can expect a lengthy terminal change and crowded lounge. Bleh.

Does anyone know if I can access the AA lounge on arrival coming in from SFO?

Thanks!

@Roger,

Just a minor technical clarification re who “owns” passenger terminals, cargo buildings, aircraft hangars, etc., at either of New York’s major airports:

For JFK & LGA:

- the City of New York OWNS all land/on airport buildings within the airport property line;

- the bi-state operating agency known as the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey LEASES the airport from NYC, operates and manages, etc.,;

- For JFK the airlines and/or terminal management entities such as:

- Terminal One Group Assn, LP (which is a joint-venture partnership of Air France, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines & Lufthansa that operates/manages JFK Terminal 1);

- Delta Air Lines (JFK Terminal 2 only);

- JFK IAT/Schiphol (the USA-affiliate of the airport by the same name in Amsterdam operates/manages JFK Terminal 4);

- JetBlue (Terminal 5);

- British Airways (JFK Terminal 7) and;

- American Airlines (JFK Terminal 8)

And for LaGuardia:

- The future Central Terminal Building, aka Terminal B, LaGuardia Gateway Partners;

- Terminals C & D, Delta Air Lines

All of these passenger terminals, plus other on airport facilities on the NY side of the Hudson River are then SUB-LEASED by those airlines/other corporate entities from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

My professional background includes 2 years as Principal Researcher for consulting assignments with an industry expert for terminals and/or within terminal facilities/concessions operated by BA, Terminal One Group Assn (TOGA) & HMS Services, as well as BA & Korean Airlines’ Cargo for their facilities’ operations, maintenance, repair, capital improvements, redevelopment and more, which is where I learned of the particulars regarding NYC’s airport ownership structure, leases and sub-leases.

So, while American Airlines manages, operates and is responsible for the repair and maintenance of Terminal 8, or even has “a say” in the selection of concessionaires within the building itself (as the other terminal managers/operators do at their terminals), as most people round these parts and at airline C-Suites know all too well, while the sub-leasees may “have a say” in the decision-making process for “their” terminals, which DOES include “renting” gates, counters & baggage claim offices to other airlines (for example, LATAM), in terms of “controlling” much else that gets done within these structures beyond ordinary repairs and maintenance, virtually NOTHING ELSE can get done without the Port Authority’s reviews and approvals.

If a wall sustains minor damage such was a luggage cart crashing into it and denting the sheetrock; or if a roof leaks and needs minor flashing, the terminal operator and its contractors may be able to get that done without much involvement by the Port Authority.

But, once things go beyond minor repairs & maintenance, such as reconfiguring an office, ripping out a larger section of a cracked and leaky rooftop and replacing with new, NOTHING gets done without the Port Authority’s approval.

And unless that’s changed since finishing up that work (approx 19 years ago), “NOTHING” gets done at NYC’s airports that comes remotely close to suggesting the terminal operators have “free reign” or dominion over their NYC airport facilities!