Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
Newark is United's New York hub, and United Clubs dominate the lounge picture. The best credit card for Newark flyers is usually a United card, because EWR lounge access through bank cards is thin: there is no Centurion Lounge at EWR yet (Amex now expects to open one in 2027), no Chase Sapphire Lounge and no Capital One lounge.
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Quick answer
- Best overall for EWR lounge access: United Club card — United Club membership covers all three United Clubs in Terminals A and C
- Best for Delta flyers in Terminal A: Amex Platinum or Delta SkyMiles Reserve — Delta Sky Club visits (10 or 15 a year); no Centurion Lounge EWR yet
- Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — though Priority Pass EWR means only the Lufthansa lounge, a spa and Minute Suites
- Best for frequent United flyers who don't need a full membership: United Explorer with two United Club one-time passes a year
- Best for frequent American flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club access in Terminal A
Airport snapshot
United runs most of Terminal C and keeps gates in Terminal A. The new Terminal A (opened 2023) also hosts other domestic airlines and has Newark's only Delta and American clubs. Terminal B handles most foreign airlines. The terminals are not connected airside, so you can use only the lounges in your own terminal. For bank lounges, New York flyers have to go to JFK or LaGuardia.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | Some United, plus American, Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada | United Club, Delta Sky Club, Admirals Club, Be Relax spa |
| Terminal B | Most foreign airlines | Lufthansa (Priority Pass), SAS, La Compagnie; BA closed until 2027 |
| Terminal C | United | 2 United Clubs, Polaris, Minute Suites |
Newark's terminals are not connected after security; the AirTrain between them is landside, so changing terminals means screening again.
Also in New York: for Centurion, Sapphire and Capital One lounges, see our JFK and LGA guides.
Lounges at EWR
United Clubs (Terminals A and C)
- Location: Terminal C near gate C74, Terminal C3 near gate C123 (United's largest club), and Terminal A across from gate A27.
- Access: United Club membership, the United Club card, eligible United and Star Alliance premium cabins and status, Explorer one-time passes, or a $59 day pass with a same-day United or Star Alliance flight.
- Guest policy: The United Club card allows one adult guest plus children under 18 (two adults once All Access is unlocked with $50,000 spend or Premier Gold). Individual members without the card cannot bring guests.
- Best for: United flyers, which is most of Newark.
United Polaris Lounge (Terminal C)
- Location: Terminal C, between gates C102 and C120.
- Access: Long-haul international United Polaris business and Star Alliance first and business passengers only. No card or day pass gets you in.
- Guest policy: Set by United's Polaris rules.
- Best for: Long-haul premium-cabin travelers.
Delta Sky Club (Terminal A)
- Location: Terminal A, after security, near gate A8.
- Access: Sky Club members, Delta elites under Delta's rules, Delta Reserve (15 visits a year), Amex Platinum and Business Platinum (10 visits a year). $75,000 in annual card spending unlocks unlimited visits. Basic economy does not qualify.
- Guest policy: $50 per guest; Delta Reserve includes four guest passes a year.
- Best for: Delta flyers.
Admirals Club (Terminal A)
- Location: Terminal A mezzanine, across from gate A8.
- Access: Admirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive, Citi Strata Elite passes (four a year), or a $79 day pass with a same-day American or Oneworld flight.
- Guest policy: Citi AAdvantage Executive: two guests or immediate family.
- Best for: American flyers.
Terminal B airline lounges
- Location: Lufthansa Business Lounge and SAS Lounge (Concourse B3, near gate B60), plus La Compagnie's lounge in satellite B2.
- Access: Business-class and alliance-elite passengers on those airlines. The Lufthansa lounge also lists Priority Pass with a 3-hour limit. The British Airways lounge closed for refurbishment on July 31, 2026, with reopening expected in summer 2027.
- Guest policy: Varies by airline.
- Best for: Terminal B international departures.
Priority Pass at EWR
- Lufthansa Business Lounge (Terminal B): the only real Priority Pass lounge at Newark; afternoon and evening hours.
- Be Relax Spa (Terminal A, near gate A7): experience, not a lounge; one treatment on memberships that include spas.
- Minute Suites (Terminal C, near gate 125): one-hour suite, booked on arrival, subject to availability.
- Access: Through the Priority Pass on Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve or Venture X (enrollment required). Lounge eligibility can differ by membership, so check the Priority Pass app. United flyers in Terminal C get only Minute Suites, and there are no Priority Pass restaurants at EWR.
Coming: Centurion Lounge EWR (Terminal A)
Amex has announced a two-story Centurion Lounge of more than 30,000 square feet in Terminal A, which would be its largest. It was first announced for 2026; the latest reporting says 2027.
Best credit cards for EWR
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at EWR | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Club card | $695 | All United Clubs (A, C) | 1 adult + kids (2 with All Access) | Fly United often |
| United Explorer | See card guide | 2 United Club passes/yr | None (pass is per person) | Fly United a few times a year |
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Sky Club (A, 10 visits/yr), Priority Pass | Sky Club $50 each; 2 free at Priority Pass | Also fly from JFK or LGA |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | Sky Club (A, 15 visits/yr) | $50 each; 4 passes/yr | Fly Delta |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 (new accounts) | Admirals Club (A) | 2 guests or immediate family | Fly American |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Priority Pass only | $35 each at Priority Pass | Want cheap Priority Pass elsewhere |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly United often from EWR: The United Club card. No bank card opens United Clubs, and Newark is a United airport.
- If you fly United a few times a year: The Explorer's two passes, or $59 day passes, beat a premium card for Newark alone.
- If you want one card that covers the best lounges: Amex Platinum still makes sense if you also fly from JFK or LGA, but at Newark it only adds Delta Sky Club visits until the Centurion Lounge opens.
- If you want strong lounges at a lower cost: Venture X for Priority Pass elsewhere, accepting that it does little at EWR.
No card? Day passes & other options
United Clubs sell $59 day passes and the Admirals Club sells $79 passes, both subject to capacity. Minute Suites in Terminal C sells hourly stays for a nap or a quiet room.
FAQ
Is there a Centurion Lounge at Newark? Not yet. Amex plans a two-story lounge in Terminal A and now expects it in 2027.
Does Priority Pass work at EWR? Only a little. The Lufthansa lounge in Terminal B is the one Priority Pass lounge, plus Be Relax Spa in Terminal A and Minute Suites in Terminal C.
Is there a Chase Sapphire or Capital One lounge at Newark? No. The closest Sapphire Lounges are at LaGuardia Terminal B and JFK Terminal 4 (JFK is currently on limited operations); the closest Capital One locations are the JFK lounge and the LGA Landing.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at EWR? None of them is strong at Newark. The Platinum is the most useful because it adds Delta Sky Club visits in Terminal A and will open the Centurion Lounge when it arrives. The Sapphire Reserve and Venture X are limited to Priority Pass here. If you fly United from Newark, a United card beats all three.
Related guides
- United Club access
- JFK lounges
- LaGuardia (LGA) lounges
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
