There’s no denying that the general standard of airport lounges in the United States isn’t great. If you think of airport lounges, you might think of crowded rooms with outdated furniture, stale snack mix, and cheap chardonnay.
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Thank you for this rundown. That said, I really don’t think the lounges as a whole are sad. They have upped their games incredibly in the past 5 years. I’m not sure I can remember the last time I had a stale snack in any US lounge.
Ben, a new Escape Lounge accessible with Priority Pass opened in the new Kansas City (MCI) airport terminal and I was mighty impressed! Plus the small (and never crowded) Delta Skyclub with outdoor terrace continues to impress. I'd love to see your review of both lounges!
The lounges you mentioned are indeed very good. But somehow I find this very comforting as well: “you might think of crowded rooms with outdated furniture, stale snack mix, and cheap chardonnay.”
The most comforting lounges for me have been where I can get some warm diet coke with no ice combined with a handful of peanuts and I feel the happiest man alive.
“ It’s by on means exhaustive”. Think u mean “ It’s by no means exhaustive” last paragraph
And don't forget that there's been spilled coke everywhere, so everything in the entire lounge is incredibly sticky. And that the bathrooms seem to have some sort of magical, automatic floor cleaning.
A few others worth mentioning (in their respective categories):
Virgin Clubhouse JFK
New Delta SkyClub MSP, LAX
Air France LAX
Chase Sapphire Lounge SAN
United Polaris Lounge SFO
The SkyClub SLC is a monster and a one and only out of Deltas western fortress hub.
My sentimental pic is the little American Admirals Club at the eagles nest at LAX. The fact they still operate a lounge for those few gates is nice when flying a connection out of there.
It's probably niche, but I really enjoyed the LH F section at BOS. Great apron/runway views, a la carte (although quite limited), and nice, cozy and intimate seating.
The Delta SkyClub LAX should be included as the best non-business class domestic airline lounge in the country - incredible outdoor terrace with great views of the runway (even better views than the adjacent DeltaOne lounge), full service outdoor bar, wide variety of seating, and great food including a frequent taco bar. The lounge is also huge and I've never seen it have a line even at peak times.
Interesting that there are no Polaris lounges on this list. I'd definitely list at least one of them ahead of the Alaska lounge in SEA.
Amex's new Centurion Lounge in ATL is great. Far and away the best one I've been to in the states. Perhaps a good "honorable mention" for the list
My memorable ones are Polaris LAX and Chase BOS. I'd rank the Polaris ahead of Capital One DFW.
It’s been a few months since I went through the VS Clubhouse @JFK but it was very tired and showing its age, I’ve seen some recent reviews confirming nothing has changed which is disappointing for sure.
You know that lounge was recently closed down for a period bc of a failed health inspection? I feel that should probably make ineligible from any form of promotion
Ben - Where's the VS Clubhouse in JFK on here? Or would you recommend those in VS J simply use the Delta One lounge now given that it's the best going?
I agree except for VS Clubhouse. That's only like maybe the 4th or even 5th best lounge on that terminal
I'd love to see a review of the Delta One Lounge in BOS: seems like its far more limited than JFK/LAX on non-dining options, but none of the major Youtubers have covered it yet.
While I don't think it should make this list, I do like the (relatively) new Admiral's Club in DCA... great decor and a great space to relax. Also big enough that it doesn't feel crowded, which can take the shine off even the best of lounges.
I’m surprised not a single United Polaris lounge made this list. Each of them are better than any flagship lounge and better than some of the lounges listed here.
I think Ben was going for "best business class lounge within each access tier" with this list. Yeah the Polaris Lounge is way better than everything below QF First, but it's not as good as the DL One lounge so it got skipped
Interesting that Polaris made the list for best business class lounges (globally) but not the US list lol
I prefer BOS Sapphire lounge over LGA for the same caveat Ben lists for Chelsea lounge
Wild that AS lounge is ahead of any Polaris. One has soup and salad at best, while other has sit down dining with a la carte menu even for breakfast.
Also no way Swissport ORD is worse than the CI lounge in SFO. I am sure the walls in that room are painted with liquid depression.
Maybe it'll be featured in an upcoming 'Worst Business Class Lounges in the United States' post... along with The Club at ATL. 🙂
Why are they calling dining or restaurants lounges?
It should only be considered a lounge if you can do all (eat, work, and relax/sleep) in the same space.
“ The Qantas First Lounge LAX is the best lounge that can be accessed on account of airline elite status.”
Just a reminder that Chelsea is accessible based on elite status if you’re BA GGL or AA CK.
I would also mentioned The Club at SFO which I was genuinely astounded was a Priority Pass lounge when I visited in September.
Yeah, I would say at least one Polaris Lounge should be on this list. As a true business class lounge concept, it's widely available at most hubs and offers a pretty consistently good experience.
Alaska Lounges are pretty mediocre and really only have good coffee.
Now you need to do a “skip the lounge”feature on which gate areas are better than the lounge you could otherwise wait in. Some are certainly less crowded!
QF has better food, which is relevant for 100% of people. Alcohol matters far less, which is the only thing Chelsea Lounge is better at.
So QF F lounge is still better.
'Alaska Lounges are pretty mediocre and really only have good coffee.'
Does anything else matter?
You need to have at least one non-US48 AA or BA flight on your PNR as a CK in order to access Chelsea. I think BA doesn’t have this restriction, so if you are flying JFK-ORD only, you would get access with BA’s top tier but not with AA’s
The new Air Canada Maple Leaf lounge SFO should be on the list. It is similar to the *A LAX lounge, with outdoor patio seating and fire pits.
Agreed that no UA Polaris Lounge should be on the list. I have been to five. Maybe the IAH refreshed Polaris lounge will make the list, especially if they toss the terrible "recliners". I love the IAH and DEN Club spots.
No AMEX Centurion lounges made the list either. We are both considering tossing our Centurion cards.
I feel the Qantas first class lounge at LAX does not belong in this list. I would rather have the Polaris lounge in San Francisco on the list.
I’m so glad you put the Alaska lounge in the list. The food is pretty meh but the ambience and just the fact that it’s an aviation geeks paradise make it belong on any top 10 list.
United Polaris Lounge SFO.
The Capital One Lounge DFW is best avoided due to the never ending line out the door. Not that I have ever entered the lounge. Unfortunate the AA Flagship lounge shares the same entrance as the Capital One Lounge as the entrance sets the tone.
Completely agree on the AA DCA lounge. Design-wise, much better than any of the Flagship lounges, although as expected the food options are in line with the rest of the Admirals Club lineup, i.e. nothing special.