Once you experience dedicated airport lounges, the general gate area can feel like a downgrade. But gaining and keeping lounge access is becoming more complicated as issuers raise card fees and airlines tighten loyalty requirements. Before you chase a particular network, confirm the benefits justify the cost.
Lounge options in the U.S. have been expanding. Since early 2025, new openings from credit-card issuers and airlines have proliferated—Delta opened its first Delta One lounge at JFK, JetBlue is slated to open its first lounge in New York this winter, and Alaska Airlines announced significant expansions across West Coast hubs.
To help travelers compare, J.D. Power published its 2025 U.S. airport-lounge customer-satisfaction rankings. The study surveyed 1,430 travelers who visited a U.S. lounge in the prior year (data collected September–October 2024). Scores run to 1,000 and weight eight categories: experience value, staff, food and beverage, cleanliness, amenities, convenience of access, ambiance, and Wi‑Fi.
American Express Centurion Lounge
American Express’s Centurion network topped the list with a score of 782 (the survey average was 758). Major Centurion locations include Atlanta (ATL) and Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW). The flagship at JFK, which opened in 2020, includes a speakeasy, an Equinox Body Lab, and a dining program led by chef Ignacio Mattos. The newest Centurion, which opened October 28 at Salt Lake City (SLC), added an outdoor terrace, a fireplace, three bars (including a coffee bar), and a buffet. Amex also plans a Centurion Lounge at Newark Liberty (EWR) in 2026.
How to access: Cardholders with American Express Centurion, Platinum, Business Platinum, and Corporate Platinum receive unlimited Centurion access. Several other Amex products (including Explorer, Platinum Reserve, certain Qantas and business cards, and corporate variants) grant limited or biannual access. Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders receive complimentary entry when flying on Delta. Cardholders may bring up to two guests; the typical guest fees reported were about $50 per adult or $30 per child under 18.
Capital One Lounge
Capital One’s lounge network scored 773. Locations include Las Vegas (LAS), Washington Dulles (IAD), Denver (DEN), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), and New York (JFK). Capital One lounges emphasize quiet spaces—relaxation rooms, private offices, and shower suites—and their JFK outpost, which opened in June 2025, spans roughly 13,500 square feet and features showers, multiple bars (including a coffee bar), a bodega, and cheeses curated by a local cheesemonger.
How to access: Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders receive unlimited access and may bring up to two guests for around $45 per adult or $25 per child under 17. Holders of other Capital One cards can often purchase access at similar guest rates; non-cardholders may enter for a daytime fee (about $90).
Delta Sky Club
Delta Sky Club tied Capital One with a 773 score. Delta operates Sky Clubs at more than 50 airports worldwide and at many major U.S. hubs, including Denver and Dallas–Fort Worth. Its largest domestic lounge opened in 2022 at LaGuardia (LGA), measuring about 24,000 square feet with two buffets and seating for nearly 600. In 2025 Delta opened new Sky Clubs at Atlanta (ATL), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Seattle (SEA) and expanded clubs at Orlando (MCO) and Philadelphia (PHL). Delta has also rolled out Delta One premium lounges at JFK, LAX, SEA, and BOS for eligible business- and first-class customers.
How to access: Delta Medallion Members can purchase an annual Sky Club membership for about $1,495 (or the miles equivalent) with two-guest access, or an individual membership for about $695 (miles equivalent, guests extra). Cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards and certain Reserve Business American Express products receive a set number of complimentary visits (commonly 15 per year) or can earn unlimited visits with high annual card spending thresholds. Select American Express Centurion and Platinum cardholders also have access privileges.
Other rankings
J.D. Power’s list also placed the Chase Sapphire Lounge above average with a 771 score. Below that were American Airlines Admirals Club (753), Alaska Lounge (748), and United Club (705).
Full ranked list from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. lounge satisfaction survey:
1. American Express Centurion Lounge (782)
2. Capital One Lounge (773) and Delta Sky Club (773)
3. Chase Sapphire Lounge (771)
4. American Airlines Admirals Club (753)
5. Alaska Lounge (748)
6. United Club (705)
If you travel frequently, compare the lounge networks available through the cards you already hold and the lounges at your usual airports. Access rules, guest policies, and amenities vary—what’s worth a premium for one traveler (a quiet workspace or premium dining) may be unnecessary for another.