More than ever, I've been skipping the airport lounge and heading straight to the gate.
With so many lounge-eligible travelers taking to the skies, many outposts continue to suffer from overcrowding. This leads to waitlists for entry, dirty tables inside and understocked (and underwhelming) buffets.
If I arrive at the airport early, I'll usually pop by the lounge to see how crowded it is. If it's not too busy and I can find a quiet seat, I'll enter. If not, I'll just head to the terminal to find a quiet space to sit and catch up on work.
However, there are some lounges that are always worth visiting, regardless of the crowding situation. In fact, just this year, multiple new lounges have opened that are absolutely worth stopping at.
Assuming I have access, I'll even get to the airport early to enjoy one of these nine lounges.
Delta One Lounge — JFK
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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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June marked a major turning point in Delta Air Lines' premium-focused strategy as the carrier opened its first-ever Delta One Lounge in New York.
I called this nearly 40,000-square-foot space a "stunning masterpiece," and I stand by those words. In fact, of all the lounges in this post, the Delta One Lounge is arguably the best.
It boasts a beautiful design, a a 140-seat brasserie-inspired restaurant, a spa area, marble-clad shower suites, a shoe-shining station, an outdoor deck and much more.
Given how many Delta One flyers travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) each day, the lounge can get quite busy in the afternoons. Despite this, I do whatever I can to find a seat inside.
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Related: Reviewing the new Delta One Lounge in New York, a stunning masterpiece
American Express Centurion Lounge — ATL
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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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Earlier this year, American Express opened its new flagship Centurion Lounge. It's a nearly 26,000-square-foot outpost in the world's busiest airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
This new Atlanta Centurion Lounge has quickly become my favorite in the entire network. It boasts a locally inspired design, unique amenities (two outdoor decks and a whiskey bar) and top-notch food and drinks.
While many of the Centurion lounges are worth a visit, the Atlanta one is a showstopper — so much so that I'd even wait in a (short) line to enter.
After all, the issuer has built a network of lounges that cardmembers want to visit. The result is typically overcrowding, which can be especially frustrating when you need to grab a bite to eat or refresh during a connection.
Related: First look: Inside Amex's stunning new Centurion Lounge in Atlanta
American and British Airways Chelsea Lounge — JFK
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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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Terminal 8 at JFK has essentially become the de facto home of the Oneworld alliance airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Iberia.
When British Airways colocated with American, the two carriers unveiled three new lounges (two brand-new spaces and one rebranded, expanded one).
The fanciest and most exclusive of the three is called the Chelsea Lounge. It's essentially a first-class lounge that replaces American's Flagship First Dining facility and BA's Concorde Room.
The Champagne bar is especially striking, and the food and drinks on offer are some of the best that the two carriers serve on the ground.
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The menu is curated by chef Ayesha Nurdjaja, who became famous for her New York City hits, Shuka and Shukette.
Related: American Airlines, British Airways unveil 3 gorgeous lounges in JFK's Terminal 8
United Polaris Lounge — IAD
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United Polaris Lounge. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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United Airlines' Polaris lounges are dedicated to those flying in premium cabins on long-haul routes (with even stricter access rules than the Flagship Lounge).
They feature sit-down bistro restaurants, upgraded seating areas, stylish bars and more.
The newest Polaris Lounge is in the Washington, D.C., area at Dulles International Airport (IAD). It builds on a strong foundation set by the carrier's existing six Polaris lounges.
Thanks to its luxurious design, locally inspired artwork and eye-catching bar, the Dulles location is my favorite in the entire network.
I can't wait to see what United does in Denver — the only United hub that doesn't yet feature a Polaris Lounge.
Related: First look inside the new United Polaris Lounge in Washington Dulles
Capital One Lounge — IAD
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DAVID SLOTNICK/THE POINTS GUY
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For years, American Express was the sole credit card issuer with airport lounges. But that changed when Capital One revealed it was getting into the lounge game.
While the issuer already operates an outpost at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Capital One opened its second — and arguably more exciting — lounge at IAD last year.
That's because IAD doesn't currently have any other credit card-branded lounges; aside from the United Polaris Lounge, I'd say that the Capital One outpost is the nicest in the entire airport.
Capital One has all the basics covered, but I'm especially a fan of the lounge's grab-and-go fridge and the delectable tapas-style eats in the lounge.
Related: What you can expect inside Capital One's airport lounges
American Admirals Club — DCA
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American has an all-new lounge design that debuted at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
This new DCA lounge features a signature fireplace, lots of wood and muted tones that promote a sense of relaxation.
American has also been working to upgrade the food on offer at its Admirals Clubs, and I've definitely appreciated some of these improvements over the past few months.
That said, if I'm passing through DCA, I'm coming to this lounge to find a quiet nook to catch up on some work while enjoying the ambience.
(My lounge choice in DCA might be changing soon, though, with the upcoming opening of the American Express Centurion Lounge.)
Related: Inside American's stunning new DCA Admirals Club, the first of its kind
Chase Sapphire Lounge — LGA
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Chase quietly entered the credit card airport lounge game in 2022 with an outpost in Hong Kong, but the issuer has since been on a tear with the Sapphire Lounge by The Club network.
This year, Chase opened a stunning 21,000-square-foot two-story lounge at New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The space features a la carte dining, an arcade room, a facial bar and more.
Better yet, there's even a special lounge-within-a-lounge dubbed the Reserve Suites, which can be reserved for a whopping $3,000.
These are some of the most luxurious rooms in any airport worldwide. Of all places, who would've thought you'd find them in LaGuardia?
Related: Chase just debuted its LaGuardia lounge — and it's the nicest in the entire airport
Delta Sky Club — LAX
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Delta Air Lines opened its Sky Way terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2022. While every Delta flyer now uses the upgraded departures and arrivals hall, those with access to the Sky Club are in for a real treat.
That's because the new terminal is home to a stunning 30,000-square-foot Sky Club, which features some of the snazziest amenities you can find in an airport lounge.
My favorite is the massive, year-round, open-air Sky Deck that features a retractable roof, edge-to-edge bar and endless views of the apron, runways and Hollywood hills in the distance.
This Sky Deck has become one of the best places to spot planes in all of LAX.
Inside, the lounge features two massive buffets, a stylish coffee grotto lined in Italian mosaic tiles, plenty of private phone booths, spacious shower suites and much more.
Other Sky Club outposts, such as the new ones in Boston and New York, made the shortlist, but the one in LA is the gold standard.
Related: First look at Delta's new Sky Club in Los Angeles
Qantas First Lounge — LAX
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Some savvy travelers believe the Qantas First Lounge at LAX is the best in the U.S.
While I wouldn't necessarily go that far, it does offer spectacular food and beverage options in a spacious dining room. There's also a long bar stocked with top-shelf liquor.
The downside to this lounge is that the seating and relaxation areas can often get quite crowded. Plus, the interior terminal views don't offer any natural light (or planespotting opportunities).
Top-tier Oneworld Emerald elite members can use this lounge, subject to some notable exceptions for American Airlines travelers.
Bonus: Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge — Moynihan Train Hall
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Though this technically isn't an airport lounge, Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge in New York's Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station deserves special mention.
In fact, when compiling this guide, this was the first lounge I identified as one worth arriving early for.
The club's locally inspired design beats most domestic airport lounges, and the food and beverage offerings are actually quite impressive for Amtrak.
There's even an open-air deck that overlooks the train station, along with a wide range of seating areas inside.
It's just too bad United axed its partnership with Amtrak — part of which included reciprocal lounge access. Otherwise, this could indeed be loosely considered an airline lounge.
Related: NYC's hottest new bar? Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge
Bottom line
These days, most airport lounges aren't necessarily worth visiting due to overcrowding. With demand for travel at record levels, there are many more eligible travelers than there are seats in lounges on the busiest travel days.
In many cases, I don't think it's worth spending extra time in the airport to visit a lounge. However, there are nine exceptions within the U.S.
Whether it's the unique amenities or above-average culinary offerings, I find myself adding time to the travel journey to stop in one of the nine lounges listed above.
If there are any domestic lounges that I missed, be sure to let me know.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
