The airport has always been a place that highlights social status, with each step of the journey, from check-in to security to boarding, enforcing a hierarchy. Are you an Executive Platinum or a Premier member? Do you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
The epitome of this ranking system has long been the airport lounge, where elite passengers can escape the chaos of the terminal and enjoy luxurious amenities. Despite the current state of the airline industry, American airlines and credit card companies are striving for even higher levels of luxury and exclusivity, particularly when it comes to food.
The Delta One Lounge at Kennedy International Airport, which opened last year, offers passengers an indulgent experience with amenities such as a full-service brasserie complete with leather banquettes and gold finishes. The complimentary menu features dishes like sirloin steak with red wine jus and salmon sashimi with blood orange ponzu. For an additional $85 or 8,500 miles, passengers can also enjoy a serving of caviar.
The lounge also boasts other lavish elements, such as Japanese cheesecakes and Earl Grey lemon shortbread cookies on display in a glass pastry case, a spa with a variety of treatments, and a gold-lined art deco bar where passengers can enjoy rare Japanese whiskey. Access to the Delta One Lounge is restricted to those with a business-class ticket for a long-haul flight on Delta or a partner airline.
Airport lounges were once simple pit stops for business travelers to grab a quick coffee and a snack before their flight. However, these lounges now offer wood-fired pizza ovens, seafood towers, sushi bars, and even espresso martinis on tap.
American Express is set to introduce menus by award-winning chefs Kwame Onwuachi, Mashama Bailey, Michael Solomonov, and Sarah Grueneberg in their lounges next week. The competition for the most luxurious lounge experience is intensifying as credit card companies, unburdened by the logistical challenges and costs of running an airline, are also entering the lounge game in an effort to attract frequent travelers as cardholders.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge in LaGuardia Airport, accessible to those with certain high-end credit cards, offers a chic and upscale experience with a circular bar, a cocktail menu from a popular New York bar, and a menu of dishes created by a Manhattan cafe. Similarly, the Capital One Landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport features a full-service tapas bar created by renowned chef José Andrés.
While the quality of food in these lounges can range from lackluster to surprisingly satisfying, what matters most is that it is free, fancy, and makes the lounge guests feel important. The American Airlines Chelsea Lounge in Kennedy Airport offers a sit-down restaurant experience with gold and glass accents, creating a hushed and lavish atmosphere.
According to Laura Parkey, a luxury real estate advisor and lounge guest, the exclusivity and superior food options provide a sense of importance and distinction from the rest of the airport.