Primeclass Lounge at New York JFK Airport Terminal 1 [Review]

Airport lounges can make a travel day so much more enjoyable. Having a quiet spot to wait for your flight with a drink and snack really helps pass the time in a comfortable way.

On a recent layover at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, I stopped in at the Primeclass Lounge in Terminal 1.

In this review, I’ll show you around the lounge so you know what to expect. Let’s get to it.

How To Access the Primeclass Lounge at JFK in Terminal 1

The Primeclass Lounge at JFK is accessible through Priority Pass, a collection of over 1,500 airport lounges, restaurants, and experiences.

Priority Pass memberships can be purchased, but a better way to get one is through your credit card. There are lots of credit cards that come with a Priority Pass membership, so it’s relatively easy to get one, but what benefits you receive via the credit card with its Priority Pass membership will vary. Here are some of our favorites:

• The Platinum Card^® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.
• Capital One Venture X Business Card*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A useful feature of Priority Pass lounges, like the Primeclass Lounge at JFK, is that they can be accessed regardless of elite status, airline, or class of service. Remember that some cards might require enrollment before fully enjoying your lounge benefits.

Most Priority Pass memberships include complimentary access for the cardholder plus 2 guests. Children under 2 are free. To enter the Primeclass Lounge, you must show a boarding pass for a same-day international outbound flight departing from JFK. There’s a 3-hour maximum per stay (although this usually won’t be enforced if you have a layover — I was able to enter 4.5 hours before my flight).

Additional ways to access the Primeclass Lounge at JFK are through DragonPass, Loungeme, TAV Passport, or LoungePair. A day pass can be purchased through Primeclass for $65.

The Primeclass Lounge at New York’s JFK airport in Terminal 1 is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Location of the Primeclass Lounge at JFK in Terminal 1

There are 2 Primeclass Lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport: one in Terminal 1 and the other in Terminal 4.

The Primeclass Lounge I visited was in Terminal 1 after security, next to gates 8 and 9. It’s in the middle area between gates at the end of the terminal, which is hard to spot at first.

I didn’t really see it until it was right in front of me. It looked tiny from the outside … until I realized that what I was looking at was just the check-in desk. The actual lounge was downstairs.

Seating

After checking in, I walked downstairs to the lounge. The first thing I noticed was that it felt like it was in a basement. The ceilings were low, and there was only 1 wall of windows. If you’re looking for a bright and airy lounge at JFK, this isn’t it.

The lounge isn’t actually in a basement, though. There are windows that look out onto the tarmac.

The lounge felt crowded when I was there on a Friday evening (probably because it was small and dark), but there was still seating available.

Food and Beverages

Along the wall perpendicular to the windows, the buffet area was large, considering the size of the lounge.

There were a few premade salads plus additional ingredients, so you could make your own.

This was the penultimate stop on my day of lounge-hopping at JFK, so I didn’t have plans to get a full meal. Instead, I made myself a small salad to sample the buffet. The food was pretty good, but I didn’t love eating from a paper plate with a plastic fork.

There was a selection of desserts along with cheeses and fresh fruit.

Hot dishes included things you would typically see at a lounge buffet: rice, chicken, pasta, and vegetables.

Beverages were in a separate area. There were juices, canned sodas, and a coffee machine.

There were a few snacks by the beverages, including nuts, cookies, and packaged Aussie Bites. I’d had Aussie Bites before and liked them a lot, so I grabbed a few for the road.

The bar was near the lounge’s entrance.

Select wines, beers, and spirits were complimentary, while premium beverages, including signature cocktails, cost extra.

Amenities

The Primeclass Lounge didn’t have many additional amenities but it did have large, private bathrooms, as well as a shower room.

Final Thoughts

The Primeclass Lounge at JFK airport can be accessed with a Priority Pass membership. The location I visited in Terminal 1 was … fine. There wasn’t anything spectacular about it, but there wasn’t anything wrong with it, either.

It will get the job done if you want to have a quick snack or drink before your flight. However, if you’re looking for an inviting space to spend a few hours in, I’d suggest checking out one of the airport’s other lounges.