The John F. Kennedy International Airport is the principal airport serving New York City, and it is one of the busiest airports in the United States. Although there are technically 8 terminals, only 6 terminals are actually in use. Terminals 3 and 6 are defunct. T3 was used by the Pan American and T6 was home to Tran World Airlines (TWA).
JFK occupies a massive amount of real estate. Each terminal is virtually a small independent airport in and of itself. An elevated monorail, the AirTran, connects all passenger terminals to airport parking lots, the hotel shuttle pick-up area, the rental car center, and NYC’s public transportation network at Jamaica and Howard Beach Stations. The problem with this system is that operates landside (outside security checkpoints). Once a passenger is screened through security there is no way to get from terminal to terminal without exiting security and getting re-screened by the TSA. The good news is that almost all connecting flights are coordinated through the same terminal. The bad news is that passengers are limited only to the facilities, restaurants, and lounges at each individual terminal.
Thus, the passenger experience varies greatly depending on the terminal from which you are departing. As JFK is a prominent airport, almost all of the major airlines provide their own lounges. In additional to the airline supplied lounges, JFK has the Amex Centurion Lounge (near completion) in T4, and six Priority Pass lounges. None in T5.
JFK’s T5 is home to Aer Lingus, Hawaiian Airlines, TAP Portugal, Cape Air, and the primary tenant, JetBlue. Until recently, there were two lounges. The Airspace Lounge, which closed in August of 2018, was available to everyone for a $25 fee or complimentary to Amex Platinum cardholders. The only lounge available now is operated by Aer Lingus. If you’re not flying Aer Lingus, you are out of luck.
JetBlue is predominately a domestic airline, and although they are always expanding routes, they still don’t have a substantial international footprint. Their Mint product, which is JetBlue’s version of business class, is still relatively new. Since airline lounges are generally for either business/first class long haul passengers or for those who earned a certain level of status, it makes perfect sense that JetBlue hasn’t invested in lounges. Additionally, the lack of terminal 5’s significant international presence makes a Priority Pass lounge…well, not a priority.
However, JFK is a such a major airport on the east coast, and the volume of passengers that pass through T5 each day dictates the need for an additional lounge or two. A much needed Primeclass Lounge just opened earlier this year in PBI. Terminal 5 needs some options.
What do you think? Does JFK T5 need another lounge?
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