All JFK lounges, the ultimate guide and access rules

JFK is definitely--in the world--the most visited intercontinental airport by Italian travelers. If London and Paris play it out in Europe, here, accomplices of low-cost, passengers are divided among several stopovers, I think there is no match on long-haul: New York is the most popular destination.

JFK to Manhattan: better subway, cab, Uber or helicopter?

Of the two intercontinental airports JFK is definitely the most widely used compared to Newark. I decided to make this guide, just as I did for the airports in Milan Linate and Malpensa and for Rome Fiumicino, so that you are prepared and have the perfect plan of action to get the most out of your airline ticket.

JFK the terminals and the various companies

The first thing to understand is that, like all American airports, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy is divided into terminals. Each terminal is home to a number of companies.

The terminals are connected by a people mover, the airtrain, which allows people to move from terminal to terminal, reach the car rental area, and is connected to the NY subway.

Knowing which terminal you are departing from is critical so that you do not have to wander from terminal to terminal. Here is where the major carriers operate in the various terminals at JFK

Terminal 1

ITA Airways
Neos
Air France
Lufthansa
Turkish

Terminal 4

Delta
KLM
Emirates
Etihad
Swiss
Virgin Atlantic

Terminal 5

JetBlue
Aer Lingus

Terminal 7

ANA
United
Aerolinas Argentinas
Iberia

Terminal 8

American Airlines
British Airways
Qatar
Finnair

JFK Lounges

More than 60 mln passengers transit through this airport each year. There are a total of about 20 lounges between official lounges and independent lounges that allow access for a fee or to card holders such as Priority Pass.

Some reflections:

1. The terminal that has the most lounges is t4
2. The newest lounges are those in terminal 8
3. The t1 offers the most lounges with PP or credit card access
4. T2 and T3 do not exist, and T7 will also be demolished soon
5. T5 is the home of Jetblue, but it only has a small lounge from Aer Lingus

As always, to find out which lounges are present and the rules of access I recommend the following read this article and download the free app.

I can move from terminal to terminal at JFK.

If I had asked 50 cents for every time I was asked this question I would have traveled at least two more times for free in La Premiere, Air France's first class.

The answer is no, unless you have a connection and therefore a ticket that, for example, flying from Rome with ITA includes a continuation with Delta.

If you have a lot of time between flights, and you don't have access to a lounge, my advice is to take the Airtrain and Visit the old TWA terminal now converted into a hotel/museum, where it feels like the 1960s, have a cocktail with a view of the runway and maybe hop aboard the plane.

You can also book a "day use" room if you want, but my advice is to enjoy the common areas at any time of the day or night.

There is also a rooftop pool overlooking the runway that is open year-round, even when NY has snow. This is, in my opinion, the last thing to visit in NY before boarding the plane home.

All terminal 1 lounges at JFK

This terminal is definitely the most visited by Italians. Both ITA Airways from Rome and Milan fly here and Neos with direct flight from Malpensa. Unfortunately, ITA Airways no longer has a lounge in this terminal and passengers, at the moment, can use Air France's.

Air France Lounge

Air France's official lounge is, arguably, the best lounge in Terminal 1. It is also currently the flagship lounge for ITA Airways passengers.

To gain access, you must be a business class passenger of Air France or any Skyteam airline with a ticket to fly on the day. It is, of course, open to holders of the Flying Blue loyalty program's Gold card or higher and to all users at least SkyTeam Plus in the aviation alliance. It is also possible to gain access with a Priority Pass card during times when there are no AF flights departing.

The special feature is that it is on two floors. On the upper floor, reserved for business class passengers, dinner is served so that you can sleep on board without having to wait for the end of the service.

Lufthansa Lounge

This lounge is on two floors like the one in AF, but it is not as beautiful. Lufthansa lounge is immediately after security checkpoints and may soon become the one of reference for ITA Airways passengers. You log in if you travel business or first with Lufthansa or other SA carriers, if you have at least Gold Star Alliance status or if you have a Priority Pass card in your wallet or a American Express Platinum.

Turkish Lounge

In order of time, this is the latest arrival at T1. It took the place of the Alitalia House and has now reopened completely renovated (it definitely needed it). The interesting thing is that in addition to being open to Turkish and Star Alliance passengers, it is affiliated with Priority pass, so doors are also open to travelers from all other airlines without any status and in any class of travel.

KAL Lounge

This is the Korean Air lounge. It is honestly the only one at T1 that I have never visited. Post pandemic it still operates on a very reduced schedule and, in addition to Seoul-bound passengers, accommodates all Skyteam status holders and Priority Pass card holders.

Prime Class

Located at the end of the terminal, it is the'The only true independent lounge Of all the ones mentioned so far. It is also the one with the best view of the terminal along with the Lufthansa one.

It is located on a lower floor than the gates and offers a generous buffet, a bar with a selection of premium pay-as-you-go items, and all the classic amenities expected of this type of lounge.

Here are the lounges at New York's JFK Terminal 4.

While Terminal 1 has the most variety of Priority Pass lounges, this is the terminal with the most attractive lounges overall, surpassed only by the opening of the new British and American lounges at T8.

Etihad

Let's start with a lounge that is very little frequented by Italians. Etihad's home is accessible only if you fly on the UAE's national airline to Abu Dhabi.

Impossible not to notice it because it is exactly to the left of the Centurion Lounge entrance.

Centurion American Express

Of all the Centurion Lounge in the world this is probably the one most visited by Italians. Of course, one has to start from T4 in order to visit, but this is after T1 the most used terminal due in part to the presence of Delta and Emirates, which have direct flights to Italy.

It has a crazy view of the runway, is big and on the ground floor hides a speakeasy, a secret bar where you can have great cocktails made: all free and all top-notch.

Primeclass Temporary

This is a recently opened lounge and is the only priority pass of the terminal along with the Air India lounge. It is expected to be replaced by a new, larger and more functional one in the coming months.

It doesn't offer much, not even amenities. Let's say it's okay if the line is too long at Centurion and Air India's and you're too lazy to go all the way to the Air India lounge.

Delta SkyClub

Here at T4, the following are in progress Delta's big maneuvers and in late 2023, early 2024, there will be a whole series of new lounges, including the first Delta Suite, the waiting room reserved for business passengers on board the world's largest airline.

At the moment we have to make do with the large lounge from Pier B, but be careful because. access rules have changed, and now status may no longer suffice.

Virgin Clubhouse

This is, perhaps, the most beautiful lounge at JFK.. For about two years it was also accessible to Amex Platinum holders, but is now back for the exclusive use of Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class travelers.

The hall faces both Terminal 1 and Terminal 4, Is very bright and furnished in the classic Virgin style. It offers highly sought-after a la carte cuisine and a selection of cocktails and wines to make all other waiting rooms envious.

Maharaja Lounge

The Air India lounge at T4 is the one that has historically been affiliated with Priority Pass, although I pass through this terminal often I have never visited this lounge, partly because there is so much better.

Emirates Lounge

Emirates' home at T4 is, probably the second busiest lounge at JFK by Italians, aided by the presence of the direct flight with Milan.

It is located in front of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and to the left of the Air India lounge. Like all of EK's main lounges it is directly connected to the gates, although sometimes guests are forced to have to go down to the main floor given the crowdedness of the gates at this airport. Access is for business or first passengers or those with Gold status In the Skywards program. If you want you can also pay, about 100$ per passenger.

Terminal 5, just a small lounge

Terminal 5 is the home of Jetblue, unbelievable but true: one of the most innovative and dynamic airlines in the entire world does not have a lounge for its premium passengers.

In this terminal there is only a small lounge available exclusively to Aer Lingus passengers, the only other carrier using this building for its flights from New York to Dublin and England.

Terminal 8, the home of British and American Airlines

This is the newest terminal, especially since BA moved all its flights here from T7. The move coincided with theopening of a lounge series that I look forward to trying.

What was once the Flagship of American Airlines. was, for me, the best lounge of an American carrier in New York. Things can only be further improved. The other side of the coin is that you get into all these lounges only by ticket (business or first) or because of status in OneWorld (Sapphire or Emerald), for everyone else there is no other way.

In conclusion

This is the complete list as of today, February 2023, but things in New York are always changing, and we will, of course, try to keep the list up to date to help all our readers better move around the world.

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