Delta has finally revealed details of its inaugural Delta One Lounge, intended to be the carrier’s new network of premium international lounges, similar to the U.S. flagship lounges and United Polaris Lounges.
With the first lounge opening this week, we now know what we can expect from these lounges in terms of design, amenities, food, drinks, access and much more. This salon is absolutely stunning and is probably the best in the United States (although I’ll reserve final judgment until I visit it myself).
Delta One Lounge New York JFK Details
The new Delta One Lounge at New York JFK is magnificent. The lounge is located in Terminal 4, between Concourse A and Concourse B, next to the main security checkpoint. From Thursday June 27, 2024, it will be open every day from 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (it will open on June 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.).
The new Delta One Lounge JFK measures 39,707 square feet and can accommodate 515 people. It’s actually Delta’s largest lounge to date, and larger than any Delta Sky Club in the system. So, what should guests expect from the Delta One Lounge experience?
- Delta One Lounge features a 140-seat brasserie-style restaurant, offering three-course meal service; Restaurant Associates and Union Square Events (a Danny Meyer concept) collaborated on this, with dishes like hamachi crudo, steak tartare and lasagna Bolognese.
- Delta One Lounge JFK also offers The Market and Bakery, where seasonal culinary offerings can be prepared for walk-in service, ideal for those who don’t have a lot of time or aren’t very hungry.
- The Delta One Lounge offers a beverage cart service, where guests can grab a drink without leaving their seat, much like on a flight.
- The Delta One Lounge has a terrace open all year round that can accommodate 40 people
- The Delta One Lounge has eight shower rooms with towels, robes, slippers and Grown Alchemist products; Steaming and shoeshine services are also available
- The Delta One Lounge features a wellness area with nine relaxation modules featuring full-body massage chairs, as well as treatments from certified Grown-Alchemist therapists.
- The Delta One Lounge features a serenity lounge with a quiet space for pre-flight peace of mind, with special lighting that mimics light colors affecting the body’s circadian rhythm.
- The Delta One Lounge has eight soundproof booths, perfect for working; you can even borrow a second monitor to work more easily
- The Delta One Lounge features many New York-inspired design elements, as well as a partnership with Missoni
Below are some photos of the new Delta One Lounge New York JFK.
Above, I’ve covered the basics of the food and beverage concepts at Delta One Lounge New York JFK. To go into a little more detail, Delta also shared the lounge menus and drinks list, which I’ll post here.
Below is the current Delta One Lounge JFK Brasserie menu, allowing guests to enjoy a three-course meal. It appears there is only an all day dining menu here, not a breakfast menu. I have to say the food selection looks excellent.
On top of that, there is the 17-page Delta One Lounge JFK market menu. I’m not sure I fully understand the organization system used, but I’ll caption the options below. As a reminder, these are options available from different counters, so this is not a sit-down dining experience.
Below you will find the cocktail and wine menu. I find it interesting how Delta has a premium selection available for purchase, just like in Sky Clubs. I’m not opposed to this concept, assuming the free selection is decent. Personally, the selection included seems decent to me, but nothing that will wow anyone.
Delta One lounge access conditions
A big question regarding Delta One lounges is who will have access to them. We now have these details, and these same access restrictions will also apply to other Delta One lounges. There are essentially three groups of passengers who will have access to Delta One lounges:
- Passengers with a same-day departing or arriving Delta One ticket (this is the name of Delta’s premium business class experience, and transcon flights are included, if marketed as Delta One); no matter if you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded
- Delta 360 members departing or arriving on the same day First Class Delta Ticket
- Same-day departing or connecting passengers on flights operated by select Delta partners in first or business class; this includes passengers of Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic
While I’m happy to see that access is possible when flying on select partner airlines, keep in mind that of those partners, only KLM, LATAM and Virgin Atlantic depart from Terminal 4. So for passengers from Air France and Korean Air, this is very useful if you are arriving internationally on these airlines and connecting with Delta. Alternatively, you will have to change terminals and go through security twice.
Regarding guest policies, guests are not permitted for access-eligible individuals except Delta 360 members. Access-eligible Delta 360 members may bring their immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21), or up to two companions, for an entry fee of $100 or 10,000 Delta SkyMiles per person.
My opinion on the new Delta One lounge at New York JFK
I expected Delta to do something impressive with its new premium lounges, given that Delta Sky Clubs are already high compared to what other US carriers offer (well, except for the issue of affluence).
The Delta One Lounge looks incredibly beautiful, in terms of size, design, service, food, drinks and amenities, and I can’t wait to visit it. In many ways, this seems to be in a different league than the American flagship lounges and even the United Polaris lounges.
Even if you don’t have access to the Delta One Lounge, the opening of this lounge is something you should be very happy about. There were constant attendance issues at Delta Sky Club JFK, and this should no longer be a problem. This lounge is larger than the Delta Sky Club and should reduce the crowds a lot, especially in the afternoon and evening.
One thing I’m interested in is how well the Delta One Lounge will be able to offer a personalized experience in the afternoon and evening. This lounge should be an oasis in the morning and early afternoon, while I imagine it will be very busy in the evening, given the number of people using it.
Will the lounge be able to meet the demand for à la carte meals, cocktails, etc.? ? I can’t wait to find out for myself…
Conclusion
The new Delta One Lounge JFK opens this week and looks incredible. This is Delta’s largest show and I’m impressed with everything we know so far. The lounge is stunning and the plush product is sure to delight, from the à la carte meals to the spa treatments to the shower rooms.
What do you think of the Delta One Lounge JFK?