Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
JFK is JetBlue's home base, Delta's New York international gateway and American's transatlantic hub with British Airways. The best credit card for New York flyers using JFK depends on your terminal: Terminal 4 alone has the Centurion Lounge JFK regulars know, a Chase Sapphire Lounge and a Capital One Lounge, while JFK lounge access elsewhere comes down to airline clubs and Priority Pass.
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Quick answer
- Best overall for JFK lounge access: Amex Platinum — includes the Centurion Lounge JFK, Delta Sky Club visits and Priority Pass JFK lounges in Terminals 1 and 4
- Best for the Chase Sapphire Lounge: Chase Sapphire Reserve — Terminal 4 (currently on temporarily limited operations), two free guests
- Best value for Priority Pass + Capital One Lounge: Capital One Venture X — the 24-hour Terminal 4 Capital One Lounge for $395
- Best for frequent Delta flyers: Delta SkyMiles Reserve with Delta Sky Club access (15 visits a year) plus Centurion on Delta flights
- Best for frequent JetBlue and American flyers: JetBlue Premier card with BlueHouse access (Terminal 5); Citi AAdvantage Executive with Admirals Club access (Terminal 8)
Airport snapshot
JFK's terminals are not connected airside, so you can only use lounges in the terminal you depart from. Terminal 4 (Delta and many international carriers) holds all three bank lounges. Terminal 5 is JetBlue, Terminal 8 is American and British Airways, and Terminals 1 and 7 hold other foreign carriers. Terminal 6 and the New Terminal One are under construction. LaGuardia and Newark are the regional alternatives.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Air France, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Turkish and other foreign carriers | Air France, KAL, Lufthansa, Turkish, Primeclass, VIP One (all Priority Pass) |
| Terminal 4 | Delta and many international carriers | Centurion, Sapphire, Capital One, 2 Sky Clubs, Delta One, Virgin Clubhouse, Air India, HelloSky |
| Terminal 5 | JetBlue | BlueHouse (plus Be Relax spa) |
| Terminal 7 | Other foreign carriers | No card-accessible lounge |
| Terminal 8 | American, British Airways | Admirals Club, BA Chelsea / Greenwich / Soho |
| Terminal 6 / New Terminal One | Under construction | None confirmed open |
JFK's terminals are not connected after security; the AirTrain between them is landside, so switching terminals means screening again.
Also in New York: flying domestic from LaGuardia or United from Newark? See our LGA and EWR guides.
Lounges at JFK
Centurion Lounge JFK (Terminal 4)
- Location: Terminal 4, after security.
- Access: Amex Platinum, Business Platinum and Centurion cards with a same-day boarding pass on any airline, within 3 hours of departure (5 hours on a layover since July 8, 2026). Delta Reserve cards get in when flying Delta.
- Guest policy: $50 per adult and $30 per child 2–17. Platinum cardholders who spend $75,000 a year get two free guests. Since July 8, 2026, guests must be on the same flight as the cardholder.
- Best for: Anyone flying Delta or a Terminal 4 international carrier with a Platinum card.
- Crowds: When it hits capacity, Amex runs a digital waitlist in the Amex app, which also shows how busy the lounge is; check before you walk over.
Chase Sapphire Lounge JFK, with Etihad (Terminal 4)
- Location: Terminal 4, upper level near gate A2, in the former Etihad lounge space. Chase lists it as on temporarily limited operations, so check the Chase app before you go.
- Access: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business, J.P. Morgan Reserve and Ritz-Carlton cardholders on any airline. Etihad premium passengers also get in.
- Guest policy: Two free guests per visit, then $27 each. Sapphire Lounges left the Priority Pass network on August 15, 2026, so a Priority Pass from Amex or Capital One no longer works here.
- Best for: Families and couples, since guests are free.
Capital One Lounge JFK (Terminal 4)
- Location: Terminal 4, Level 3 retail hall near the B gates. Open 24 hours.
- Access: Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders, free. Day pass $90 for anyone else.
- Guest policy: Since February 1, 2026, guests cost $45 per adult and $25 per child unless the cardholder spent $75,000 on the card in the current or prior calendar year. Authorized users now need a $125-a-year lounge add-on.
- Best for: Late-night and red-eye departures.
Delta Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounge (Terminal 4)
- Location: Two Sky Clubs (Concourse A and Concourse B) and a Delta One Lounge, all in Terminal 4.
- Access: Sky Club membership, Medallion and SkyTeam elite rules, or a card: Delta Reserve (15 visits per year when flying Delta), Amex Platinum and Business Platinum (10 visits per year). Spending $75,000 a year unlocks unlimited visits. Basic economy does not qualify. The Delta One Lounge is for Delta One and eligible premium-cabin passengers only.
- Guest policy: $50 per guest. Delta Reserve includes four guest passes a year.
- Best for: Delta flyers.
JetBlue BlueHouse (Terminal 5)
- Location: Terminal 5. Opened in late 2025.
- Access: Transatlantic Mint passengers, TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members and JetBlue Premier cardholders; some other tiers can buy day passes.
- Guest policy: Set by JetBlue; check before you go.
- Best for: JetBlue loyalists. It is the only lounge in Terminal 5 other than Priority Pass spa access.
Admirals Club and British Airways lounges (Terminal 8)
- Location: Terminal 8. The terminal is under redevelopment and closes overnight (about 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.), which affects these lounges.
- Access: Admirals Club membership, Citi AAdvantage Executive, four annual passes on the Citi Strata Elite, or a $79 day pass, with a same-day American or Oneworld flight. The Chelsea, Greenwich and Soho lounges are for premium-cabin passengers and Oneworld elites; no day passes.
- Guest policy: Citi AAdvantage Executive cardholders can bring two guests or immediate family.
- Best for: American and British Airways flyers.
Priority Pass at JFK
- Terminal 1: Air France, Korean Air (KAL), Lufthansa Business and Turkish Airlines lounges, plus Primeclass and VIP One; Be Relax spa (experience, not a lounge). KAL and Turkish close when those airlines move to the New Terminal One.
- Terminal 4: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Air India lounge, HelloSky Lounge, Minute Suites (experience).
- Terminal 5 / Terminal 8: Be Relax spa (T5) and Minute Suites (T8), both experiences.
- Access: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Venture X include Priority Pass after enrollment. Amex and Capital One memberships do not cover Be Relax. None of these is a restaurant credit. Amex Platinum lost its separate Lufthansa lounge benefit on October 1, 2026.
What's coming: Terminal 6 and New Terminal One
- Terminal 6: The first five of ten gates were scheduled for 2026, with the rest in 2028. Planned lounges include Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa Group and Aer Lingus, but none is confirmed open yet; most of those airlines still fly from Terminals 1, 4 and 7 for now.
- New Terminal One: Opening was pushed to the first quarter of 2027 (reported September 2026). Planned lounges include Plaza Premium (one airside, one arrivals), Air France, Qatar Airways, Korean Air and Turkish Airlines.
Best credit cards for JFK
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at JFK | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Centurion, Sky Clubs (10 visits/yr on Delta), Priority Pass | Centurion $50 each; 2 free at Priority Pass | Fly from T4 or T1 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Sapphire Lounge (T4), Priority Pass | 2 free, then $27 | Travel with companions |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Capital One Lounge (T4), Priority Pass | $45 each unless $75k spend | Want the lowest fee or fly late |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | Sky Clubs (15 visits/yr), Centurion on Delta | $50 each; 4 Sky Club passes/yr | Fly Delta |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 (new accounts) | Admirals Club (T8) | 2 guests or immediate family | Fly American |
| Citi Strata Elite | $595 | 4 Admirals Club passes/yr, Priority Pass | 2 free at Priority Pass | Fly American a few times a year |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly Delta often from JFK: Delta Reserve covers the Sky Clubs, plus the Centurion Lounge on Delta days.
- If you fly JetBlue from Terminal 5: No bank card opens the BlueHouse; the JetBlue Premier card or Mosaic 4 does.
- If you want one card that covers the best lounges: Amex Platinum, for Centurion, the Sky Clubs and Terminal 1 Priority Pass lounges.
- If you want strong lounges at a lower cost: Venture X, a 24-hour Terminal 4 lounge for $395; budget for guest fees.
- If you fly American from Terminal 8: Citi AAdvantage Executive; the Terminal 4 bank lounges are out of reach.
No card? Day passes & other options
The Capital One Lounge sells $90 day passes, and the Admirals Club sells $79 passes to American and Oneworld passengers, space permitting.
FAQ
Can I use a lounge in a different JFK terminal? Not practically. JFK's terminals are not connected airside, so you would have to leave security and clear it again. Pick the lounge that is in your departure terminal.
Is JFK Terminal 6 open? Its first phase was scheduled to open in 2026, and some guides say JetBlue is already using it, but we could not confirm an official opening or any open Terminal 6 lounge as of October 2026. Check your boarding pass and the airport's site before you fly.
When does the New Terminal One open? The first phase slipped to the first quarter of 2027, per September 2026 reports. Its Plaza Premium, Air France and Qatar lounges are expected with or after that opening.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X: which is best at JFK? For most JFK flyers, the Platinum: it opens the Centurion Lounge and the Delta Sky Clubs in Terminal 4 and the Priority Pass lounges in Terminal 1. The Sapphire Reserve wins if you travel with companions, because its Terminal 4 Sapphire Lounge admits two guests free while Centurion guests cost $50. Venture X is the budget pick: a 24-hour Terminal 4 lounge for $395, but guests now cost $45 each. All three are weak if you fly from Terminal 5 or 8.
Can my Amex Platinum still get me into the Chase Sapphire Lounge with Priority Pass? No. Chase Sapphire Lounges left Priority Pass on August 15, 2026. Only eligible Chase cardholders and their guests get in.
Related guides
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Delta Sky Club access
- LaGuardia (LGA) lounges
- Newark (EWR) lounges
- Amex Platinum guide
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
