Delta Has Unveiled a Second Sky Club Lounge at JFK. Take a Look Inside.

Anyone who tried to get into the Delta Sky Club lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in Terminal 4 last year likely remembers the frustratingly long lines just to enjoy complimentary snacks, wine, and a spot to charge their laptop before a flight.

“We’re thrilled with the popularity. It’s grown quickly,” remarked Allison Ausband, Delta’s chief customer experience officer, acknowledging that overcrowded lounges fall short of the premium experience the airline aims to deliver.

“We’ve dedicated significant effort this past year to expanding our current lounges and launching new ones,” Ausband noted, highlighting that the airline added 900 seats to its lounge network last year and plans to introduce 2,700 more this year.

At Delta’s new Sky Club lounge at JFK, travelers will discover 250 of those additional seats, which opened on July 25, boasting nearly 14,000 square feet of space. This lounge completes the airline’s $1.5 billion investment in enhancing JFK’s Terminal 4, Concourse A.

While this new lounge doesn't quite match the vastness of the 34,000-square-foot LaGuardia Delta Sky Club that debuted in 2022 or the 21,000-square-foot Delta Sky Club at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport that opened this spring, its significance is notable: the two Sky Clubs at JFK now accommodate up to 800 travelers simultaneously.

Here’s everything else you should know about Delta’s latest Sky Club lounge at JFK.

Where can you find the new Delta Sky Club lounge within JFK?

The new Delta Sky Club is located in the recently expanded Concourse A of JFK Terminal 4, directly across from gate A8.

Historically, Terminal 4, Concourse A primarily catered to international airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, Kenya Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates, while most of Delta's flights operated from Concourse B. After shutting down its services at JFK Terminal 2 in January 2023, Delta invested $1.5 billion to enhance Terminal 4, Concourse A, adding 10 additional gates predominantly for domestic flights.

With the launch of the new Sky Club, Delta passengers departing from Concourse A can avoid the long trek to the original Delta Sky Club located on Concourse B near gate B31. (You’d probably prefer not to make that journey—it takes about 15 minutes each way—unless you’re looking to rack up steps before your flight.)

What’s the experience like inside?

Upon entering the lounge and taking the elevators to the main level, travelers will immediately be drawn to a striking 360-degree marble bar, adorned with teal leather stools, which serves as the focal point of the lounge. Here, guests can enjoy complimentary wine and beer, along with seasonal premium cocktails available for an extra fee. Currently, the bartender's recommendation is a refreshing watermelon fizz featuring Grey Goose, perfect for the summer.

Beyond the circular bar, the lounge is divided into smaller, tastefully decorated rooms in soft navy hues, showcasing artwork by local New Yorkers. One room features a spacious conference table designed for coworking, while a hallway leading to the restrooms includes two cozy nooks with banquette seating and tables for those seeking a quieter space.

To accommodate the increasing number of digital nomads, Delta ensured that every seat in the lounge features a power outlet and introduced four soundproof booths, including one that is wheelchair accessible, allowing guests to escape the hustle and bustle, according to Ausband. (Another thoughtful addition: plenty of hooks to keep bags off the floor.)

It’s a tough choice to determine whether the highlight of the new Sky Club is the fireplace lounge—complete with cozy armchairs in front of a gas fireplace set into a window—or the covered Sky Deck, which allows guests to enjoy fresh air and views of planes taxiing below, even in the rain. (While the original Sky Club at JFK is larger and offers showers that this lounge lacks, its Sky Deck isn’t covered for those contemplating a visit on a rainy day.)

Behind the bar area, guests will find a self-service station for soft drinks and coffee, along with a buffet. As part of Delta’s “Local Flavor Program,” local chefs are invited to create dishes that reflect the airport’s community. For the new JFK lounge, Delta collaborated with Elyssa Heller, founder of Edith’s Eatery & Grocery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to offer Jewish deli classics like a brisket hash sandwich, vegetarian latkes, and a labneh parfait, as well as Edith’s vegan Iced Café Slushie made with cold brew, tahini, oat milk, and simple syrup. (And be sure to try the croissants—they’re baked fresh daily on-site rather than delivered.)

Alongside local specialties, Delta has noticed an increasing demand for healthier options among its customers before flying. Keeping this in mind, the new JFK lounge features a salad and raw veggie bar, as well as dishes like lemon chickpea salad, cacio e pepe broccolini, and roasted chicken available at the lunch buffet during the media preview held the day before the lounge's public opening.

Delta’s strategies for managing crowding

At the end of 2022, Delta launched a real-time club occupancy tracker within the Fly Delta app to help prevent lines from forming in its lounges. This feature allows travelers to check the app upon arriving at the airport to see the current occupancy status of the clubs, which ranges from “not busy” to “extremely busy.” Additionally, Delta has increased staff presence in all lounges to ensure that tables are cleared more quickly, allowing new guests to enter without delay.

In addition to the two Sky Clubs now available at JFK, Delta also launched a new express lounge concept earlier in 2023 at Terminal 4, Concourse B. (There's a similar one at Atlanta airport.) This new lounge concept features grab-and-go options such as prepackaged sandwiches and salads, along with snacks like granola bars and muffins. Travelers will also find coolers filled with drinks and a self-service counter for coffee and tea, perfect for those in a hurry.

How to gain access to the Delta Sky Clubs at JFK

To address overcrowding issues, Delta made significant changes to its lounge access policies in early 2023, making entry to a Sky Club somewhat more challenging. Access to both Delta Sky Clubs at JFK is prioritized for Diamond Medallion members, Delta 360 members, Delta One passengers, and travelers flying first or business class internationally on a SkyTeam-operated flight. As of February 2023, Delta has discontinued Sky Club access for Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members traveling in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+.

Travelers with the American Express Platinum Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card flying on Delta-operated flights that day can still enter at no charge, according to Paul Rubio, Dinogo’s points and miles expert. However, starting February 1, 2025, new regulations will be implemented for AmEx Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, and SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders, ending the current unlimited lounge access policy. Holders of the Platinum Card from American Express will be granted six Sky Club visits per cardmember year, while those with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Reserve Business Card will receive 10 visits per year. All three cardholders can achieve unlimited Club access after spending $75,000 on eligible purchases within a calendar year, which will apply for that year plus the following year.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card members can enter Sky Clubs for $50 per visit when traveling on same-day Delta flights through the end of 2023. Starting January 1, 2024, this option will no longer be available.

The new Delta Sky Club in Terminal 4, Concourse A, near Gate A8 is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The original Delta Sky Club in Terminal 4, Concourse B, near Gate B31 operates daily from 4:45 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., while the grab-and-go express lounge is available from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

New Delta lounges on the horizon

What else can Delta lounge enthusiasts anticipate? Ausband revealed to Dinogo that JFK will be getting a Delta One lounge in 2024, though she couldn’t share further details at this time.

JFK isn't the only U.S. hub receiving Delta's investment. By the end of 2023, Delta intends to open new Sky Clubs at Boston Logan International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. Additionally, expansions for existing lounges at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport are planned for 2023 and 2024, respectively.

This article was initially published in July 2023 and updated on September 14, 2023, to include new information.