Incredible: New Delta One Lounge New York JFK Airport

Delta has finally unveiled the details of its first Delta One Lounge, intended to be the carrier’s new premium international lounge network, similar to American Flagship Lounges and United Polaris Lounges.

With the first lounge opening this week, we now know what we can expect from these lounges in terms of design, amenities, food, drinks, access, and more. This lounge looks absolutely amazing, and is probably the best in the United States (though I’ll reserve final judgment until I visit it myself).

Details of the Delta One Lounge New York JFK

The new Delta One Lounge at New York JFK looks stunning. The lounge is located in Terminal 4, between Concourse A and Concourse B, adjacent to the main security checkpoint. As of Thursday, June 27, 2024, it’ll be open daily from 4:30AM until 11:00PM (it’ll open on June 26 from 11AM until 11PM).

The new Delta One Lounge JFK is 39,707 square feet, with seating for 515 guests. It’s actually Delta’s biggest lounge to date, and bigger than any Delta Sky Club in the system. So, what should guests expect from the Delta One Lounge experience?

• The Delta One Lounge has a 140-seat brasserie-style restaurant, delivering a three-course meal service; Restaurant Associates and Union Square Events (a Danny Meyer concept) have collaborated on this, with dishes like hamachi crudo, steak tartare, and lasagna bolognese
• The Delta One Lounge JFK also offers The Market and Bakery, whereby seasonal culinary offerings can be plated for walk-up service, ideal for those who don’t have much time, or aren’t that hungry
• The Delta One Lounge offers a beverage cart service, whereby guests can have a drink without leaving their seat, much like onboard a flight
• The Delta One Lounge has a year-round terrace with seating for 40 people
• The Delta One Lounge has eight shower suites with towels, bathrobes, slippers, and Grown Alchemist products; steaming and shoe shine services are also available
• The Delta One Lounge has a wellness area with nine relaxation pods that have fully-body massage chairs, plus treatments from Grown-Alchemist certified therapists
• The Delta One Lounge has a serenity lounge with a quiet space for pre-flight peace of mind, with specialty lamp lighting that mimics the light colors affecting the body’s circadian rhythm
• The Delta One Lounge has eight soundproof booths, perfect for getting work done; you can even borrow a second monitor, for easier working
• The Delta One Lounge has a lot of New York-inspired design elements, plus a partnership with Missoni

Below are some pictures of the new Delta One Lounge New York JFK.

Above, I’ve covered the basics of the food and beverage concepts at the Delta One Lounge New York JFK. To go into a bit more detail, Delta has also shared the menus and drink list in the lounge, which I’ll post here.

Below is the current Delta One Lounge JFK brasserie menu, allowing guests to enjoy a three-course meal. It seems there’s just an all-day dining menu here, and not a breakfast menu. I must say, the food selection looks excellent.

On top of that, there’s the 17-page Delta One Lounge JFK market menu. I’m not sure I fully understand the organization system being used, but I’ll caption the options below. As a reminder, these are options that are available from various counters, so this isn’t a seated dining experience.

Then below is the cocktail and wine list. It’s interesting to me how Delta has a premium selection available for purchase, just as in Sky Clubs. I’m not opposed to this concept, assuming the complimentary selection is decent. Personally, the included selection strikes me as being decent, but nothing that’s going to wow anyone.

Delta One Lounge access requirements

One big question regarding Delta One Lounges has been who will get access to them. We now have those details, and those same access restrictions will also apply at other Delta One Lounges. There are essentially three sets of passenger who will get access to Delta One Lounges:

• Same day departing or arriving Delta One ticketed passengers (this is the name of Delta’s premium business class experience, and transcon flights are included, if they’re marketed as Delta One); it doesn’t matter if you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded
• Delta 360 members departing or arriving on a same day Delta first class ticket
• Same day departing or connecting passengers on flights operated by select Delta partners in first or business class; this includes passengers on Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic

While I’m happy to see access is possible when traveling on some partner airlines, keep in mind that of those partners, only KLM, LATAM, and Virgin Atlantic, depart from Terminal 4. So for Air France and Korean Air passengers, this is most useful if you’re arriving internationally on those airlines and are connecting to Delta. Alternatively, you’ll have to change terminals, and clear security twice.

As far as guesting policies go, guests aren’t allowed for those eligible for access, with the exception of Delta 360 members. Delta 360 members eligible for access may bring their immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under the age of 21), or up to two companions, for an entry fee of $100 or 10,000 Delta SkyMiles per person.

My take on the new Delta One Lounge New York JFK

I was expecting that Delta would do something impressive with its new premium lounges, given that Delta Sky Clubs are already elevated compared to what other US carriers offer (well, except the crowding issue).

The Delta One Lounge looks unbelievably good, in terms of size, design, service, food, drinks, and amenities, and I can’t wait to visit it. In many ways, this seems like it’s in a different league than American Flagship Lounges and even United Polaris Lounges.

Even if you don’t have access to the Delta One Lounge, the opening of this lounge is something you should be very happy about. There were consistent crowding issues with the Delta Sky Club JFK, and that should no longer be a problem. This lounge is bigger than the Delta Sky Club, and should alleviate a lot of the crowding, especially in the afternoons and evenings.

One thing I am curious about is to what extent the Delta One Lounge will be able to deliver a personalized experience in the afternoons and evenings. This lounge should be an oasis in the mornings and early afternoons, while I imagine it’ll get really busy in the evenings, given how many people will be using it.

Will the lounge be able to keep up with the demand for a la carte dining, cocktails, etc.? I’m looking forward to finding out for myself…

Bottom line

The new Delta One Lounge JFK is opening this week, and looks incredible. It’s Delta’s biggest lounge, and I’m impressed by everything we know so far. The lounge is gorgeous, and the soft product should delight, from a la carte dining, to spa treatments, to shower suites.

What do you make of the Delta One Lounge JFK?