These Are the Most Exciting New Airport Lounges in the U.S.

Airport lounges are in the middle of a reset.

As competition for space and customers mounts, both credit card issuers and airlines are leveling up with larger flagships, entirely new lounge concepts and design features, and spaces that offer more specialized services and rethink how travelers spend time before a flight.

Some are going big on scale, while others are focusing on speed and convenience, while still others are offering more of a full-service experience.

The result is that some very exciting and impressive lounges have entered this mix in recent months. These are the airport lounge openings of 2025 and 2026 that have wowed us the most.

American Express Centurion Lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Courtesy of American Express

American Express’s Centurion Lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport is one of the largest in the network at nearly 18,000 square feet, with design elements rooted in the surrounding Wasatch Mountains through wood finishes and large-scale installations. The food program rotates through the Centurion Lounge’s Culinary Collective, while a full-service espresso bar highlights local roaster Millcreek Coffee, and its year-round outdoor terrace with a second bar and fireplace is not commonly seen across the network of lounges.

Those looking to relax and refresh can reserve a shower suite stocked with L’Occitane toiletries and cozy robes or borrow Hypervolt massagers and Normatec compression boots in the wellness room.

Read our full review.

Amex’s Sidecar by Centurion Lounge at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas

Courtesy of American Express

American Express’ new Sidecar concept was designed for travelers with limited time who still want a high-end stop before departure. Its freshman outpost at Harry Reid International Airport is 1,500 square feet and has 33 seats arranged around a bar and a series of small tables. The experience plays out more like a cocktail bar, with a concise and curated menu of small plates from the Centurion Lounge’s Culinary Collective, including cucumber salad with crispy rice and a rotating slider, alongside drinks developed by Harrison Ginsberg of New York City’s Overstory (one of the 50 Best Bars in North America). It’s geared toward shorter visits without losing the sense of occasion.

Read our full story.

Capital One Landing at LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Photo by Ron Blunt/Courtesy of Capital One

Capital One’s Landing concept replaces the traditional lounge format with a full dining experience, and at LaGuardia Airport, the 12,500-square-foot venue focuses on Spanish-style small plates developed with José Andrés and his team. Guests are greeted and seated, with a steady flow of tasty tapas like croquetas, gambas al ajillo, and hanger steak with mojo verde arriving throughout the meal.

The room emphasizes height and light, with 30-foot ceilings, a skylit terrace converted from a former outdoor patio, and wide views of both the runway and the Manhattan skyline, while roaming carts bring out items like Basque cheesecake and table-side martinis.

Read our full review.

Capital One Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York

Photo by Ron Blunt/Courtesy of Capital One

Capital One opened its flagship lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in the summer of 2025, giving us a great reason to get to the airport early. The 13,500-square-foot space in Terminal 4 marks a clear step forward for the brand, going bigger while still keeping the vibe hyperlocal. Tucked away just past security on the lower level of T4’s retail hall, it is a celebration of all things New York, starting with hand-rolled bagels by Ess-a-Bagel to a coffee bar from local roaster Bean & Bean Coffee and a dedicated counter from Murray’s Cheese—plus floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over JFK’s busy tarmac.

Open 24 hours a day (this is the city that never sleeps, after all), the space is organized into distinct zones that move from quieter seating clusters to a large, more social bar and a bodega-style food counter. There’s no traditional buffet; food is plated in the lounge kitchen and available from display stations (as individual portions) or by QR order, with standouts including everything-spiced deviled eggs, a smoked salmon bagel, and build-your-own cheese boards. A cocktail list inspired by different New York neighborhoods reinforces the sense of place throughout.

You can read our full review.

Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club at LAS

Courtesy of Chase

Chase’s Las Vegas lounge puts food at the forefront, with its two-story, 5,390-square-foot footprint at Harry Reid International Airport shaped around a menu developed in partnership with David Chang’s Momofuku, including pork buns, cucumber salad, and coconut rice pudding.

Upstairs, a gold-hued champagne parlor brings Vegas-style glitz to the lounge, with drinks delivered to your table alongside small bites like Parmesan crisps and dried fruit. Coffee comes from local outfitter Dark Moon Coffee Roasters, the wine program is curated by New York–based shop Parcelle, and seating is distributed across both levels with a mix of lounge chairs and dining setups.

Read our full story.

Delta Sky Club at SLC

Photo by Jason Dewey/Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Delta’s second Sky Club at Salt Lake City International Airport spans a whopping 34,000 square feet and accommodates up to 600 guests, making it the airline’s largest at SLC, with an immersive room that uses panoramic video and ambient sound to re-create Utah landscapes. There’s also a central bar, a large buffet, and multiple beverage stations, including one dedicated to “dirty soda,” a regional favorite. Seating ranges from lounge chairs to enclosed phone booths, with a layout that handles heavy traffic while still giving travelers room to spread out.

Read our full review.

JetBlue’s “BlueHouse” at JFK

Courtesy of JetBlue

Always a bit of a disruptor, JetBlue avoided calling its first lounge a lounge, instead positioning the 9,000-square-foot, two-level footprint at John F. Kennedy International Airport as something closer to an apartment space in the form of “BlueHouse.” There is seating for about 140 guests arranged across open areas and quieter corners.

New York references run throughout, from a ceiling installation inspired by Grand Central Terminal to artwork made from MetroCards, while drinks come from local partners like Please Don’t Tell and Joe Coffee. Food is prepared off-site and delivered daily, served grab-and-go style for now, with plans for an in-house kitchen in a later phase.

Read our full review.

Plaza Premium Lounge, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

Priority Pass members don’t always come out ahead when it comes to airport lounges, but there are still pockets of value and luxe details. Case in point: the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal D at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which opened in February 2026, in the space formerly occupied by the American Express Centurion Lounge (now relocated to a larger footprint elsewhere in Terminal D above the D15 security checkpoint). The latest proprietary outpost from Plaza Premium Group—the world’s largest independent lounge operator—has a design-forward aesthetic, with a midcentury-modern sensibility, strong natural light, and seating for nearly 100 people.

A complimentary buffet anchors the experience, with a mix of hot and cold dishes, many with a Southwest influence (like chili-rubbed veggies), alongside a full bar that pours beer, house wines, and standard spirits. Premium drinks and select à la carte items come at an additonal cost, though pricing is reasonable: A cucumber martini rings in at $11, while made-to-order options like a burger with fries land closer to $12—far less than what you’d spend in the terminal, even at a fast-food joint.

Read our full review of DFW’s myriad airport lounges.

This story was originally published in July 2024 and was updated on May 15, 2026, to include current information.