Airport Lounges Are Sexy Again—if You Can Get In

Let’s be honest: A crowded airport lounge without a seat in sight is usually less appealing than an empty gate area. Over the past decade, an influx of travelers with club access has led to overcrowding, long wait lists, and a diminished (read: not luxurious) experience.

However, a version of commercial air travel—often hidden from public view and inaccessible to even premium credit card holders—has emerged. This more private, preflight experience is essential for the affluent business traveler, says Rob Karp, founder and CEO of travel consultancy firm MilesAhead.

“What we’re seeing now is a correction: tiered access, differentiated spaces, and new incentives to spend or commit more to a particular airline,” Karp notes. Business travelers are looking to optimize time and minimize stress—and they’re willing to pay for it. That means sitting down for a proper meal, taking a call in a quiet, uninterrupted setting, or even squeezing in a quick spa treatment before boarding.

Differentiated Spaces

In the US, newer lounges that require an international business-class ticket for access, like the network of Delta One Lounges or United Polaris Lounges, are delivering on that promise.

Delta, for instance, offers an á la carte, bistro-like dining experience, soundproof phone booths, and even external monitors for focused work at each of its flagship business lounges. “Each space is designed to balance comfort and luxury with practical efficiency,” says Claude Roussel, vice president of Delta Sky Club and lounge experience.

For Aaron Kokoruz, a public relations executive who clocks nearly 100 flights per year, lounges like these are about crafting a moment of calm and comfort before boarding, regardless of whether you are hopping over to Omaha or flying halfway across the world. Kokoruz lists both the Qantas First Lounge at LAX (with a Neil Perry menu) and the Cathay Pacific First Lounge at London-Heathrow as personal favorites.

“My top priorities in a lounge are healthy and hearty food options, and a solid selection of cocktails and mocktails,” Kokoruz says. “It’s 2025—every great lounge should nail both.”