Which lounge you can use at JFK depends on your terminal, your ticket and your cards. The terminals are not joined airside, so only your own terminal's lounges count. Here is every lounge a passenger can get into, with entry rules, hours and guest fees as each operator states them.
The short answer
In Terminal 1, Priority Pass members should head for the Air France lounge, with Primeclass as the fallback. In Terminal 4, the Centurion and Chase Sapphire lounges are best for cardholders, Priority Pass opens the Virgin Clubhouse until 13:30 and Air India all day, and Minute Suites rents a private room by the hour. In Terminal 8, your British Airways or American ticket decides.
Airside, by the Air France boarding area at gate 1
Air France and SkyTeam premium passengers; Priority Pass, maximum 3 hours, under-2s free; entry may be restricted 13:00–17:00
Hours: 07:00–00:00
The most polished Priority Pass room at JFK, with a Manhattan skyline view.
Best for Priority Pass members on an evening flight to Europe.
Airside, after the TSA checkpoint, between gates 2 and 3
Turkish Airlines business and first class; Priority Pass on international flights, from 3 hours before departure, maximum 3 hours; smart casual dress
Hours: 09:00–00:00
The second choice in Terminal 1 when Air France is restricted.
Best for Priority Pass members on a late departure.
Book a passAirside, on the left after security
Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance premium passengers; Priority Pass suspended Thursday to Monday until further notice
Hours: 12:00–01:00
For Priority Pass members, a Tuesday or Wednesday option only.
Best for Star Alliance business and Gold passengers.
Airside, near gate 3
Korean Air's eligible passengers and club members
Hours: 08:30–12:00
A morning lounge for Korean Air's departures, with showers.
Best for Korean Air premium passengers.
Airside, near gates 8 and 9
Priority Pass, with pre-booking; from 3 hours before departure, maximum 3 hours; cocktails and premium drinks extra
Hours: Vary by day: 09:00–21:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays; until 01:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, opening at 07:30 on Saturdays
The late-opening fallback, and the one Terminal 1 lounge Priority Pass lets you reserve.
Best for A guaranteed seat on a busy evening.
Landside, departures level, behind check-in counters E and F by the TSA checkpoint
Priority Pass members on international flights; maximum 3 hours
Hours: 08:00–00:00
Before security, with expedited processing through the TSA lines when you leave.
Best for Arriving hours before check-in opens.
Airside, near gate A2
Chase Sapphire Reserve and eligible Chase cardholders; Chase lists temporarily limited operations
Hours: 05:00–23:00
The best food in Terminal 4 if your card gets you in; soft drinks only before 06:00 (10:00 on Sundays).
Best for A shower and a proper meal before a long-haul flight.
Level 4, beyond the TSA checkpoints, left of the escalators down to the gates
Amex Platinum, Centurion and Delta SkyMiles Reserve card members, within 3 hours of departure; guests on the same flight $50 (18 and over), $30 (2–17), under-2s free
Hours: 05:00–22:00
Two bars, a speakeasy and chef-led food: Terminal 4's best all-rounder.
Best for Amex Platinum holders, including families.
Level 3, in the Retail Hall near the B gates
Venture X and Venture X Business primary cardholders with a same-day boarding pass, subject to space
Hours: 24 hours
JFK's only card lounge open all night.
Best for Venture X holders on a red-eye or dawn departure.
Airside, between concourses A and B by the main checkpoint
Delta One passengers only
Hours: 04:30–23:00
JFK's finest airline lounge, with a spa and a brasserie.
Best for Delta One passengers: arrive early for it.
Two clubs: near gate A8 and near gate B31
Within 3 hours of a same-day Delta or partner flight, by membership, ticket or card; no single-visit passes
Hours: Near A8 04:45–23:30; near B31 04:30–23:00
Busy clubs; the outdoor Sky Deck is the reason to go.
Best for Fresh air before a long flight.
Above gates A4 and A5
Upper Class and eligible Flying Club members; Priority Pass 05:00–13:30, from 3 hours before departure, maximum 3 hours, showers $15
Hours: 05:00–08:00 and 14:00–23:30 for Virgin passengers
A morning Priority Pass window into one of JFK's best lounges.
Best for Priority Pass members on a morning departure.
Airside, near gate A5
Emirates' eligible premium passengers
Hours: 07:30–23:15
You board your flight straight from the lounge.
Best for Emirates premium passengers.
Level 4, near gate A5
Air India premium passengers; Priority Pass, maximum 2 hours, under-2s free
Hours: 08:00–22:30
Terminal 4's all-day Priority Pass lounge, with an Indian buffet.
Best for Priority Pass members after 13:30.
B gates, near gate B39
Any ticketed passenger, by the hour (one-hour minimum, then 15-minute steps); Priority Pass covers the first hour, then $40 an hour
Hours: 24 hours
A door that shuts and a daybed; the only JFK Minute Suites with showers (paid add-on).
Best for A red-eye connection or a nap.
After security, opposite gate 526
TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members, JetBlue Premier cardmembers and JetBlue transatlantic customers
Hours: 05:00–22:00
JetBlue's two-level lounge.
Best for JetBlue Mint passengers to Europe.
Airside, near gate 1
Aer Lingus's eligible premium passengers
Hours: 14:00–21:00
Timed for the evening flights to Ireland.
Best for Aer Lingus business class passengers.
Airside, on the lounge level
Eligible passengers of the Terminal 7 airlines that use it
Hours: 10:00–01:00
Terminal 7's late-opening lounge; ask your airline whether your ticket includes it.
Best for Late-evening premium passengers.
Upper level, by the lounge lift
British Airways and American first class, and top oneworld status, under the airlines' rules
Hours: 04:15–23:30
Terminal 8's most exclusive room, with a circular champagne bar.
Best for First class passengers to London.
Upper level, by the lounge lift
Top-tier oneworld status, under the airlines' rules
Hours: 04:15–23:30
Runway views and à la carte food ordered from your seat.
Best for Top-tier oneworld status holders.
Upper level
British Airways and American business class, and eligible oneworld status
Hours: 04:15–01:15
The business lounge most travellers will use, open the longest.
Best for Club World and Flagship Business passengers.
Upper level
Admirals Club members and eligible American Airlines and oneworld passengers
Hours: 04:15–22:30
American's everyday lounge, with a children's room.
Best for American members on domestic flights.
Concourse C, near gate C37
Any ticketed passenger, by the hour; Priority Pass covers the first hour, then $40 an hour
Hours: 24 hours
Terminal 8's only Priority Pass option; no showers.
Best for A rest between flights.
Yes, but at JFK entry comes through a membership or a card rather than cash at the door. Priority Pass covers seven rooms in Terminals 1 and 4 (Lufthansa only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), suites in Terminals 4 and 8 and a gaming lounge in Terminal 5; the Amex, Chase and Capital One lounges are for their cardholders; and Delta Sky Clubs no longer sell single visits. Without any of these, book a Minute Suite by the hour, open to any ticketed passenger.
Check your terminal first: a Terminal 4 lounge is no use for a flight from Terminal 8.
Terminal 1 is the Priority Pass terminal: Air France, Turkish, Primeclass and VIP ONE, plus Lufthansa on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In Terminal 4, Priority Pass opens the Virgin Clubhouse from 05:00 to 13:30, the Air India lounge and an hour in Minute Suites. You need a same-day JFK boarding pass, usually within 3 hours of departure. With an Amex Platinum, use the Centurion Lounge in Terminal 4.
Most Priority Pass lounges here admit under-2s free, with children accompanied by an adult. The Centurion Lounge charges $30 for each child aged 2–17. The Admirals Club in Terminal 8 has a children's room, and a Minute Suite, a private room with a daybed, is often calmer with a toddler.
JFK has no public showers. Lounges with them: Chase Sapphire, Capital One, the Virgin Clubhouse ($15 for Priority Pass), Emirates and Minute Suites (paid) in Terminal 4, and Korean Air in Terminal 1. They admit departing passengers, so after landing the answer is a day-stay room at the TWA Hotel, joined to Terminal 5.
Air France restricts Priority Pass entry from 13:00 to 17:00, and Primeclass and Turkish warn they may limit entry when busy. Pre-book Primeclass through Priority Pass, or reserve a Minute Suite ahead. In Terminal 5, the Gameway gaming lounge between gates 506 and 507 takes Priority Pass for an hour.
Questions people ask
Terminal 4: Delta One, the Centurion, Chase Sapphire and Capital One lounges and the Virgin Clubhouse. For first class, Terminal 8's Chelsea Lounge.
Yes: Air France, Turkish, Primeclass and VIP ONE in Terminal 1, the Virgin Clubhouse (05:00–13:30) and Air India in Terminal 4, Minute Suites in Terminals 4 and 8, and the Gameway gaming lounge in Terminal 5 for an hour.
Delta Sky Clubs no longer sell single visits. Priority Pass members can pre-book Primeclass, and anyone with a boarding pass can book a Minute Suite by the hour.
The Capital One Lounge in Terminal 4 for Venture X cardholders, and Minute Suites in Terminals 4 and 8 for anyone, by the hour.
Terminal 4, Level 4, left of the escalators just beyond security; open 05:00–22:00.
Terminal 8, shared with American: Greenwich for business class, Soho for top-tier status and Chelsea for first class.
Image credits: RightCowLeftCoast (CC BY-SA 4.0) · ajay_suresh (CC BY 4.0) · Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0)
