One of the only lounges at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 5 is closing at the end of the month. Airspace Lounge, which opened in 2013, will permanently close its doors as the only lounge for JetBlue flyers on August 31, 2018.
A phone call to the lounge confirmed a report from TPG reader Bobby C. that the lounge was indeed closing. At this point, the reason for the closure remains unclear.
The 2,500 square foot space, which is located near gates 24 and 25 in the terminal — across from the pop-up Dunkin' Donuts — is known for often being overcrowded as one of the only lounges in the terminal. Cardholders of The Platinum Card® from American Express are granted complimentary access to the lounge. In addition, passengers traveling with a same-day departure from T5 can buy access to the lounge, with entry fees starting at $25. With access, Amex Platinum cardholders and those who purchase also get a complimentary $10 credit to be used toward premium food or drink menu items.
TPG reached out to Airspace for an official comment but did not hear back by time of publication.
With the only lounge option for T5 for cardholders of a specific card, which is the terminal not only for JetBlue flights, but also for TAP Portugal, Hawaiian and Aer Lingus, it's unclear if there will be a replacement lounge in its place. TPG reached out to JetBlue for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Airspace Lounge also offers lounge locations in Baltimore (BWI), Cleveland (CLE) and San Diego (SAN). The phone numbers listed on the Airspace Lounge site for BWI and CLE were disconnected, however, a representative from the SAN location said that there were no known plans to close that lounge.
If you're traveling through Terminal 5 through the end of the month, you'll still be able to access the lounge. However, after August 31, T5 will be lounge-less with the exception of Aer Lingus' lounge across from gate 26.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the Airspace Lounge is not the terminal's only lounge.
Update: JetBlue has issued the following statement to TPG: "We've enjoyed a strong partnership with Airspace, but have decided to reassess our lounge strategy as we grow and enhance the T5 experience. There will not be an immediate lounge option for Customers, but we are exploring a variety of ideas to best serve our Customers while advancing our brand strategy and on-ground product offering."
