Review: VIP ONE Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)

Hi Ben. Can you clarify if Pre Check is available when going through this lounge? Thanks.

Does the security give access to Precheck lanes, or just normal lanes?

TSA at any JFK terminal is a mess. It is astonishing how TSA at some airports is a breeze and yet is so disorganized at JFK. A person could use this lounge just to get through security and then go to one's lounge of preference. Ha.

Jfk T1 doesn't have proper precheck. Only that you can keep your shoes on and go thru metal detector instead of MMS. Kinda a precheck light.

Jfk T1 doesn't have proper precheck. Only that you can keep your shoes on and go thru metal detector instead of MMS. This does feed into the precheck light lane tho.

A person could use this lounge just to get through security and then go to one's lounge of preference.

Yes that is the selling point of this lounge.

So you have to take your laptop and liquids out no matter what?

TSA website says JFK T1 has Precheck. Maybe not all hours. Real shame on DHS/TSA if the flagship airport of the biggest city in the US does not have always-on Precheck.

I feel like the star system used on this blog needs some sort of rating guideline appendix. Otherwise... what's the actual point? It's just a subjective opinion from the author who even admits they didn't even try the food. Derp

The food is obviously shit. Hampton Inn Express caliber.

The star rating system is an SEO trick. Not intended for human interpretation.

"I’m sorry to disappoint y’all, but I couldn’t bring myself to order anything in the lounge. Not because it didn’t look decent, but because I eat way too much on these trips, so I have to control my consumption."

So in the future we can expect
" I couldn’t bring myself to do anything in the business class seat"

"Not because it didn’t look decent, but because I lie flat way too much on these trips" so I have to sit straight up and do nothing the whole flight"

Isn't trying things part of being a blogger that review experiences. Take one for the team. Mostly they are the good ones. Leave the bad ones to John Sebastian Josh. They seem to attract bad stuff all the time.

Ben published an article a long time ago stating the intention behind the star rating and the metrics he uses. In a nutshell, he is comparing this lounge to others in that category. Those 'categories' are quite specific (and I wouldn't say that all of them could be listed, but rather it's about how this lounge compares to similar experiences).

With all due respect, he has a family and can only be away for so long which means condensed trips which means cramming more into a shorter period. He mentions that the best posts are flight reviews so he prioritizes them. While I understand what you are saying, I think it's a bit unfair to say he will go as far as to say "I couldn't bring myself to do anything in this business class seat". He built this blog from the ground up, he can do as he pleases. If you don't like it, I'm sure it wouldn't be the end of the world if you did not follow along.

@ ny110010001 -- As noted by Scott, based on my experience there's not actually a PreCheck lane open, but rather you get one of those cards telling you that you get select PreCheck privileges.

@ Shaheed Ellington -- Indeed it's supposed to be subjective, and isn't intended to follow some criteria, since there are so many different categories of lounges. The reason I rated this lounge highly (and this doesn't require trying the food) is the unique ability to cut the security line, which no other Priority Pass lounge in the United States offers. Given that most of us have unlimited Priority Pass visits, I'd say that's pretty great.

@ Eskimo -- On this particular day I visited six different lounges, and took a long haul flight. Of course being a blogger is about reviewing the experiences, that's literally what I did for the entire week I was away. 😉 But I also can't realistically eat six full meals over the course of a few hours.

That looks so sad....Terminal 1 is not a pleasant experience (it is in the early stages of being replaced with a brand new terminal being built around it) but there are better options among the mediocrity that awaits post security. The Turkish Airlines lounge is nice, not big, with average food, but airy and pleasant. The AF Lounge is crowded and a bit dated, but also not a bad place to wait for your flight. The LH Lounge is similar to the AF lounge. The PrimeClass Lounge at the end of the Terminal is also quite nice, and cosy.

Used this lounge for the first time a few weeks ago, just to skip the security line. It was bedlam. The lounge was CRAMMED with people trying to do the same thing. TSA only let in a couple of lounge guests into the security line at a time. It took much longer than just waiting in the regular line. I almost missed my flight, and some people behind me actually did. For a lounge whose singular reason for existing is to expedite, they failed miserably.

I just saw DT's comment about his experience. Ugh. So, perhaps not.

I guess you can always leave the lounge if the regular line is shorter. As long as you are not paying for this, no harm having it around.

Maybe they can do what normal airline lounges do. Accept Priority Pass only at off-peak hours.q

Can I use this Terminal 1 lounge if departing from Terminal 8? Not using their fast track, but just exiting the lounge and taking a shuttle to Terminal 8?

In JFK Terminal 1, at least the last time I used it a few months ago, everyone makes the same line, whether you have TSA PreCheck or not. However, when you get to the end of the line, you show the person sending you to the machines that you have TSA PreCheck and he or she will direct you to the one for people with TSA PreCheck (Metal detector instead of body scanner, no need to take out electronics, take off shoes, etc.), but there seemed to be no separate TSA PreCheck line.

i see. SFO has a similar arrangement at International departures during the late night hours. you have to make sure the ID checker gives you a card that says you have PreCheck. otherwise you will be forced to remove your shoes.

i almost missed my flight because my huge cojones led me to argue with the post-ID check officers as to whether or not i was able to keep my shoes on. don't they know who i am?

Priority Pass says (the emphasis is mine)

The lounge is located behind counters E and F next to the TSA Check Point. International flights only. ... All Cardholders and guests are required to show a Boarding Pass with confirmed same-day travel

The lounge operator says

Q: I accidentally booked your service but I am not departing from terminal one at JFK.
A: We will offer a refund. Please send a note to ... with proof of departure.

The strict interpretation of the above is you need a T1 international departing boarding pass. You might be able to beg your way in with a T8 boarding pass. Prepare for questioning because your presence in a T1 lounge before a T8 flight will be baffling to the reception. In case other OMAAT readers do not know, JFK terminals are not connected after security, or for that matter, even before security. All the terminals are basically separate mini-airports.

I paid to use this service a couple of times before it became a lounge and started accepting PP users. Back then it has always been a truly smooth experience and a useful tool to get past the chaotic T1 securities. Now I do worry whether it can still serve that purpose during peak hours, given how many people have PP cards.

There is no post-security shuttle to T8.

Used it a few weeks ago when flying Swiss First (it’s included) - it may have been faster but the dirty looks, loud comments and in some cases physical pushing from the people in the line (that you are cutting) was not a very premium experience!

This would only work if there was a separate security line, forcing you into a long queue of grumpy people that have been waiting is not much fun.

Who cares about those people. You only need to interact with TSA.

@ Ben, since this one opens at 8am and some airside lounges open earlier (and you like to be there when they open), did you go through security to the airside lounges and then exit security to see this one when it opened? If so, wow, thanks for the dedication!

This “VIP” lounge is just plain bad. Food is bad, staff is rude, there is a single outlet for the whole lounge. The “cut the line” experience is far from premium as one of the commenters here mentioned. One other thing they don’t tell you upfront - your Priority Pass gives you only 3 hours there. I had a long connection and needed a checking for my next flight and the checking counter wasn’t open at first - so I was waiting there. At some point VERY unfriendly woman came to me with “give me your ID , sir” and then “you have 10 more minutes and you have to leave”. Not “you have to pay if you want to stay” - just “you have to leave”. You MAY pay to stay for more, but , of course after this attitude I just left to never be back again. Stay away from the hole.

VIP ONE lounge staff told me I could not utilize their fast track security access if my flight departed from a different terminal than Terminal One. If you are okay with having close to zero electrical outlets, and no alcohol besides wine and beer, you might be okay here. But the lounge is small with no toilets, showers or view of anything.