The Three Best Airport Lounges In The USA: My Opinion
Intro
Lounges across the world are extravagant and go as far-reaching as serving Wagyu beef and 200$ dollar champagne in certain lounges. With that being said, the USA actually has some of the best lounges in the world, especially business-class lounges.
When it comes to subjects surrounding this, these are entirely objective, so I will simply be sharing my opinion.
Number 1: The Chelsea Lounge New York
The Chelsea Lounge in New York might be one of the greatest lounges on the planet. Located at New York JFK, the Chelsea Lounge can only be accessed by a first-class ticket on either British Airways or American Airlines. No, I am not talking about Domestic First; I am talking about real First Class.
The lounge is a small space with a capacity of up to 130 odd people. The champagne selection rotates weekly, and I have enjoyed the likes of LPGS, Krug, and Dom P. Occasionally, the Chelsea Lounge will offer Cristal champagne, one of the best in the world. The food is pretty damn good as well.
Number 2: Delta One Lounge JFK
The Delta One Lounge in New York has no other choice but to be ranked number two. It is a fantastic lounge, but it has two major flaws to it. Let's start with the goods.
The brasseries (the restaurant) is simply one of the best places in a United States airport to have a meal, especially for a business class lounge. Offering Wagyu steak to hundreds of people daily is fantastic. In addition, the lounge has all of the bells and whistles, including bathrobes in the shower suites! Wow!
Now the issue: there are technically two intertwined into one. Firstly, during the evening this lounge can be completely full from what I have been told. Obviously, Delta has numerous flights featuring Delta One down to South America/Europe in the evening, which can cause overcrowding. With a lounge this large, it is surprising to see. However, unlike the Chelsea Lounge, which AA/BA operates, this lounge is open to Delta 360 members. Secondly, this can cause a backlog when eating at the Brasserie. Additionally, there is no name-brand champagne, which is a big letdown compared to AA/UA.
Number 3: Polaris Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
This last lounge is one that I have gone back and forth with, wondering whether to include this or perhaps even change the location. However, my third favorite lounge in the US (personal opinion) is the Polaris Lounge at LAX.
Why? That is a good question. Throughout most of the United Airlines network, Polaris lounges tend to be quite large and busy during peak periods. However. the one in Los Angeles is quite the opposite. It is an intimate space with no wait times to dine at the restaurant. With a large wine selection, free-flowing Lanson, and the signature Polaris burger, I am more than happy to spend hours upon hours here.
Truly, it is a lovely lounge and one I have visited at least 10 times this year.
Final Thoughts
While these opinions are highly subjective, these three rank as my favorite lounges in the US. While Qantas offers a lovely First Class Lounge at LAX, the issue is that OW Emerald passengers can access it. To me, a lounge is all about exclusivity, and that is why the Chelsea Lounge in New York is my favorite. Heck, for 43K miles for a first-class ticket to Los Angeles, I am more than happy to spend a few hours in the Chelsea Lounge sipping on Krug.
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