Airport lounges are designed to be a haven away from crowded and stressful terminals. But as more and more travelers have gained access to these coveted spaces, lounges have increasingly started feeling cramped and congested.
For Delta fliers however, waiting in line for a jam-packed lounge could soon be a thing of the past: The airline has just announced that later this year, it will be launching “premium lounges,” a new lounge tier that promises to be more spacious while offering personalized service, wellness areas, and gourmet dining options.
The upscale lounges are set to launch throughout 2024 at three major airports, including New York’s JFK airport, Los Angeles International airport, and Boston Logan airport. While Delta hasn’t yet released the entry requirements to access the premium spaces, similar premium lounges owned by other airlines are usually limited to passengers in first or business class, top-tier loyalty members, and travelers who pay for the most premium airline credit cards.
The airline’s first premium lounge will launch at JFK in June and will be the largest lounge in Delta’s network to date, clocking in at a whopping 38,000 square feet. In addition to plenty of space and seating, the lounge will offer dining options like a full-service brasserie and a more casual “chef-assisted marketplace” with an open kitchen. There will also be dedicated wellness areas, but it’s not yet clear what those areas will contain.
Each of these lounges will be designed uniquely, with elements that reflect the cities where they’re located. The LAX outpost, slated to open by the end of the year, will feature an outdoor terrace and measure 10,000 square feet, while the BOS location (also due to open later in the year) will be 6,300 square feet and be directly connected to the sweeping new Delta Sky Club that opened in the airport’s Terminal E in August 2023.
