New York’s JFK Airport is undergoing a major redevelopment, and that includes American Airlines’ Terminal 8. British Airways is in the process of moving to JFK Terminal 8, and as part of this we’re seeing the introduction of some new lounges.
Continue reading: New American & British Airways JFK Terminal 8 Lounges
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
They really need to do something about the quality of the concessions in T8. It feels like some weird mafia-run front or something. Not possible to get a single edible bit of food there besides Starbucks. Just a handful of really dreary places that feel like NYC bodegas from the 70s.
Nice of both airlines running the lounges to name them after areas that are located in Manhattan and London. They could have named one of the lounges Kensington as well, but that's located in the NYC borough of Brooklyn, which I'm sure most New Yorkers aren't even aware of.
Well I am sure the new lounges will offer enhanced facilities it’s an end of an era moment for me personally with the loss of the Concorde room and the widening of who can access it’s so called replacement.
Oh didn't know T7 was getting demolished, just checked and IB seems so be also moving to T8! Not sure how representative the renders will be of the reality, but the Soho lounge looks considerably larger that the "F"/OWE section BA had in T7, so hopefully that should help with overcrowding (especially since AA OWEs still seem to be unable to access it)
My apologies if I missed this, but what access will business/first passengers on other T8 Oneworld airlines have?
The phrasing “Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members on Flagship itineraries” would seem to imply Soho lounge access on Flagship transcons even in coach as those are branded as Flagship routes. Expanded access rules?
Soho Lounge for One World Emerald or One World first class ticket
Greenwich Lounge for One World Sapphire or One World business class ticket (or first class)
How about JL F? I know it’s different terminal. But last time, I went to AA Flagship Lounge with JL F ticket
What happens to non-status Admirals Club members travelling in Y/Y+? Will the Admirals Club remain unchanged?
Thanks for your reply! I was hoping Oneworld first class would get Chelsea access, but nonetheless, I appreciate the info.
What does this mean: "oneworld Sapphire members with foreign programs on any same day oneworld itinerary"?
If I'm arriving on a Singapore Airlines flight from FRA but then continuing domestically on AA, is that eligible? Confused by the "foreign program" language.
If I'm an American OWE flying internationally on a OW business class flight (not AA Flagship) which lounge will I have access to?
Seems logical now
As an AA PLAT member, I walk by that construction wondering what?
I prefer to fly in and out of JFK because its so empty and fluid.
LGA is like arriving at DisneyLand with the amount of people!
Love JFK T8
Hope it stays the same (or better(.
For example, if you are OW Sapphire because you have AA Platinum status then you can not enter if flying economy on AA. If you have OW Sapphire because you have Finnair Gold status then you could enter lounge , flying same flight.
@Sam then visit LaGuardia where there are TOO MANY F & B locations for you,
JFK is more targeted (which is nice)
Oh, foreign programs meaning non AS/AA, got it. I thought that was a weird way of saying long haul itinerary.
Why haven't we heard anything about Alaska's plans? Surely they won't be staying in T7 much longer, but I've heard nothing as to the plan. And with the loss of the domestic Alaska Lounge in T7, I suppose we will just be using the Admirals Club in T8, but only if you have Alaska Lounge+
AA EXP, flying internationally on a coach award ticket, which lounge will I have access?
EXP & PP would have access to Soho in this case. Plat would have access to Greenwich.
The current Admirals Club is becoming the Greenwich (business) lounge, the (only remaining) Admirals Club which you can access is over in the other concourse (C).
Since your intl flight is not a OW flight, you'll gain access solely based on your domestic OW(AA) flight.
Thus, if you are a non-AA/AS OWS/OWE, you'll have access. Otherwise, you won't.
I read the Iberia is also moving to T8. Which lounge do non statused (gasp!) business class passengers use if flying IB?
What about access for guests of status members? Also, no showers in Soho or Greenwich?
I whole heartedly agree. The Concorde room may have been a little dated but the food, beverage, and service were outstanding.
Slightly confused by the point of all 3. It seems..
Chelsea - Flagship First, incld Transcon
Soho - OneWorld Emerald (?)
Greenwich - Flagship Business incld Transcon and OneWorld Sapphire (?).
Flying AA Flagship First JFK-SFO soon and wanted to confirm I’d be in Chelsea. Also, it seems I can access Greenwich, but not SoHo?
I was in the JFK Flagship lounge today - Tue Nov 29th. No internet until Thursday - they are working on it. So need to go to AA Club if want internet now. The lounge has deteriorated - food not so good, some of the showers are out of order. One I used today which was in order - the water faucet was worn and drip continuously. Door lock labels worn off.
I assume AA OWE and AA OWS will still get Flagship Lounge access when on an international Y or PE itinerary at remaining FL lounges in USA. I also assume that AA OWE and OWS will get access in London at the First and Business lounges, respectively, since the AA flier would be a foreign flier at that location. Plus QF lounges, CX, JL etc.
Doesn't sound like you get access to any lounge in JFK unless you are a Admiral's club member for AA club access.
Seeems to me that the way these step down - that if AA EXP/PPro (emerald) since they get access to Soho when on international itinerary that AA OWE should be access to Greenwich when on International itinerary. CK steps down from Chesla to Soho when in Y or PE.
The confusion is what is a Flagship itinerary? Does this mean you have to be in a Flagship seat (J or F) or just flying on an aircraft that offers Flagship classes even though you might be in Y or PE?
I really hope the Chelsea lounge will be open to GGLs on domestic AA flights.
While I prefer the flair of the CCR at T7, potentially being able to access the lounge more frequently would make more than up for it.
As a NYC-based GGL with a lot of flights on AA this would be a a great improvement.
Will be at JFK a few days before xmas and check with the staff then 😉
The points guy has a much better review of these new lounges. Points guy says "Flagship routes" instead of "Flagship itineraries" here on OMAAT. Flagship routes to me means the aircraft and destination. So looks like AA Emerald will get Soho access in any class for international FS routes.
So funny how everyone seems to want access to all the higher lounges with just any ol' status/ticket class. Yet they also want it to look and feel EXCLUSIVE. These companies have to draw a line somewhere, and remember: These are all above Admirals Lounges.....
If I'm not mistaken, the 'foreign flyer' distinction only applies in the US, and that all OWE and OWS have access to OW lounges in the rest of the world. As QF Gold or Platinum I would have access to the relevant QF lounges in Australia.
What a bloody mess!! They just made it soo complicated for everyone else!! You kids do realize that after December 2023 AA flyers will no longer have access to the Chelsea lounge right??! That’s for First Class only, both international and transcontinental and AA is disappearing this in 2024! Only CK members, apparently, will have access.
What are the hours?
Flying JFK - DOH in business in December - flight departs 1:20am (ouch). T8. Where can we chill?
(I already know TSA pre-check is closed…)
Per PointsGuyUk transcon is excluded from the "Flagship only" verbiage. So confusing.
Curious if other First Class international airlines that move to T8 will negotiate special arrangements for Chelsea Lounge access.
I have a question about the Priority Check-In areas. I see the new completely enclosed private check-in area for First/OWE and then the other semi-enclosed check-in area for Business/OWS, but I did not see specific mention of OWR/Domestic First/Premium Eco, which would normally have access to priority check-in. I'm curious how that will work and if OWR flying on BA will have a separate dedicated check-in line or if it will be folded into an additional AA Priority line for OWR/AA Gold, etc.
Still confused.... if you are an AA / AS OWE flying internationally on a OW carrier in Y or PE.... You still get access to the SOHO lounge, correct?
If not, that would be quite the divergence from the norm... See BA F Lounge in LHR, for example.
I call it a net reduction in the “lounge value” I get out of my AA and BA flying from JFK.
They basically mean that elites from US airlines’ programs are to be treated worse for lounge access than non-US airlines’ elites with the equivalent oneworld elite status.
The US airlines don’t want the US airline lounges full with domestic flying economy class passengers with US airline issued elite status of the Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald , Star Gold, SkyTeam ElitePlus status.
People who find themselves in a pickle of a situation between having to eat at the airport or eat the airline’s lousy/mystery food.
@GUWonder 'They basically mean that elites from US airlines’ programs are to be treated worse for lounge access than non-US airlines’ elites with the equivalent oneworld elite status.'
To be clear it's not 'they are to be' because this distinction has always been there. Lounge access whenever you fly is a perk of elite status with most (or all?) non-US OW programs but not for AA. This doesn't change what either US or foreign elite status holders receive.
Has there been confirmation when terminal 7 will be demolished? Where will Ana business/first class passengers go to?
Same question. Flying JFK to lax Sunday Flagship First.
Which lounge??
And checkin
Am in the Chelsea lounge NOW, Sat 3rd
And so looking fwd having read all tbe blogger reviews...
🙁
Champagne menu not as shown on the media reviews.. still good but not as extensive
No afternoon tea service
And very limited menu items available, when they have not run out!!!
Nothing like the menus posted !!!
BRING BACK FLAGSHIP DINING