The 10 Best New Airport Lounges You Need to Know About

We all know that traveling may not be the most comfortable or enjoyable experience, with drab airport terminals, overpriced fast food chains, and soulless waiting areas somewhat the norm. But frequent flyers—or anyone who’s flown in business or first class—can attest that an airport lounge can make the experience much more pleasant.

Most airports will feature a lounge where loyalty members and premium travelers can unwind and rejuvenate before their departure, but larger international airports may boast numerous options, providing a wide array of amenities and comfort levels. However, with a growing number of new airport lounges debuting worldwide, staying informed and determining which ones are truly worthwhile can be challenging.

We have been monitoring the latest airport lounge openings throughout the U.S. and globally to provide insights into some of the most thrilling spaces that have recently debuted. Now, let’s explore ten of the top airport lounges that have welcomed guests in recent months.

Air France Lounge – Los Angeles

Air France, long celebrated for its luxurious services and amenities for premium travelers and frequent fliers, opened its newest lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) last summer. The nearly 12,000 square foot lounge is the largest that Air France has built in North America and can host up to 172 guests, including La Premiere first class and business class passengers, Flying Blue Elite Plus members, and eligible travelers flying with KLM, Delta Air Lines, or other partners within the SkyTeam alliance.

Photo: Courtesy of Air France

The lounge has a typical French theme, with traditional red, white, and blue features throughout and sleek furniture designed by a trio of acclaimed French designers, as well as a Parisian brasserie-inspired dining area where guests can feast on French specialties such as beef bourguignon and monkfish a la provencal.

It also features dedicated areas for La Premiere passengers and Flying Blue Ultimate customers, but the Clarins spa area sets the lounge apart. With facial treatments on offer, including ‘anti jetlag’ and ‘instant detox,’ the lounge’s spa provides the ideal place for passengers to refresh between connecting flights.

Photo: Courtesy of Air France

The lounge is next to Air France’s gates at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Airport, from where the airline offers up to 26 weekly flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) along with flights to Papeete (PPT) in Tahiti.

Lufthansa Premium Lounge – Newark

German flag carrier Lufthansa opened its refurbished premium lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in August following a $10.5 million upgrade, with the new 6,500 square foot space able to accommodate around 170 guests—a 25 percent increase compared to the previous lounge.

Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa

Open to First and Business Class members of any Lufthansa Group airline flying out of Newark, the renovated lounge is the first to incorporate design elements in line with Lufthansa’s coveted Allegris business class product, which finally took to the skies in May last year.

The space also takes inspiration from the surrounding New Jersey area, with a Skyline Bar at the center featuring local craft beer on tap and dining options, including traditional Jersey cornbread with candied tomato jam. Meanwhile, First Class travelers and HON Circle members can enjoy a private dining area and choose from premium wines and champagne.

Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa

The lounge offers spaces designed to fit the needs of all types of passengers, whether it’s business travelers, solo flyers, couples, larger groups, or those with children.

Plaza Premium Lounge – London Heathrow

A brand-new lounge opened by Plaza Premium Group in October last year has given premium travelers at London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 4 a new place to relax, eat, and work before their flight.

Photo: Courtesy of Plaza Premium

The new space, which takes the place of the previous SkyTeam T4 lounge that closed during the pandemic, measures almost 8,250 square meters and has room for up to 147 guests. Its design takes inspiration from the city of London, including patterns found on the iconic London Underground, and nods to the city’s striking architecture, while it also has floor-to-ceiling views of the runway.

Offering a self-styled ‘Proudly Local’ experience, guests can also enjoy classic British food and drink in the form of Victoria sponge cake, cottage pie, Pimm’s, and more. Meanwhile, an exhibition dubbed ‘Ascending Horizons’ showcases recent artwork by British artist Lauren Baker, with all the pieces available to buy.

Photo: Courtesy of Plaza Premium

The new Plaza Premium Lounge—the fourth of its kind at Heathrow—is open to eligible SkyTeam member airline passengers and select corporate cardholders, including American Express, DragonPass, LoungeKey, and Priority Pass.

Capital One Landing – Washington National

Credit card provider Capital One opened a brand-new facility called the Capital One Landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in November 2024. This new space offers a slightly different concept to the traditional airport lounge, with a particular focus on its food and drink options.

Photo: Courtesy of Capital One Landing DCA

In partnership with Chef José Andrés, guests can use the QR codes by each seat to order from an exclusive menu of made-to-order tapas-style dishes. At the same time, an ‘On the Fly’ service station offers breakfast, snacks, and salads for takeaway—ideal for those in a rush. The lounge design also takes inspiration from Chef Andrés’s restaurants, with a warm color palette and ambient lighting throughout.

Photo: Courtesy of Capital One Landing DCA

The Capital One Landing at Washington National is open to eligible Venture X cardholders and their complimentary guests, while Capital One Venture and Spark Miles cardholders can access the lounge for $45 each.

Delta One Lounge – Boston

Delta opened its third Delta One Lounge in December, with the classy new space at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) providing a welcome place to unwind before a flight. The 6,700 square-foot lounge can be accessed via another Delta lounge – the Delta Sky Club on Concourse E—recently named one of the top 10 lounges in the U.S. by USA Today.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

The Delta One Lounge, meanwhile, offers an extra level of style and exclusivity to its acclaimed counterpart and is open to Delta One passengers, first class members of Delta 360, and first or business class passengers flying with select partner airlines.

Like the Sky Club, the Delta One Lounge at Boston draws heavily on the maritime traditions of the surrounding area, including a custom-designed sail ceiling providing a ship-like feel to the space. Holding all the amenities premium travelers have come to expect in a lounge; the standout feature is the fine dining on offer, with a culinary experience curated by award-winning chef Ed Brown. Highlights include a Maine lobster roll and prime steak tartare.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

To top it all off, the new Delta One Lounge has some of the best views of any airport lounge, with a scenic backdrop of Boston Harbor and the city’s iconic skyline.

Aspire Lounge – Helsinki

Opened in late January, ground service provider Swissport developed the OP Lounge by Aspire at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) in partnership with Finnish banking firm OP Financial Group—the first partnership Swissport has made with a company outside the aviation industry.

Photo: Courtesy of Swissport

Located in the airport’s Schengen area, up to 180 guests can enjoy the 8,700+ square foot space at any one time and make use of its private meeting rooms, shower facilities, and extensive food and beverage options, including a la carte dining and premium beverages that can be bought for an additional fee.

This new lounge in Helsinki adds to more than 100 Aspire Executive Lounges worldwide, including an additional 20 lounges that opened in 2024 alone. Hence, the designers are no strangers to what’s required from your typical premium traveler.

Photo: Courtesy of Swissport

Access is currently available to OP Gold and Platinum cardholders, while eligible passengers flying with an airline without lounge facilities in Helsinki will soon be able to ‘status match’ to gain entry, too.

Emirates Lounge – Bangkok

Emirates opened its largest lounge outside Dubai last month—a brand-new 15,650 square foot lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s (BKK) new Satellite 1 Terminal.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

Able to handle up to 250 guests—enough to fit two Airbus A380s—the $5 million space is open to first and business class passengers flying with Emirates and eligible Skywards members.

The elegantly designed lounge features all the amenities one would expect from a premium lounge, including free Wi-Fi, wireless charging, shower facilities, and a mixture of Thai and international cuisine.

First and business class passengers staying within 60 kilometers of the airport can also take advantage of Emirates’ free chauffeur service, which ensures luxury and comfort from the hotel all the way to their flight.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

The new lounge is located just a five-minute walk from Emirates’ departure gates at BKK, where the renowned carrier operates five daily flights to Dubai (DXB) as well as two daily flights to Phuket (HKT) and a daily service to Hong Kong (HKG).

British Airways Lounge – Singapore

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is often regarded as one of the best in the world, and the latest addition to this major hub is a refreshed British Airways lounge that reopened its doors last month.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

An almost $9 million refurbishment has seen the space redesigned to pay homage to Singapore’s rich culture and traditional British heritage with bespoke furniture and locally curated artwork.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

The transformation has also seen the addition of an exclusive Concorde Dining area where guests can enjoy local cuisine like cashew satay chicken or classic British dishes such as herb-crusted beef tenderloin and sticky toffee pudding. Meanwhile, three extra premium Champagnes have been added to the drinks menu.

Photo: Courtesy of British Airways

With space for up to 226 guests, the new BA lounge at Changi is open to the airline’s First Class and Club World (business class) passengers, along with British Airways Executive Gold and Silver members and Emerald or Sapphire status oneworld frequent flyers.

Turkish Airlines Lounge – Tokyo Narita

Turkish Airlines opened just its seventh international lounge in January and the largest yet outside of Istanbul with the inauguration of a brand-new space at Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT). Currently measuring 8,600 square feet and accommodating up to 105 guests, the lounge is set to almost double in size following the completion of its second phase.

Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

The new space offers a range of amenities for premium travelers to relax, refresh, and work in, including dedicated workspaces and relaxation areas, shower facilities, daybeds, a private VIP room, and a baby care room. The design takes elements from both Turkish and Japanese cultures, including traditional Turkish marbling art and a nod to the iconic Mount Fuji at the entrance.

Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

Open to Miles&Smiles Elite Plus, Elite Corporate, and Elite cardholders, as well as Star Alliance gold members and Star Alliance member airlines business class passengers, guests can enjoy a buffet of Turkish, Japanese, and Far Eastern cuisine, as well as freshly baked pide (traditional Turkish bread with fillings) from Turkish Airlines’ only pide oven outside of Istanbul.

Chase Sapphire Lounge – Philadelphia

The most recent lounge to open on this list is the latest Chase Sapphire Lounge, which opened at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on Thursday, February 20. The expansive 20,000-square-foot space offers guests an exclusive travel experience with a design inspired by Philadelphia’s vibrant culture and traditions.

Photo: Courtesy of Chase Sapphire

The lounge features a range of amenities beyond the typical airport lounge, including a beer garden where guests can enjoy local craft beers, Philly cheesesteak sliders, and much more. The lounge also includes a wellness area with private resting pods, showers, refreshing facial treatments, and digital self-guided meditations. At the same time, an exciting games room offers a range of retro arcades and six TVs for watching live sports.

Adding to the local feel of the new facility, a mural by local artist James Burns brightens up the beer garden, while locally roasted coffee from Elixr Coffee is also on offer. A family room with a play area, nursing room, and private workspaces ensure every type of traveler is catered for.

Photo: Courtesy of Chase Sapphire

The Chase Sapphire Lounge in Philadelphia is now open to Chase Sapphire Reserve, JP Morgan Reserve, and The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card holders and eligible Priority Pass members.