Airport lounges have become a non-negotiable part of my travel routine—so much so that I shell out nearly $900 a year for an American Express Platinum card just so I can dip into a Centurion Lounge or Delta Sky Club when I’m on the go. Having a quiet place to work, a decent meal between flights, and a little breathing room in airports that seem to get more chaotic by the year feels absolutely essential.
But let’s be honest: lounges aren’t the secret travel perk they used to be. Airport lounge demand has skyrocketed in recent years as more travelers rely on credit cards for access, leading to unprecedented crowding and waitlists. During peak travel times, you’re lucky if you reach the top of the waitlist before your flight boards. So before you spend half your layover standing in a line—and wishing you had just hit up the food court instead—it helps to know which lounges are actually worth waiting for.
Thankfully, the new J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark did the homework for us. It surveyed 1,430 travelers who visited an airport lounge in the U.S. within the past year to see how they felt about the experience, covering everything from food and drink to comfort, crowding, and overall value.
Each airline was ranked for its customer satisfaction on a 1,000-point scale. The results paint a pretty clear picture of which lounges are actually delighting travelers—and which ones are coasting on name recognition. And I’ll be honest: I was genuinely shocked to see the lounge of one major legacy airline come in dead last.
Here are the best airport lounges (and the worst!), according to J.D. Power’s U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark.
Best airport lounges in the U.S.
The American Express Centurion Lounge was ranked as the best airport lounge.
(Courtesy of American Express)
1. American Express Centurion Lounge — 782 (out of 1,000 points)
Amex takes the top spot this year, and honestly, I’m not surprised. Travelers love the consistently good food, the stylish spaces, the spa-like bathrooms, and the feeling that it’s actually an upgrade from the main terminal chaos. (Well, most of the time, anyway. I can’t say I enjoy the crowds and sub-par food at the Centurion Lounge at JFK airport in New York, but the ones in Atlanta and Seattle-Tacoma truly wowed me when I had the chance to visit!)
For people paying premium credit-card fees, the Centurion Lounge consistently delivers stellar service that feels like a genuine escape from the hectic environment of the airport.
2. Capital One Lounge — 773 (tied with Delta Sky Club)
Capital One Lounges are few and far between (there are only about half a dozen at last count), but they’ve gained a cult following among travelers. Those surveyed by J.D. Power ranked the brand’s lounges as second-best (tied with Delta), less than 10 points away from the best airport lounge, the Centurion. Capital One debuted its first lounge at Dallas-Fort-Worth International Airport in late 2021. So for a relatively new player, this is a major win.
2. Delta Sky Club — 773 (tied with Capital One Lounge)
Delta ties Capital One in the airport lounge rankings, and Sky Clubs remain a reliable favorite among frequent flyers like me. The airline’s recent renovations and expansion efforts appear to be paying off—just see for yourself by visiting the absolutely stunning lounge at LaGuardia Airport on your next trip to New York, which is my favorite lounge. There are still some overcrowding issues (don’t even bother trying to get into the Sky Club at B gate in Atlanta during busy travel times!), but despite that, Sky Clubs rank high for customer satisfaction.
4. Chase Sapphire Lounge — 771
Chase’s much-hyped entry into the lounge world scored well, but still slightly below Amex, Capital One, and Delta. This was somewhat surprising, considering how heavily the bank has marketed its lounges as the next big thing and travelers have raved about them. As of now, there are just nine Chase Sapphire Lounges across the country, but more are on the way. I predict this airport lounge will climb up a few spots on this list once more travelers have the chance to experience it.
The rankings of the best and worst airport lounges, according to J.D. Power.
(J.D. Power)
Below-average airport lounges
The average customer satisfaction score in the 2025 U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark was 758 out of 1,000 points. Here are the lounges that fell short.
5. American Airlines Admirals Club — 753
American Airlines Admirals Clubs earned respectable but not standout marks, falling five points below the average score in the J.D. Power report. This year, the airline opened two new lounges at Philadelphia International Airport, as well as a grab-and-go concept in Charlotte.
6. Alaska Lounge — 748
While Alaska Airlines regularly earns high marks for customer satisfaction, its lounges have room for improvement. They scored 748 points out of 1,000, putting them in sixth place in the rankings. Still, if you’re into breakfast, it might be worth stopping by on a layover—the Alaska Lounge counts its pancake machine as one of its top perks.
The worst airport lounge of 2025: United Club — 705 points
This is the biggest shock in the study. United scored dramatically lower than every other lounge brand — a full 53 points below average, and a whopping 77 points behind the top airport lounge, the Centurion. While United has been investing in new clubs with upgraded amenities (like the recently renovated one that opened in Denver last summer), the study suggests many locations haven’t caught up to traveler expectations. If you’ve ever stepped into a United Club and felt underwhelmed, well… this ranking confirms you’re not alone.
How to access the top airport lounges
I’ll be the first to admit that when I started traveling regularly, I had no idea how people were getting into airport lounges. They felt like these exclusive, glass-walled sanctuaries filled with free food and drinks that were available to everyone… except me. Eventually, I learned that lounge access isn’t nearly as mysterious as it looks—and in many cases, it’s easier to get than you’d think.
According to J.D. Power, only 18 percent of lounge visitors get access to these clubs by purchasing a standalone membership, and just 21 percent get it as part of their frequent flyer status benefits. The good news is that one in three travelers get lounge access through their credit card perks—meaning that if you have the right piece of plastic in your wallet, you could be sipping champagne and snacking on warm cookies instead of hovering over an outlet at the gate.
Here’s a look at just some of the credit cards that will get you into the best-ranked airport lounges:
• American Express Platinum Card: access to Centurion Lounges (ranked No. 1) and Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta)
• American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card: access to Delta Sky Clubs (tied for No. 2) and Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta)
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Card: access to Capital One Lounges (tied for No. 2)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Card: access to Chase Sapphire Lounges (ranked No. 4)
Before choosing a card, check whether the airports you fly through actually have the lounges you’re most excited about, especially with networks like Chase and Capital One that are still growing.
Lounges may not be the insider secret they once were, but the right one can still transform a stressful travel day into one that’s bearable at minimum, and perhaps even delightful! This ranking shows which airport lounges are giving travelers the best experience right now—and where upgrades are overdue. Consider it your cheat sheet for choosing your next preflight oasis.