Delta officially opened the airline’s first Delta One Lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today. The lounge was teased earlier in the week with a number of industry execs and prominent travel bloggers (not me) invited for a sneak peak prior to opening.
While Delta is considered the most premium of the big three US carriers, until today, they haven’t had a specific lounge for premium international travelers. American has the Flagship Lounges while United had the Polaris Lounges. Delta has finally thrown its hat into the ring and the initial photos look fantastic!
Delta One Lounge New York-JFK Overview
Delta’s newest lounge and the first Delta One Lounge in the system is located between Concourses A and B in Terminal 4 at JFK airport, adjacent to the main security checkpoint.
The Delta One Lounge is absolutely massive at over 39,000 square feet, making it larger than any Delta Sky Club.
Delta promises that the Delta One Lounge will offer “a variety of experiences and amenities for the premium traveler, from fine dining to spa-like wellness treatments to valet services and more”.
Claude Roussel, Vice President – Delta Sky Clubs and Lounge Experience, had this to say about the new Delta One Lounge:
“Our teams have spared no detail to ensure Delta One Lounge guests receive a truly memorable experience. It’s a new era for Delta – this Lounge is raising the bar across the board, from the amenities to the food and beverage offerings to the level of personalized service. We want our guests to feel the difference here; moreover, we want them to feel welcomed and valued from the moment they step through the door.”
Claude Roussel, Delta’s VP of Sky Clubs and Lounge Experience
Local Touches Dominate the Delta One Lounge at New York-JFK
The Atlanta based carrier really leaned into its presence in New York when developing the lounge. The space features nods to many famous spaces around the city that have been subtly incorporated into the lounge.
The bar, which Delta states will serve “elevated takes on classic cocktails” takes its cues from Radio City Music Hall.
The Market and Bakery dining area is taking inspiration from the city’s vast number of delicatessens with white marble countertops and a ceiling inspired by Eero Saarinen’s design for the original terminal at JFK.
The main dining room has a nod to the Brooklyn Bridge with the light fixture in the dining room according to Delta, though this one seems like a bit of a stretch to me.
Regardless of whether you feel the lounge decor is quintessential New York, the Delta One Lounge at JFK looks absolutely fantastic and I hope I have the opportunity to see it in person soon.
Missoni Partnership Extends to the Lounge
Last week, Delta announced a new partnership with Italian fashion house Missoni. As part of the new Delta One Lounge, Missoni had a hand in adding some of their design touches to the lounge including accent pillows, vases and coffee table books bearing the company’s signature zigzag design.
Delta One Lounge New York-JFK Features
Delta claims that their new lounge has “something for everyone” and, at first glance, they don’t appear to be wrong.
Dining
The main dining features of the Delta One Lounge are:
- The Lounge, a 140-seat Brasserie restaurant delivering a three-course meal service. The meals are expected to include dishes such as Hamachi crudo, steak tartare and lasagna Bolognese.
- The Market and Bakery is available for guests that want a more traditional, walk-up buffet.
- Delta also has service at your seat as part of the lounge experience. Their beverage cart service has servers that come to your seat to provide an experience “similar to what you’d enjoy onboard.”
Relaxation
If you’re looking to relax a bit prior to your flight, the Delta One Lounge has designated wellness area, equipped with nine reservable relaxation pods with full-body massage chairs and nap chairs, treatments from Grown-Alchemist certified therapists, and more.
In addition to the wellness area, there is a Serenity Lounge which provides a quiet, tranquil space designed for pre-flight peace of mind. The lighting is specially designed to get your body acclimated to the time zone to which you will be flying.
A Rejuvenation Bar, featuring non-alcoholic beverages and fruit and herb-infused waters and juices, is also located near the space.
Refresh
Whether you just landed from a transatlantic flight or are getting ready to embark on a journey across the pond, the Delta One Lounge features eight shower suites, featuring towels, bathrobes and slippers, Grown Alchemist products, and more.
Valet attendants will take the clothes and shoes you leave inside your suite closet and they will be steamed/shined while you shower. Honestly, the shower suites look better than what I’ve seen in any lounge around the world.
Working Space
As a consultant who frequently spends time on the road, the business space is extremely important to met. The Delta One Lounge has oeight individual soundproof booths in the Lounge. If needed, passengers can also borrow a second monitor to make work easier. Since the pandemic I’ve switched from team no second monitor to making a second monitor a must.
Sky Terrace
One of my favorite parts of Delta Sky Clubs is the Sky Terrace and the Delta One Lounge takes this one step further with the Terrace. The outdoor space is updated with regional plants a few times a year. Even though it is located in New York, it has been designed to be enjoyed 365 days out of the year.
Delta One Lounge New York-JFK Hours of Operation
The Delta One Lounge at New York-JFK is open daily between 4:30a and 11:00p local time.
Delta One Lounge Access Requirements
Access to the Delta One Lounge is possible for the following passengers:
- Same-day departing or arriving Delta One ticketed passengers (i.e., seated in the Delta One class of service);
- Delta 360 Members departing or arriving on a same-day ticket in Delta First Class;
- Same-day departing or connecting flights operated by the following Delta partners in their respective first and business class cabins specified below:
- Air France La Premiere and Business Class (Long-Haul)
- LATAM Premium Business Class
- KLM Business Class
- Korean Air First Class and Prestige Class
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
It’s worth noting that Delta Sky Club memberships or qualifying credit cards, cannot be used to access the Delta One Lounge. The airline does have two Sky Clubs in the airport in Concourse A and Concourse B.
For the full list of access requirements and lounge rules visit Delta.com.
Summary
Overall, the new Delta One Lounge looks absolutely amazing. The airline is finally opening lounges specifically catered to long-haul premium passengers and, at first glance, the offerings are better than American Flagship Lounges and United Polaris Lounges.
The lounge appears to have plenty of space and, at 39,000 square feet, you shouldn’t experience any of the crowding that we’ve been seeing at other Delta Sky Clubs. I look forward to the opportunity to see this lounge in the future soon!
