How lounge access works with a business class ticket
Whether a business class ticket includes lounge access depends on the airline, the fare and the airport. As of October 2026, Emirates Business Class Special, KLM Business Class Light and Air France Business Light fares do not include free lounge access, and Qatar Airways Business Class (Lite) passengers can buy access to The Garden lounge in Doha. United's base Polaris fares include United Club access instead of a Polaris lounge. Delta Basic Business tickets lose Delta One Lounge and Sky Club access for travel on or after January 19, 2027.
US airlines: Delta, United and American lounges
- Delta Air Lines: As of October 2026, Delta One Lounges at New York JFK, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle are for same-day passengers ticketed in Delta One. Sky Club membership and credit cards do not give entry.
- United Airlines: As of October 2026, United Polaris lounges at Chicago O'Hare, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles have showers, daybeds and a buffet or sit-down dining.
- American Airlines: As of October 2026, American's Flagship lounges at Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia admit Flagship Business customers on qualifying international and transcontinental flights. The DFW and Miami lounges add sit-down Flagship dining.
European airlines: hub lounges and US lounges
- British Airways: As of October 2026, British Airways has lounges in Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5 and a Terminal 5 Arrivals lounge for Club World passengers. At JFK, Club World passengers use the Greenwich lounge.
- Virgin Atlantic: As of October 2026, Upper Class passengers can use Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses at Heathrow, New York JFK, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington Dulles, plus the Heathrow Revivals Lounge, with showers and breakfast, on arrival.
- Aer Lingus: As of October 2026, Aer Lingus runs lounges in Dublin, Heathrow and New York JFK. The Dublin 51st&Green lounge has showers and a barista bar but is closed for evening flights EI109 and EI139. At US airports, Aer Lingus Business Class customers can also use the American Airlines Flagship Lounge and/or Admirals Club for departing, connecting and arriving flights operated by Aer Lingus.
- Air France: As of October 2026, Air France runs lounges at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Terminals 2E, 2F and 2G and in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, San Francisco and Washington.
- KLM: As of October 2026, the KLM intercontinental Crown Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol has showers and sleep cabins, both for a fee. In September 2023, KLM said that, with its Schiphol lounges, its Crown Lounges in Houston and Toronto were its only Crown Lounges worldwide.
- Lufthansa: As of October 2026, Lufthansa Business Class passengers can use Lufthansa Business Lounges on departure, with a valid boarding pass for that airport, but not Senator or First Class lounges. Lufthansa says its Business Lounges have a buffet and shower cubicles. Lufthansa's Newark lounge opened in August 2024; its Washington Dulles lounge is closed until the end of 2026.
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines: As of October 2026, SAS runs lounges at Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm Arlanda, with showers, rest cabins and work pods at Copenhagen. SAS also has its own lounge at Newark Terminal B.
- Turkish Airlines: As of October 2026, Turkish Airlines' Lounge Business at Istanbul Airport is open to Business Class passengers on international Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance flights. Turkish Airlines also runs lounges at New York JFK, Miami and Washington Dulles.
Middle East and India: hub lounges and US lounges
- Emirates: As of October 2026, Emirates has seven lounges at Dubai International; the Business Class Lounge offers shower spas and a Moët & Chandon champagne lounge. Emirates also runs lounges at Boston, Los Angeles, New York JFK and San Francisco.
- Qatar Airways: As of October 2026, Qatar Airways' business lounges in Doha are Al Mourjan Business Lounge and Al Mourjan Business Lounge – The Garden, which Qatar Airways says has 24 quiet rooms and seven spa treatment rooms.
- Etihad Airways: As of October 2026, the Etihad Business Lounge in Abu Dhabi has the Constellation Bar and the Liwan restaurant. The Etihad lounge at Washington Dulles has showers and a children's play area.
- Air India: Air India opened its Maharaja Lounge at Delhi Terminal 3, with nearly 300 seats and a Business Class section, on February 16, 2026, and The Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco on May 23, 2026.
Asian and Latin American airlines: hub lounges and US lounges
- Korean Air: As of April 2026, Korean Air runs seven lounges at Incheon Terminal 2, including the renewed Prestige West, with a buffet, massage chairs and showers. Korean Air also runs lounges in New York, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
- Japan Airlines: As of October 2026, JAL business class passengers use the Sakura Lounge at Tokyo Haneda and Narita, not the JAL First Class Lounge.
- ANA: As of October 2026, business class passengers on ANA-operated international flights can use the ANA LOUNGE at Haneda, Narita and Kansai, and business class passengers arriving at Narita on ANA can use the ANA ARRIVAL LOUNGE. ANA business class passengers departing San Francisco and Chicago O'Hare use the United Polaris Lounge, or the United Club on 'Basic' fares.
- Cathay Pacific: As of October 2026, Cathay Pacific lists three Business class lounges at Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1: The Deck; The Pier, Business; and The Bridge. The Cathay Pacific lounge at San Francisco has a Noodle Bar and shower suites.
- Singapore Airlines: As of October 2026, Singapore Airlines lists 24-hour SilverKris Lounges at Changi Terminals 2 and 3 and none in the US, where its partner list includes the Capital One Lounge at JFK.
- Avianca: As of October 2026, Avianca runs Diamond and Gold lounges at Bogotá El Dorado, and a 24-hour lounge at Miami International (Terminal J) open to Business Class Americas passengers.
How to choose a lounge and what to confirm before booking
This guide does not rank lounges. As of October 2026, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Saudia list no lounge of their own in the US, and JAL and ANA list none in the mainland US, so check the partner lounge at each airport.
Before booking, confirm that your exact fare includes lounge access and check for closures. As of October 2026, the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club that Etihad uses at JFK is temporarily closed for renovations (Etihad gives eligible guests a voucher at priority check-in for participating Terminal 4 restaurants), and the Lufthansa lounge at Washington Dulles is closed for renovation until the end of 2026. Emirates says some Dubai lounges may be closed or partly open during upgrades.