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

Updated: July 2, 2024, 1:17pm CDT

Edited by:

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

How To Access the Primeclass Lounge at JFK in Terminal 1
Location of the Primeclass Lounge at JFK in Terminal 1
Seating
Food and Beverages
Amenities
Final Thoughts

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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
Capital One Venture X Business CardInformation 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.

Priority Pass Select cards — Priority Pass Select membership cards.

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.

Bottom Line:

There are multiple lounges at JKF airport, including many you can access with a Priority Pass membership. In Terminal 1 alone, Priority Pass members can access 6 lounges: Lufthansa Business Lounge, Primeclass Lounge, Turkish Airlines Lounge, Air France Lounge, KAL Business Class Lounge, and VIP ONE Lounge.

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.

Finding the Primeclass Lounge at JFK airport — The lounge is right in the middle of the walkway.

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.

Primeclass Lounge JFK location — The lounge looks small from the outside.

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.

Primeclass Lounge JFK airport — The lounge had a basement feel.

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

View from Primeclass lounge JFK — There are some views of the tarmac from a small set of windows.

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.

Primeclass JFK lounge — The lounge felt crowded but there were still seats available.

Hot Tip:

Just a few gates away from the Primeclass Lounge in Terminal 1 is a Be Relax Spa. Priority Pass members who get their memberships from select credit cards (like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card) are eligible for complimentary treatments.

Food and Beverages

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

Buffet at Primeclass Lounge JFK Airport — The buffet was along the wall.

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

Salad bar at Primeclass Lounge JFK airport — There were premade salads, as well as ingredients to 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.

Food at Primeclass lounge at JFK — I enjoyed my salad from the buffet.

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

fruit cheese and dessert at Primeclass Lounge JFK — Cheesecake, cheeses, and fresh fruit.

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

Hot buffet items at Primeclass JFK — Hot items on the buffet.

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

Drink area at Primeclass Lounge JFK Terminal 1 — Beverages included soda, juice, and coffee.

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.

Drinks and snacks at Primeclass Lounge JFK — There were a couple of snacks and drinks you could take to go.

The bar was near the lounge’s entrance.

Bar at Primeclass Lounge at JFK — The bar at the Primeclass Lounge at JFK.

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

Primeclass Lounge JFK bar menu — The bar menu.

Amenities

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

Primeclass lounge JFK bathroom — A bathroom at the lounge.

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.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Katie Seemann. All images credited to Katie Seemann unless otherwise noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use the Primeclass Lounge at JFK?

The Primeclass Lounges at JFK can be used by anyone with a Priority Pass membership. This membership can be purchased, but a better way to get one is to have a credit card that includes it as a benefit. Additional ways to access Primeclass lounges are through DragonPass, Loungeme, TAV Passport, LoungePair, or by purchasing a day pass. Every guest must be able to show a boarding pass for a same-day departing flight.

Does the Primeclass Lounge at JFK have alcohol?

Yes, the Primeclass Lounges at JFK airport in New York have alcohol. Select beer, wines, and spirits are complimentary, while premium drinks and cocktails cost extra.

Where is the Primeclass Lounge in New York's JFK airport?

There are actually 2 Primeclass Lounges at JFK airport in New York. There’s one in Terminal 1 next to gates 8 and 9 and another in Terminal 4 next to gate A2.

Can I use the Primeclass Lounge at JFK upon arrival?

No, you can’t use the Primeclass Lounge at JFK upon arrival unless you’re on a layover. You’ll need to show a boarding pass for a same-day departing flight.

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About Katie Seemann

Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes Advisor, and Fortune Recommends.

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