For those who have access, airport lounges aren’t only places to escape the hustle and bustle of busy, packed flight hubs.
JD Power’s U.S. Airport Lounge Satisfaction Study surveyed 2,991 people between April and June 2026 who had been to a United States-based airport lounge at least once in the past year. The results revealed which lounges customers feel are best, with American Express Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges coming out on top.
- American Express Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges (tie)
- Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club
- Delta Sky Clubs (including Delta One Lounge)
- British Airways Lounges
- American Airlines Admirals Clubs (including American Airlines Flagship Lounge)
Access to American Express Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges is generally tied to eligible credit cards from the respective issuers. Also, many eligible cards have annual fees, and travelers should know that guest access to lounges for their plus one(s) may come with an additional charge.
American Express currently has 20 domestic Centurion Lounges operating or “coming soon.” Those locations span the country, including inside some of the United States’ busiest airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Denver International Airport (DEN). Capital One has a smaller selection, including five domestic airport lounges and two “Landing” dining concepts.
Why Travelers Are Choosing Airport Lounges
The study measured customers’ airport lounge satisfaction “across eight core dimensions (in order of importance).” Those categories were “value of experience, staff, food and beverage, cleanliness/upkeep, amenities, ease of accessing lounge, ambiance, and Wi-Fi service.”
Nearly half (45%) of those surveyed shared that they went to an airport lounge “to escape” crowded terminals. That said, a standout reason participants said they enjoy airport lounges is the availability of free food and drinks, which saves them from paying for food and drinks while wandering through their terminal. A notable 39% of those surveyed said they went to a lounge because other airport food and beverages, such as those from restaurants or grab-and-go spots, were highly priced. Additionally, over half of those surveyed (52%) said the food and beverages offered in a lounge were better than they expected.
