In early 2019, we learned about British Airways’ plans to move at JFK, from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8. This process has finally been completed as of today, as British Airways has officially vacated Terminal 7.
Continue reading: British Airways Moves To New York JFK Terminal 8
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
IAG/OWJV seems to be leaving IB in limbo here. They haven't announced firm intentions to move to 8, let alone plans. Will they keep old BA lounges open in 7 for IB's two daily departures?
This is not a sudden development. It has been in the works for some time, and it is about time. Terminal 7 is a cramped, aged facility that has been redone several times since the early 1990s and yet still manages to be an unpleasant place to depart from, whether during peak times or not. Terminal 7 has lost a number of airlines since the mid-2010s as airlines like Qantas, Cathay Pacific, and United have decamped (QF and CX moved to T8 a long time ago) and UA left in 2015, came back, and at the end of the month, will be gone again from T7.
We'll probably see IB and AS move to Terminal 8 eventually. A lot of that will depend on the future of the NEA and whether AA pulls down flights from JFK again which would create the capacity needed at T8 to accommodate IB and AS.
Terminal 8 can be quite busy at times, particularly late afternoon. It's a huge space and the space was never quite well utilized. Hopefully, it will get better food and retail outlets than what it has had until now. Still, it is an eminently better and more pleasant terminal at JFK than virtually all of the others.
I wish they built out the eastern portion of the headhouse as it looks unfinished. And I'm not really a fan of the ceiling as well as the design of the steel beams, but that's a completely different topic.
Ha, I always thought it was unfinished! Texas Tech University medical school built an entire building and left the interior unfinished for many years. This could have been done with T8.
T7 used to be called the British Airways Terminal. Close to an end of an era.
It was actually the BOAC Terminal. But yes, does look unfinished.
One thing I'm going to miss about terminal 7 is how small it is. You can get from curbside to gate in about 10 minutes. I especially enjoyed going through security by the BA First check-in counters when flying with CX as the queues were relatively short and you didn't have to deal with those full body scanners.
Unfortunately, terminal 7 is outdated in the 2020s with its tight ramps and narrow alleyways.
Part two of the question is how will the new dining work for BA fliers when the Concorde Room is left behind?
Terminal 8 is supposed to expand - new gates are to be added.
Based on previously released images of the new lounge, the images in this article don't seem to offer the full picture.
Can't wait to see what this means for Alaska while they're still in Terminal 7, that place has been a total zoo since travel bounced back after Covid. A little breathing room there will be nice! I'm assuming they'll eventually also colocate into T8.
This is not good news. I just flew out of T7 with BA a few days ago for the first time, and I have to say, I was super impressed. Small and easy terminal to navigate, but the lounge was absolutely massive. Full a la carte menu in both business and first lounges, and just a huge variety of spaces and seating options. It's honestly the most impressive "new" (to me) lounge I tried for a couple of years. Very sad to think that they are now going to cram passangers into a smaller lounge packed with AA guests. Sounds like a significant downgrade.
Overall, this is a welcome development for us frequent BA fliers, as terminal 7 has been a complete nightmare, especially for arrivals, for some years. Designed in the 1960s for narrowbodies, even 777s have to be towed into the gates.
Having said that, do we have any info on whether the new lounges will all be jointly branded or unique to BA? If they are all joint, suggests they will be terribly crowded in the evenings. Also will the first class check in area be jointly branded or will BA maintain its own area?
I wonder what this means for ANA. With BA moving out of Terminal 7 and assuming they'll be shuttering their current Terminal 7 lounges, what lounges with ANA use for F and J customers? Or, will ANA also relocate somewhere else?
Will all OW airlines be consolidated into 1 terminal? Its frustrating flying JL and connecting to AA or As.
ANA uses British Airways lounge at terminal 7 for F passengers. Does anyone have any guess of which lounge will be used now that BA is moving out of terminal 7?
While I would like to believe so, it's still up in the air at the moment (excuse the pun). Terminal 1 is being rebuilt with a new consortium and I don't believe that JL is part of the new consortium.
But it does make sense logistically.
JL, along with AF, KE, and a few others, have an equity stake in the current T1.
Unless that's bought out, I sincerely doubt they'll be leaving, despite renovations.
The new T1 is not a renovation. It is a new structure, with 3 x the number of gates as the existing T1 and it is being financed by a Private Equity firm. The new T1 will eventually be the anchor for *A at JFK, as it is now, just larger. Much larger. My guess is JL will move to T8 eventually, KE to T4, along with AF, with LH staying put.
9/11 put an end to the original intended footprint for T8. Construction began in 1999 I think, or at least the project was announced then, and it opened in stages, starting in 2007. Originally, it was to have 2 mid field concourses and a larger head house.
AF is staying put according to an article I was able to dig up. EY and LO are also moving.
Will T8 have the capacity to accommodate BA A380s, and I wonder if they have any plans to utilise them on the JFK route. I operated into T7 many times, and it was very tight even for 747s, so I guess that the apron layout was unsuitable for A380s.
These new mixed use American and BA lounges feel very underwhelming compared to what BA has at Terminal 7. Something about going from the Concorde Room to the Terminal 8 lounge just isn't particularly appealing
Addiitonally, all Iberia flights will move to terminal 8 as of December 1, per an email I received from them today.
I'm curious about that too. Hope it's not Alaska lounge. But I think eventually ANA will move to T1 (with most SA airlines).
The best scenario is to take over the British Airways lounge but with only one daily flight now, it's not really possible.
JAL announced this week their intentions to relocate to T8 in May. Always found it insane that OW operated out of three different terminals at JFK, especially with AA shedding so many of their own metal flights to those partners in recent years. Made connections incredibly complicated.
I always hated going to terminal 7 when I flew any kind of premium class. When you come out of the passport check they would just dump you into the mix with everyone else trying to go through security and you'd have to fight your way into the line or beg someone to let you in. Since the line stretched all the way to where the TSA checked the coach folks' ID's, you couldn't really even go to the back of the line. What a mess. Glad it's gone.
I have an AA transcon flight in F in mid
December and I’m curious to know how they will treat AA F pax for the interim time when AA F is still around. Will we get to use the new joint facilities?
LH and its subsidiaries are apparently moving to T6 so maybe ANA will co-locate there (would make sense as UA has joint ventures with both of them).
As of now, IB and JAL will both be moving to T8 between December 2022 - May 2023, and in all likelihood so will AS.
I remember when the current T8 replaced the old T8&9 complex that the plan was originally for T8 to expand ala SLC into the space for T7. essentially it’s half built.
No. BA have said in the past no A380s for JFK. Pax want high frequencies, not high capacity aircraft.
I'm skeptical this will be an improvement for departing BA pax. T7 was a good setup and a nice small and easy to navigate terminal.
T8 is right now, and has been, the largest terminal at JFK square footage wise, and an eminently more enjoyable place to travel into and out of than the rest of the JFK terminals.
Terminal 7 was outdated, cramped, and generally not pleasant at peak times.
The new T1 when it opens, will be the anchor for Star Alliance at JFK, except for all the LH Group airlines, which will operate from Terminal 6 when it is completed.
IB will move to T8 on 12/01. JAL appears to be relocating to T8 as well, and eventually that just leaves RAM to move from T1 to T8 and all of OW will be under one roof at JFK.
I loved T7 because of its small size and also the Concorde Room which is one of the nicest lounges there is. Was pleased to get one last dinner and Negroni there on Tuesday! I'll miss it.
So the question is.................... will the Macallan Boutique follow suit and move from T7 to T8?
During the transition period people will have to be careful and watch closely as to which terminal their flight departs from. Actually, I think this should be done for ALL airlines. For example Skyteam - Air France and KLM don't use the Delta terminal 2/3. It's quite annoying as it is not always obvious which airline is the operating airline although airlines have done better in recent years about telling people.
At this point, there's no longer any reason for RAM to stay at T1. While JAL was understandable, given that they also operate the terminal
I think this should be done for ALL airlines. For example Skyteam - Air France and KLM don't use the Delta terminal 2/3. It's quite annoying as it is not always obvious which airline is the operating airline although airlines have done better in recent years about telling people.
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It's quite annoying as it is not always obvious which airline is the operating airline although airlines have done better in recent years about telling people.
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I've flown in/out of T7 many times, especially back when UA flew to SFO and LAX from there. I don't think I ever had more than a couple of minutes wait at the security line, even before PreCheck. While the amenities inside the terminal are pretty abysmal, I really appreciated how compact the terminal was - no endless hike to the gate. And nowadays it's just not very crowded anymore, so it's actually pretty pleasant to take an Alaska flight from there without lounge access.
royal jordanian is also flying out of T8. it's shaping to be a nice OW hub. JFK isn't easiest to go between terminals so that's a good development. BTW do you have stats on how many people actually click the little video pop up on the lower right corner of your website? I never did personally and find it a bit annoying to have to close it when it blocks some content.
I can relate to what a pain it is to connect across terminals. I once had to connect from CLT through JFK to MAD on AA onto Iberia. Sounds like a good move by BA and oneworld to consolidate.
Not ANY Y passengers I believe, especially considering that they are not yet in Terminal 8. If you mean those in Economy Plus, it is probably the way of the future considering that some airlines have worthy Economy Plus differentiated services (AA is not one of them and I do not know Iberia's).
Live update from the new T8 Chelsea lounge (first evening it’s open):
- The space is fine. Nothing more. It doesn’t scream premium.
- They have Krug, but none cold.
- There is a limited food menu, most of which has run out (no steak or chicken Caesar salad left at 7.30pm). Was a 30min wait for chicken breast and mashed potato.
- No self serve (or any other) bar snacks (nuts, olives, pretzels, crisps/chips etc) here (or in Soho lounge next door- I looked!).
When the teething / staff familiarisation issues are ironed out, it will end up being fine. But this is really nothing to be excited about.
Whoops! I meant J pax. They're sending non-statused J pax to the AC.
IB's move was effective today, Dec 1. I flew MAD-JFK yesterday and at check-in was told my return would be out of T8. Upon arrival in T7 I saw staff moving carts full of signage and materials.
Arrived at T8 with BA yesterday on BA 117 (first arrival). AA flight from Paris touched down just before us and the non-US immigration line was absolutely terrible... I can only imagine what it would be like mid-afternoon when several flights arrive at the same time. Eventually a member of staff started transferring people into the US line.
T8 has a lot of work to do before the arrival experience can be premium. At least in T7 most flights were spaced out enough to avoid terrible lines. Let's see what they do.
I agree T7 was the worst at JFK. I always dreaded to fly out of this Terminal, esp. when I took the daytime flight to London, nothing decent to eat, the coffee line was half an hour long, only one or two charging plugs. I am so glad they moved.
John hello!
How was reclearing security for connecting to domestic from the international flight?
Chelsea lounge for BA First JFK-LHR 08Dec. So the lounge was open what, a week? Pretentious and useless. Furniture not too comfy. Krug already off the menu presumably after the bill from the first few nights. Lamb tangine 86 as well. Bourish Americans (of which I am one) holding court at the champagne bar like it’s Cheers. No thanks. I’ll take a decently appointed J lounge any day over this. In fact we went to Soho and it was better in terms of offerings and comfort.
This appears to be another BA downgrade. What happened to pre-flight dining, previously available in both BA First and Club lounges in T7?
This project is total BS - Terminal 8 is worn out and tired-looking, and the work done didn’t affect 95% of this receipt terminal. The carpets throughout the building are threadbare and filthy, the walls are scuffed and broken, the passport control area is too small, has low ceilings and half of the lights have been burnt out for years (and still are after the BA move). A new baggage claim was added (the only real improvement I could see on a recent trip through). The arrival area restrooms remain undersized and filthy, and the meet/greet lobby for international arrivals is on par with a (bad) bus station. This terminal looks awful considering it’s only 15 years old. Can’t believe BA moved in here with it in this condition - granted the 50+ year old Terminal 7 wasn’t looking too great either. JFK continues to have awful facilities even after millions of dollars are supposedly thrown at it. Makes no sense.
Question: Now that the Terminal 8 lounges have been added to the T2 first section, and the Admirals Club is now only operating out of the T3 section ( which is a very long walk)....... do AA Exec Plat Emerald members gain access to Soho Lounge on a JFK MIA B772 Flight (as an Admirals Club Member and flying in front cabin)?
I was told "No" recently and that I must use the Admirals Club in T3 long walk section of gates.
They keep saying that they're gonna tear down Terminal 7 in place of a newer, bigger Terminal 6, but they're still not doing it. When are they going to start the demolition of T7 and finally get it done?