USA TODAY 10Best
American Airlines' Flagship Lounge named best by readers
Best Airport Lounge (2020)
Waiting at the airport becomes a whole lot better when you're in a luxe airport lounge, complete with comfortable seating, food, drinks and even showers to freshen up before your flight. These 10 lounges, nominated by a panel of frequent flier experts, are so good you'll pray for flight delays.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Airport Lounge are as follows:
- The Private Room - Singapore Airlines - Singapore Changi Airport - Singapore
- First Class Terminal - Lufthansa - Frankfurt Airport
- First Class Lounge - Emirates - Dubai International Airport
- Clubhouse - Virgin Atlantic - San Francisco International Airport
- The Pier - Cathay Pacific - Hong Kong International Airport
- KLM Crown Lounge - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- International First Lounge - Qantas - Sydney Airport
- Delta Sky Club - John F. Kennedy International Airport - New York
- First Class Lounge - Japan Airlines - Narita International Airport - Tokyo
- Flagship Lounge - American Airlines - John F. Kennedy International Airport - New York
Photo courtesy of Singapore Airlines
No. 10:
While you can’t go wrong with any of Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris lounges, The Private Room really stands out. This space for first class and suite passengers includes a sit-down dining area, private rooms for work or relaxation, shower rooms and a generally quieter atmosphere than the often busy SilverKris lounges.
No. 9:
Lufthansa set the standard for first class terminals with its dedicated premium terminal at the Frankfurt Airport. The experience includes a personal assistant to whisk each passenger through security and manage check-in proceeders, a restaurant and bar with some 130 different whiskeys, a cigar lounge and plenty of spaces to relax, from easy chairs to office spaces.
No. 8:
The Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai ranks among the most innovative in the world, as it feels more like an entire concourse — you can board your plane directly through the lounge. Guests also find duty free shops, a light buffet at nearly every gate, two sleeping rooms with day beds, a cigar bar, spa and a wine cellar with an on-staff sommelier.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Nektar Productions, LLC
No. 7:
Upper Class and Delta One members, as well as passengers with status on several partner airlines, enjoy upscale amenities at this premium lounge at SFO. The lounge is inspired by the city of San Francisco, offering views across the bay, complimentary West Coast-inspired food, local beer and California wine and free wifi throughout.
Photo courtesy of Cathay Pacific
No. 6:
The Pier at Hong Kong’s airport offers passengers access to eight Day Suites with views over the runway, fully stocked shower rooms, spa services, buffet and a la carte dining, six work suites with iMac computers and an inviting bar area. Open seating areas feel almost residential.
No. 5:
The recently renovated KLM Crown Lounge at the Amsterdam airport offers an expanded seating capacity of 1,500 guests. Highlights of the space include a new a la carte restaurant, an outdoor viewing deck, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in loads of natural light. The space also wins top marks for its decor, from vintage suitcases to the ceramic tiles used in the KLM safety video.
No. 4:
The Qantas First Lounge at the Sydney Airport ranks among the most aesthetically pleasing out there, with plenty of natural light and interesting architectural detail. Unique seating areas lend a feeling of privacy to the space, even when it’s crowded. Perks include a full business center, self-serve bar areas, a restaurant serving seasonal fare, spa and shower rooms.
Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines
No. 3:
Delta Sky Club makes for a comfortable place to relax no matter which airport you’re waiting at, but the flagship lounge at JFK is a standout. Guests enjoy free wifi, plenty of power outlets for recharging devices, fresh food, premium drinks from THE BAR and a huge open seating area with floor-to-ceiling windows offering natural light. A highlight is the outdoor SkyDeck overlooking the Terminal 4 ramp.
Photo courtesy of Japan Airlines
No. 2:
JAL’s First Class Lounge at Tokyo Narita offers many of the perks you’d expect from a premium lounge — shower rooms, message chairs, free wifi — but the real standout is the hand-rolled sushi made right in front of guests at the lounge restaurant. Another perk is a shoe polishing desk run by British shoemaker John Lobb.
Photo courtesy of American Airlines
No. 1:
Passengers will find one of American Airline’s best Flagship Lounges at JFK in New York. Guests can dine at a bright and airy restaurant, help themselves to bubbly at a self-serve wine and champagne bar, plenty of seating options and eight spacious shower rooms for freshening up pre-flight. The Flagship Bridge, a separate area of the lounge, offers a la carte dining.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning airport lounges!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Gilbert Ott
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of... Read More
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly featured on Good Morning America, BBC, The Sunday Times, Travel & Leisure, CNN and other leading news outlets. Obsessed with deals, destinations and luxury travel – Ott is constantly in search of an edge, and shares every travel trick here on GodSaveThePoints.com. Catch him in airports around the world, if you can.
Gilbert Ott
Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly featured on Good Morning America, BBC, The Sunday Times, Travel & Leisure, CNN and other leading news outlets. Obsessed with deals, destinations and luxury travel – Ott is constantly in search of an edge, and shares every travel trick here on GodSaveThePoints.com. Catch him in airports around the world, if you can.
John E. DiScala
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over... Read More
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over 100,000 airline miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995 and has visited close to 100 countries. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been mentioned thousands of times in major publications, including USA Today and The Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS and the Travel Channel. He was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Travel Influencers and writes about everything travel, from finding the best deals and innovative new products to family travel and traveling on a budget. Johnny travels the world with his wife @NatalieDiScala, their son Jack and daughter Olivia.
John E. DiScala
John E. DiScala, aka Johnny Jet, has traveled over 100,000 airline miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995 and has visited close to 100 countries. He and his website JohnnyJet.com have been mentioned thousands of times in major publications, including USA Today and The Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS and the Travel Channel. He was named one of Forbes’ Top 10 Travel Influencers and writes about everything travel, from finding the best deals and innovative new products to family travel and traveling on a budget. Johnny travels the world with his wife @NatalieDiScala, their son Jack and daughter Olivia.
Ramsey Qubein
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist... Read More
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines, and loyalty programs from around the globe. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Readers Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, NerdWallet.com and Business Traveler magazine among others. Ramsey flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has traveled to 166 countries, all seven continents, and 50 U.S. states. Follow Ramsey's adventures on Instagram and Twitter.
Ramsey Qubein
Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises, airlines, and loyalty programs from around the globe. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Forbes.com, CNBC.com, AFAR, Robb Report, Readers Digest, BBC Worldwide, USA Today, NerdWallet.com and Business Traveler magazine among others. Ramsey flies more than 450,000 miles per year and has traveled to 166 countries, all seven continents, and 50 U.S. states. Follow Ramsey's adventures on Instagram and Twitter.
Sara Rathner
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit... Read More
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit cards expert. She appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report,” and has been quoted in Yahoo Finance, TIME, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Sara’s held a total of 23 credit cards, using travel rewards points to see the world on a budget. A proud Northwestern University alum, she also has a certificate in financial planning from Boston University.
Sara Rathner
Sara Rathner is NerdWallet’s travel and credit cards expert. She appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report,” and has been quoted in Yahoo Finance, TIME, Reuters, NBC News, Business Insider and MarketWatch. Sara’s held a total of 23 credit cards, using travel rewards points to see the world on a budget. A proud Northwestern University alum, she also has a certificate in financial planning from Boston University.
