First Look at British Airways' Refreshed JFK Business Class Lounge
British Airways is undergoing a transformation. It recently unveiled a beautiful new business class seat and just refreshed its first class soft product. On Friday, BA opened its renovated Club Lounge at New York's John F. Kennedy airport — another big improvement for passengers traveling in the carrier's premium cabins.
The lounge is one of BA's most trafficked lounges outside of its hubs in London so the carrier put significant investment into the space. British Airways considers the lounge its flagship US lounge, which make sense because of the up to 12 daily departures from JFK to London. This transatlantic route is the airline's and the world's most profitable — creating quite a busy lounge for BA, which says that hundreds of customers pass through it each day.
In fact, BA has put $65 million into JFK's Terminal 7 overall as it works to renovate the space, which is home to itself and partners like Iberia, Qatar and Alaska. It's also enhanced the check-in area for business and first class customers. These upgrades are part of BA's $8.2 billion customer investment program that's realizing changes in its pre-flight experience and onboard products like Wi-Fi and seats.
The lounge is a huge improvement over the previous space, which was clearly showing its age when I visited last fall. The layout itself has changed quite a bit with walls knocked down and others newly erected. There's also a whole lot of natural light throughout the 22,000-square-foot space, which helps give it an open and airy feeling.
There's a new addition that you'll notice immediately upon entering, dubbed the Quaich Bar, covered in granite (a common feature throughout the lounge) and created in partnership with The Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside, Scotland. Here guests can enjoy a drink in the unique Scottish two-handed cups.
We had some oh-so British elderflower and lavender gin cocktails which were quite tasty and refreshing. An experienced bartender will be on hand during peak departure times to make cocktails for customers.
And if a craft beer is more your style, you can enjoy the lounge's new BrewDog craft beer room, which had four different brews on tap.
There's a massive self-serve bar that will keep travelers plenty hydrated with an assortment of wine, spirits and soft drinks to choose from.
BA has replaced the aging furniture with all new seats and couches colored in blue and grey.
The space is somewhat bare and has a minimalist vibe, but with chic accents.
There are spots for hundreds of travelers, who'll have the choice of lounge chair, table or catching up on a cushy couch.
Plenty of dining options are available, although we didn't have access to the brasserie, which features a robust hot and cold food bar.
There was food available to pick at throughout the space, including chicken wings, a salad bar, a myriad of cheeses and desserts.
The Elemis Spa is also staying and has received an overhaul, although we didn't have access to that either. Here, flyers can book complimentary 15-minute spa treatments before their flight.
Bottom Line
With the new club lounge at JFK, British Airways continues to improve its premium offerings. The lounge isn't anything revolutionary or as compelling as United's Polaris Lounge at Newark, but likely more on par with American's Flagship Lounge in neighboring T8. However, the refreshed space looks great and feels modern. It will give the loads of BA and other Oneworld flyers a much better place to relax or work pre-flight until Terminal 7 is demolished in 2022 and BA moves its operations to the new and expanded Terminal 8.
If you want to check out the new lounge, you'll have to be flying in a premium cabin on British Airways, Qatar, Qantas, Iberia or Ukraine International Airlines. Oneworld Sapphires and Emeralds and BA Executive Club Silver and Gold elite members can access the lounge if flying a British Airways or Oneworld partner.
You can use British Airways Avios or American Airlines miles to book flights on BA and its Oneworld partners. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio.
For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter.
All images by Brendan Dorsey / The Points Guy.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees