1st look: Delta’s revamped JFK terminal with 11 new gates and 2 new Sky Clubs
Major makeovers are underway at Delta's two New York hubs, and the latest expansion is now open at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The Atlanta-based carrier took the wraps off its $1.5 billion upgrade at JFK's Terminal 4 over the last few days and there are some flyer-friendly improvements on the way.
Though Delta isn't building a brand-new terminal at JFK as it did at its LaGuardia hub, the upgrades reaffirm the airline's commitment to New York.
Here's a look at all the changes.
A revamped check-in area
From the moment you step inside Terminal 4, you'll quickly notice some improvements.
The airline expanded its check-in stations to four rows, which should help spread the crowds across multiple areas during peak periods.
Delta also digitalized the entire check-in experience with the installation of additional self-check-in kiosks and a new signature high-definition digital wall, which serves as an eye-catching backdrop and provides a treasure trove of important information, including the latest flight status and Sky Club crowding indicators.
Perhaps the most notable improvement is a much larger dedicated Sky Priority area. Previously, this space occupied a small lobby off to the side of Terminal 4.
Now, it spans an entire row of check-in counters, giving premium cabin and elite travelers more room to spread out.
Meanwhile, the lobby that used to serve Sky Priority customers has been rebranded as a business-class-only Delta One check-in area.
Only travelers flying in Delta's long-haul and premium transcontinental business-class cabin, along with invite-only Delta 360 members, can use this space. Additionally, those flying in KLM World Business Class, as well as Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, are invited to check in here.
The expanded check-in areas have only been open for a few days, but the feedback and net promoter scores have been "impressive" and "amazing," according to Stephanie Baldwin, Delta's vice president of airport operations in New York.
Though the Delta One lobby is no doubt a welcome upgrade to the premium-cabin ground experience, it's about to get much better, added Ryan Marzullo, Delta's managing director of New York design and construction, during TPG's tour.
The next phase of construction will open this summer, and it'll include an entirely separate hold room that'll be built from the entrance of the terminal directly to the dedicated check-in counters. Other upgrades will include a refreshed lobby area with new furniture and a small bar area with snacks and drinks.
Better yet, Delta is building a separate TSA security lane that'll be attached to the Delta One check-in lobby for a more seamless check-in experience.
Once you clear security, you'll be just steps away from the brand-new business-class-only lounge — more on that below.
2 new Sky Clubs
Historically, Terminal 4 was home to just one Sky Club, located near Gate B31. That's about to change now that the airline has added 10 new gates on the A pier and has started to improve the business-class ground experience.
The most exciting addition will be the dedicated premium lounge for Delta One flyers, which will take the space of the former El Al, Swiss and Wingtips locations. It'll measure 36,000 square feet and open in the first quarter of 2024.
Though the layout and amenities are still a tightly held secret, the lounge will extend out into the existing airfield area. As part of the extension, there'll be a year-round outdoor (and heated) Sky Deck. The lower level of this expansion will have space for non-Delta lounges, including a future location for Wingtips and possibly other lounges too, explained Marzullo.
(In the meantime, travelers who previously used the now-shuttered Wingtips Lounge can access the temporary Priority Pass-accessible Primeclass Lounge that's located near Gate A3.)
When it's time to head to the plane, you'll descend down escalators from the lounge directly to the departure level. VIPs and those with Delta 360 status may instead get escorted directly down the airfield, where Delta is building dedicated parking spots for its fleet of Porsche transfer vehicles.
In addition to the new business-class-only lounge, the airline is putting the finishing touches on a brand-new Sky Club in the A gates, located on a new upper level near Gate A7.
This 13,700-square-foot space will boast more than 220 seats and feature Delta's latest design motifs, including an open kitchen, full premium bar and locally-curated art gallery. A year-round, heated Sky Deck will also be available.
The renderings look quite impressive, so we're counting down the days until this lounge opens this summer.
A temporary Sky Club Express
Many Delta travelers are familiar with the airline's lounge overcrowding problem. In fact, it's become so bad that Delta rolled out new fast-track Sky Club entry lanes and will shortly introduce overhauled lounge access policies.
Short of building new spaces and expanding existing ones, there's not much else that Delta can do to solve overcrowding.
Thankfully, however, the airline is working to build new locations, including opening temporary Sky Club Express spaces at some of its busiest airports. The first Sky Club Express opened last year in Boston, and JFK is now home to the second one.
This temporary facility is located in a corner just past the TSA security checkpoint. It'll be open for about six months until the permanent Concourse A Sky Club opens.
The new Sky Club Express at JFK measures about 4,500 square feet with seating for roughly 60 passengers. It's significantly more appealing than the one that sits in a basement in Boston.
You won't have any airside views from the frosted-glass windows, but at least the space is drenched with natural light. The lounge's "L" shape provides multiple little nooks and a variety of comfortable seating areas.
Interestingly, Delta shipped the furniture here from clubs in Atlanta and Boston, Marzullo told TPG.
The Sky Club Express features a temporary bar (with no hard liquor), as well as fridges stocked with packaged foods, such as hummus cups and kale Caesar salads. There are even takeaway brown bags that seemingly encourage you to take a bite for the road.
Aside from free Wi-Fi and clean restrooms, the lounge doesn't boast much else in the way of amenities.
That said, it's not (yet) nearly as crowded as the larger Sky Club near Gate B31, so it could definitely make sense to camp out here if you're looking for a more relaxing environment.
Plus, Delta certainly deserves credit for doing what it can to address overcrowding as it waits for a permanent solution in JFK. It's unlikely that other airlines would invest in building out small temporary spaces for just six months.
11 new gates
For years, Delta split its operation at JFK between Terminals 2 and 4. The airline used all 11 gates in Terminal 2, as well as the entire B concourse in Terminal 4. But, Terminal 2 is now closed, as it'll soon be demolished to make way for the new $9.5 billion 23-gate Terminal One complex.
Instead of reducing the number of gates it uses at JFK, Delta invested in an expansion of Terminal 4 that includes 11 new gates, allowing it to maintain its roughly 400 daily flights to and from New York's busiest airport.
That expansion opened on Jan. 14, when the airline consolidated all its flights to Terminal 4.
All but one of the 11 new gates is located in a brand-new hold room area at the end of the A pier. These gates, numbered A9 to A21 (there's no A13 or A18), are primarily dedicated to Delta's regional jet operations. (The other new gate was added to Terminal 4's B concourse.)
These brand-new gate areas are some of the nicest in the entire terminal, as they feature Delta's latest branding elements, including large digital wayfinding displays, modernized restrooms and upgraded seating with access to power outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports.
Additional concessionaires will open shortly in the expanded A pier.
Perhaps the biggest downside of the expansion is that flyers will need to pack their walking shoes and step counters when transiting through JFK. Though I didn't measure it myself, I'd imagine that it could take more than 20 minutes to walk from the farthest gate in the A pier to the farthest one in the B pier.
Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of an airside bussing operation. Delta is working with the TSA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airport, to start an airside shuttle service that'll drive flyers between Gate A9 and B55.
Over the summer, the airline will expand this bussing operation to include a second stop near Gate B15, giving travelers an even more efficient connecting experience.
Bottom line
Though it's not a brand-new terminal like you'd find at nearby LaGuardia, Delta's expansion in JFK's Terminal 4 brings some much-needed improvements to the travel journey.
This includes a revamped check-in area, two soon-to-open lounges and a handful of new gates — upgrades that should be immediately noticeable for those who frequently pass through JFK.
While much of the work is now complete, there are still a few outstanding items that'll complete the Terminal 4 modernization project, ranging from the airside shuttle operation to a streamlined arrivals experience, including an expanded domestic baggage claim and a larger security checkpoint for those connecting from international flights.
As the work wraps up, Delta is making it clear that it's in it for the long haul in New York, and in particular, JFK Airport.
For more about flying with Delta, check out:
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.