I travel to/from JFK quite often due to positioning flights. Today, I had three hours to kill before my flight to Denver after my trip to Italy with my sister. I decided to airline lounge hop and review the airport lounges found here. There were also a couple of Priority Pass lounges I could have gone to but I picked the top three lounges for my battle of the Airport Lounges at JFK.

 

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse 

The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is the airport lounge I expected to like best as you can order freshly made food through a QR code. I love that capability. It is located near A5, and I took a tiny elevator to get there. You can access it with your Priority Pass membership, a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, or a Capital One Venture X Business. 

The Clubhouse is open from 05:00 to 13:30 for Priority Pass members. It definitely has a funky vibe but is quite dark. Seats with runway views have large open windows and are much lighter. I remember the first time I came to this lounge, I loved it. Today, it seemed dark and dated.

 

 

About six months ago they changed the menu. If you come with the above cards, you will find a few complimentary items but items like wings and burgers now have a charge to them. My waiter did say that if you come between 5:00 and 8:00 am, the first 30 Priority Pass members can order all items for free. After 3:00, it is open only to Virgin Atlantic Upper Class flyers and everything is complimentary for them. 

 

 

I thought about ordering their baked wings for $5.00 but I had two more lounges to go to so I settled on free hummus with pita and a diet coke. Complimentary items also included crudites, chocolate chip cookies, pasta salad, an apple or banana, and a mixed salad. Alcoholic drinks came with a price tag but my diet coke was free.

Verdict: I was disappointed as previously it was all complimentary. What is the purpose of an airport lounge if not to get free food?

 

Delta Sky Club

I could access this lounge because I was flying Delta and have The Platinum Card® from American Express. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express could also have gotten me access.  It is new lounge located near A8. The minute I walked into this bright and beautiful lounge, I knew who would be the ultimate winner – it is a beautiful space with a ton of great food options, all complimentary, of course!

Food possibilities were:

• Two types of soup
• Four salads
• Three hot entrees including my favorite ravioli in a cream sauce with butternut squash.
• Sandwiches, two types
• Wraps
• A selection of rolls
• Three types of desserts
• Assorted alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages
• Cheeses, vegetables, hummus and cold cuts

It offered a huge selection of fresh and tasty food in an absolutely gorgeous setting, including an outdoor option and runway views. JFK is a little rundown, so sitting in this light, tranquil space was a breath of fresh air. My only regret was that I hadn’t saved this lounge for the last one so I could stay there till the last minute!

 

 

 

Verdict: I will fly on Delta routinely when I fly out of JFK just to use this airport lounge – WINNER by a landslide!

 

American Express Centurion Lounge

This lounge is located near security so look for the signs once you get through. It will be to your left. The Platinum Card® from American Express allowed me to enter this lounge and it doesn’t matter what airline I was flying. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express could also have gotten me access. 

I have this lounge in my home airport of Denver and used to use it all the time until Denver became the king of airport lounges and the Capital One Lounge and United Lounges were closer to gates that I usually fly out of.

The American Express Centurion Lounge at JFK is narrow and located on multiple levels. It is bright and in the traditional AMEX colors of blue and grey. It has definitely taken some wear and is quite crowded. There were plenty of food options (definitely not as many as the Delta SkyClub and definitely not as well-kept, either). 

 

 

 

They had multiple hot and cold options and the choice of three desserts but I was full so I didn’t eat anything. The one thing that differed here was the amount of people working at filling and cleaning up spaces. Delta had many more employees who were intent on keeping the area pristine.

Verdict: Second place and a worthy contender if you are not flying on Delta or haven’t been to that new Delta SkyClub Lounge!

 

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