Business class lounges at JFK, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles

Which lounge a business class ticket opens at New York JFK, Miami, Chicago O’Hare or Los Angeles depends on four things: the airline, the cabin, the day and the terminal. Each airline writes its own rule, and each airport lists its lounges by terminal and gate.

This guide reads the rules the way a booking does: the airline first, then the cabin, then the terminal. Every fact comes from the airline’s or the airport’s own page, read on November 7 and 8, 2026. It gives no opening hours, because for the same lounge the airline’s page and the airport’s do not always agree.

How a ticket opens a lounge

A lounge belongs to an airline, and its door follows that airline’s rule. American opens its Flagship Lounges to travelers “in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international, transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld airline or Aer Lingus.”^{Source 1} Delta opens its Delta One Lounges to travelers “with a same-day departing or arriving Delta One ticket,” and to the partner cabins it lists.^{Source 2}

The cabin is half of each rule; the flight is the other half. O’Hare’s list marks United’s Polaris Lounge “International first and business only”.^{Source 3} At JFK, the Greenwich Lounge takes “Business class on any oneworld marketed and operated long-haul flight.”^{Source 4} A business seat on a short flight is not always enough.

“Same day” has a definition too. American’s page puts it this way: “Departing or arriving flight must be the same-day (or before 6 a.m. the following day).”^{Source 1}

Our view: the lounge that counts is the one in the terminal your flight leaves from. An airline can have a lounge your ticket opens in another terminal and still leave you without one on the day.

From American’s Flagship Lounge page and Delta’s Delta One Lounge page,^{Source 1Source 2} checked November 8, 2026. Lounges move when terminals open and close; the airline’s page in the week you fly is the one that counts.

American and Delta: the two rules

American and Delta write their lounge rules differently, and each has a detail that changes the day. United’s Polaris Lounge at O’Hare is in the Chicago section below.

American’s Flagship Lounges

American lists its Flagship Lounges at “Chicago (ORD) – Terminal 3 Concourse H/K”, “Los Angeles (LAX) – Terminal 4 Near gate 41” and “Miami (MIA) – Concourse D Near gate D30”, and at Dallas/Fort Worth and Philadelphia. New York JFK is not on the list.^{Source 1} There, American has instead “partnered with British Airways to offer 3 premium lounges”, in Terminal 8.^{Source 4}

The rule is the one quoted above: First or Business, on a qualifying same-day flight that American, a oneworld airline or Aer Lingus markets and operates.^{Source 1} A partner’s business ticket can open the lounge too, when the flight qualifies; ask us to check that before you plan the morning around it.

American also sells a Flagship Single Visit Pass. As of November 8, 2026, it is “Available for $150 or 15,000 AAdvantage miles per person and may be purchased at open Flagship lounge locations. Must be at least 21 to purchase.”^{Source 1} The pass is for the same day, in the lounge where it is bought, and the page adds: “No guests”.^{Source 1}

American’s page and Miami airport’s page give different closing times for the same Flagship Lounge at Miami.^{Source 1Source 5} That is why this guide prints no hours: check the airline’s page on the day you fly.

Delta One Lounges

Delta’s page lists Delta One Lounges at four airports: New York JFK, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle. Los Angeles has two, in “Terminal 3, Across from the Food Court” and “Terminal 2, Mezzanine Level”. JFK’s is in “Terminal 4, between Concourses A & B, adjacent to the main security checkpoint”.^{Source 2}

Besides a same-day Delta One ticket, Delta admits travelers on a same-day flight in these partner cabins: Air France La Première and Air France Business Class (Long-Haul), KLM Business Class, LATAM Premium Business Class, Korean Air First Class and Prestige Class, and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.^{Source 2} The partner’s ticket opens the lounge on Delta’s terms, not the partner’s.

Our view: when you compare Delta business fares for travel from January 19, 2027, count the lounge in. On Basic Business it will not be included, and the fare that looks lower may buy less on the ground.

New York JFK

JFK spreads its lounges across its terminals, and which of them is on the way to the gate depends on the airline’s terminal. American and British Airways share three lounges in Terminal 8, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have theirs in Terminal 4, and two new terminals are announced.

Terminal 8: Greenwich, Chelsea and Soho

British Airways’ flights use Terminal 8,^{Source 6} where American and British Airways run three lounges together: “Chelsea, Soho and Greenwich”. Chelsea and Soho are above Gate 14, and the “Greenwich Lounge™ experience is above Gate 12”.^{Source 4}

For a business class ticket, Greenwich is the lounge both airlines name. American’s rule is “Business class on any oneworld marketed and operated long-haul flight”, and Flagship Business on a qualifying same-day international or transcontinental flight, in both cases without a guest.^{Source 4} British Airways lists Greenwich as “Available to business (Club World) customers and Silver members of The British Airways Club.”^{Source 6}

Chelsea is the one American calls “most exclusive”, with “A la carte dining”, a “Champagne bar” and “Shower suites”.^{Source 4}

American’s rule for Chelsea reads: “Get access if you’re traveling in Flagship First International, Flagship First Transcontinental or Flagship Business Plus on a qualifying same-day flight marketed by a oneworld airline or Aer Lingus and operated by American.”^{Source 4} British Airways lists Chelsea as “Available to customers travelling on a long-haul, transcontinental or international short-haul flight in First.”^{Source 6} Soho, also above Gate 14, is the lounge British Airways lists for its Club Gold members.^{Source 6}

Terminal 4: Delta One and Virgin Atlantic

Delta’s lounge sits between Concourses A and B, by the main security checkpoint.^{Source 2} In its release of June 25, 2024, Delta described “a 140-seat Brasserie restaurant delivering a three-course meal service” and “one of eight well-appointed shower suites”.^{Source 7} That is the lounge as it opened; the details can change.

Virgin Atlantic says “Our flights depart from and arrive at Terminal 4,” and its page welcomes Upper Class passengers to its Clubhouse there.^{Source 8} Upper Class is also on Delta’s partner list, so an Upper Class ticket meets the rules of two lounges in the same terminal.^{Source 2} The airport’s Terminal 4 page lists both, with the Air India Maharaja Lounge among the others.^{Source 9}

Air France and Emirates

Air France has its own lounge in “Terminal 1, next to Gate 1”.^{Source 10} Its long-haul Business is also on Delta’s partner list for the Delta One Lounge, which is in Terminal 4.^{Source 2}

Emirates lists New York JFK among its airports with complimentary lounge access, as it does Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco. Its lounge table gives that access to “First Class and Business Class Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus”; on Business Class Special, as in Economy and Premium Economy, the page says “Paid access”.^{Source 11} The page gives no terminal, so this guide gives none.

Planned: Terminal 6 and the New Terminal One

As of November 8, 2026, the airport’s page for Terminal 6 says “Opening in Q4 2026”, and names “Aer Lingus, ANA, Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, and Icelandair” for it.^{Source 12} Terminal 6 is scheduled, not yet open.

In a release of June 26, 2024, Cathay Pacific said it “will open a nearly 10,000 square foot lounge at Terminal 6”, its first lounge of its own in New York.^{Source 13} The airport has since given Q4 2026 for the terminal,^{Source 12} and we list the lounge as planned.

The New Terminal One is planned too. In a release of September 15, 2026, Air France said: “Starting next year, Air France will transfer all its flights to New York JFK’s New Terminal One”, with a new lounge of more than 2,700 square meters, seating more than 400.^{Source 14} Qatar Airways plans “a premium, 15,000-square-foot Qatar Airways lounge” there for its Business Class passengers, “the airline’s first dedicated lounge in both New York City and the United States”.^{Source 15}

From Air France’s, Delta’s, Virgin Atlantic’s, American’s, British Airways’, Cathay Pacific’s, Qatar Airways’ and Emirates’ own pages and JFK’s terminal pages,^{Source 10Source 2Source 8Source 4Source 6Source 12Source 13Source 14Source 15Source 11} checked November 8, 2026. Planned lounges open when their terminals do. Ask us which terminal and lounge your flight has.

Miami

Miami airport publishes one page for its clubs and lounges, with each one’s place and who it admits. It names lounges in North Terminal D, Central Terminal E, and South Terminals H and J.^{Source 5}

American’s Flagship Lounge is in “North Terminal D, across Gate D-30”, for “Qualifying First and Business class customers” with a same-day ticket on American or a oneworld airline.^{Source 5} American’s own page puts it in “Concourse D Near gate D30”, the same place in its words.^{Source 1} The airport also lists two Admirals Clubs in North Terminal D, at D-15 and D-30, for the same ticket.^{Source 5}

The British Airways Lounge is in the “Central Terminal E Satellite, Level 4, after security checkpoint.” The airport lists it for “British Airways First and Club World (Business Class) customers”, for British Airways Club Gold and Silver members, and for oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members on transatlantic flights.^{Source 5} Under it, the page names Alaska, American, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc.^{Source 5}

The page lists two Turkish Airlines lounges, each with its own rule. The one in Central Terminal E, on Level 2, admits “All Priority Pass members, First Class, and Business Class passengers from these airlines”: the airlines the airport lists for it, all Star Alliance members in the terminal among them.^{Source 5} The one in South Terminal H, on Level 3, admits “Star Alliance passengers traveling in First and Business Class. Turkish Airlines Elite and Elite Plus passengers.”^{Source 5} The Avianca and TAP Portugal Lounge is in “South Terminal J, post security, across from Gate J6,” for Avianca, TAP and Star Alliance passengers in First and Business.^{Source 5}

Near Gate J6 the airport also lists The VIP Lounge, which LATAM runs for oneworld, by invitation through its member airlines.^{Source 5} Our view: at Miami, match the concourse to the lounge before the day; the airport’s page names both.

From Miami International Airport’s clubs and lounges page and American’s Flagship Lounge page,^{Source 5Source 1} checked November 8, 2026. Lounges open, close and move. Ask us which terminal and lounge your flight has.

Chicago O’Hare

O’Hare’s lounge page lists each lounge with its terminal and gate.^{Source 3}

United’s lounge is the “United Polaris Lounge (International first and business only) Terminal 1 - Gate C18”.^{Source 3} American’s is the “American Flagship Lounge Terminal 3 - Gate H6/K6”, which American’s own page gives as Terminal 3, Concourse H/K.^{Source 3Source 1} The airport also lists “American/JAL/Iberia (Admirals Club)” in Terminal 3, at Gates G8, L2A and H6/K6, without an access rule.^{Source 3}

In Terminal 5, the Air France lounge at Gate M17 admits Air France Business, eligible KLM passengers, and Flying Blue Elite Plus and SkyTeam Elite Plus members. The LOT Business Lounge at Gate M18 is for Turkish Airlines, LOT and Star Alliance business class. The Wingtips Lounge, near Gate M19, is listed for a long run of airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air India, Lufthansa, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Air New Zealand, TAP and United among them.^{Source 3}

The airport’s list names no lounge of British Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates or Cathay Pacific at O’Hare.^{Source 3} Our view: on those airlines, ask your agent which lounge the ticket opens and in which terminal, before the day.

From O’Hare’s lounge page and American’s Flagship Lounge page,^{Source 3Source 1} checked November 8, 2026. Lounges open, close and move. Ask us which terminal and lounge your flight has.

Los Angeles

LAX’s own airline map, as of July 1, 2026, gives each airline’s terminal: Delta passengers check in at Terminal 3, Virgin Atlantic passengers at Terminal 2 and United passengers at Terminal 7, and their international passengers arrive at Terminal B. It puts Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air France, KLM, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines at Terminal B.^{Source 16} It gives check-in terminals, not lounges, so the lounges below come from the airlines’ own pages.

Delta’s two Delta One Lounges are in Terminal 3, across from the Food Court, and in Terminal 2, on the Mezzanine Level.^{Source 2}

American’s Flagship Lounge is in “Terminal 4 Near gate 41”.^{Source 1} The airport’s map says British Airways and Japan Airlines passengers check in at Terminal 4, and that their international passengers depart and arrive at Terminal B.^{Source 16} Our view: on a partner’s business ticket, check where the flight leaves from before you plan on the Flagship Lounge.

Emirates lists Los Angeles among its airports with complimentary lounge access, for First and Business Saver, Flex and Flex Plus.^{Source 11} Air France has a lounge of its own at Los Angeles as well.^{Source 17} Neither page gives a terminal, so this guide gives none.

From Delta’s, American’s, Emirates’ and Air France’s lounge pages, checked November 8, 2026, and the airport’s airline map, checked November 7, 2026.^{Source 2Source 1Source 11Source 17Source 16} Lounges and terminals change. Ask us which terminal and lounge your flight has.

London from the four airports

Every rule above starts with the flight. These are all the airlines that fly nonstop to London from New York JFK, Miami, Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles, from our route table. This guide does not cover JetBlue’s lounges, or United’s at Los Angeles.

Our London page carries the routes and the airlines that fly them, and you can ask for a quote on any of them with the lounge in mind.

Before the day

Our view, for a business class trip from these four airports:

• Read the airline’s lounge page in the week you fly. Rules change, as Delta’s does on January 19, 2027, and airlines change terminals, as Air France and Cathay Pacific plan to at JFK.
• Match the lounge to your terminal. A lounge your ticket opens in another terminal is of little use with a boarding time to keep.
• On a partner’s ticket, the lounge owner’s rule is the one that counts. Virgin Atlantic Upper Class opens the Delta One Lounge on Delta’s terms; a oneworld business ticket, the Flagship Lounge on American’s.
• Leave the hours to the day. Where the airline’s page and the airport’s disagree, go by the airline’s: it runs the lounge.

Our Paris, Istanbul, Dubai and Tokyo pages carry the routes and the airlines that fly them from the US. When you ask for a quote, name the airport you leave from, since the lounge follows the terminal; how booking with us works has the rest, and the routes we have fares on now are a place to start.