New Airspace Lounge Coming to JFK

February 26, 2013 By 5 Comments

I took a mileage run to Baltimore last fall and was very pleasantly surprised by the Airspace Lounge at BWI. It’s a public lounge in Terminal D with a very reasonable $20 entrance fee. However, it’s free to American Express Platinum cardholders and up to two guests. One alcoholic drink from the bar and one food item from the menu are complimentary with each admission (even if it’s a free Platinum Card admission), plus there’s free soda, tea, and Peet’s coffee. Overall I was very impressed.

Airspace is expanding to CLE and just announced today that it will be opening in JFK. From the press release:

The newest Airspace Lounge facility operated by Swissport is scheduled to open in May 2013 and will be conveniently located near Gate 24 of T5, which serves JetBlue Airways (JBLU), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), and beginning in April 2013, Aer Lingus (AERL.L).

Airspace Lounge currently serves airline passengers at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and is opening March 2013 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). Â Redefining the airport lounge experience for lounge customers, Airspace Lounge offers any passenger flying on any airline a modern, relaxing atmosphere and all-inclusive amenities via the purchase of a daily entry pass; no long term membership is required.

This looks like a good opportunity for those who fly on carriers like Hawaiian that don’t have their own lounge in JFK and no alliance partnership agreements that would get you access elsewhere. After all, that’s why I used the Airspace Lounge in BWI: United closed their club several years ago.

Although the amenities, food, drinks, and WiFi were all superior to a typical airport lounge, I guess the only thing that throws me off is the small size and the glass walls. It felt a bit like being in a fishbowl at BWI, and it could get crowded at times. Still, better than being outside in the main terminal. We’ll have to wait and see what the new facilities will look like at JFK, but you can check out a couple promotional renderings for now.

image of lounge

image of lounge

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About Scott Mackenzie

Scott founded HMT while traveling on a budget during graduate school and stays loyal to United, Alaska, Hyatt, and Starwood.
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  • Luke Kim

    Your photographs make the BWI Airspace Lounge look cooler than it actually seemed. Having forgotten my Platinum Card, I did not even gain admittance, but I left unimpressed. Still, good for the company to open a second location. I wrote about my brief glimpse at

    http://www.frequentbird.com/2013/02/07/bwi-airspace-lounge/

    • Scottrick

      The photos I posted are digital renderings of the new JFK lounge, which is not open yet.

    • Bee

      I read your comments on Airspace Lounge BWI. The article comes off as you having sour grapes that you couldnt get in.

      Ive been there many times; it’s the best thing in BWI by a long shot and probably one of the better domestic lounges in any DC-airport. The people are great (i.e they actually speak my language and can mix a drink), the tables along the half wall are perfect places to setup shop and plugin/eat/work/etc (*avoid* the lounge chairs in the middle if you want to do anything other than relax), and the food selection is unbelievably good for a domestic lounge; real food is included in the price. Given that all this is $20; it’s seriously hard to complain about their BWI lounge. Glad they’re expanding…

  • Truthiness

    Can you fly southwest and access the lounge, or do you have to exit terminal and go through security again?

    • Scottrick

      Southwest is in Terminal A/B at BWI, so you would need to exit security.