2023 is poised to be one other blockbuster yr for airport lounges.
Airways and bank card issuers have been busy building new lounges and renovating existing ones with a purpose to meet the unprecedented demand from flyers on the lookout for a (quiet) area to loosen up earlier than their flights.
As an increasing number of lounge-eligible travelers take to the skies, we have seen lounges add new access restrictions to fight overcrowding. Whereas a few of these insurance policies are starting to work, maybe one of the simplest ways to deal with the crowds is to construct bigger areas.
After all, discovering area in airports is a perennial problem, however some airways and issuers are getting inventive by debuting various kinds of lounges, together with smaller outposts centered on quick grab-and-go service.
All informed, there are some much-anticipated lounge openings on the horizon this yr, and listed here are those I am most enthusiastic about.
Amex Centurion Lounge in Washington Nationwide
Estimated opening: 2023.
American Categorical is the undisputed leader among credit card issuers that additionally supply airport lounges. The issuer already has 15 Centurion Lounge outposts worldwide, and Amex will open the sixteenth at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) later this yr.
The area can be constructed within the refreshed Nationwide Corridor close to Terminal B after the airport’s $1 billion capital enchancment program is accomplished.
Airside, the 11,500-square-foot area can be bigger than the beforehand constructed Centurion Lounges. Anticipate floor-to-ceiling home windows, airfield views and distinctive, regionally impressed design touches.
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Capital One Lounge in Denver
Estimated opening: 2023.
Capital One made its mark on the airport lounge scene with the opening of its first outpost in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in late 2021.
The issuer’s sole lounge has earned high marks from travelers, myself included, and I am unable to await the issuer’s different lounges to open.
Two extra places are confirmed to open this yr (after being delayed from 2022), together with an outpost in Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN). The Denver location can be roughly 11,200 sq. ft and can be in Concourse A on the mezzanine degree.
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Capital One Lounge in Dulles
Estimated opening: First half of 2023.
Particulars are gentle, however Capital One can also be debuting a brand new lounge this yr at Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD). The 9,100-square-foot area can be instantly after the TSA PreCheck safety line in the principle terminal. The Dulles lounge ought to open within the first half of 2023.
Capital One can also be anticipated to open a new location in Las Vegas, however no timeline has been revealed for that one.
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2 new Capital One Landings within the Northeast
Estimated opening: “Not-so-distant future.”
Final yr, Capital One unveiled a brand new airport lounge idea that it is calling “Capital One Landings.” Capital One will accomplice with the extremely acclaimed José Andrés Group to curate the meals and beverage choices at every location. True to the group’s culinary heritage, these Landings will serve Spanish-style tapas.
The primary two Landings can be in two of the Northeast’s busiest airports: New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia.
The Landings will differ from conventional lounges in that they’re going to largely concentrate on the meals and drinks with out a lot room to loosen up and unwind.
Capital One hasn’t stated when these first two Landings will open apart from teasing that they’re going to open “within the not-so-distant future.” Hopefully, which means 2023.
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Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston
Estimated opening: 2023.
To not be outdone by Amex and Capital One, Chase can also be entering into the airport lounge wars with the upcoming opening of its first domestic Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
The primary outpost to open is predicted to be in Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) within the Terminal B to C connector.
The 12,000-square-foot lounge will embrace a wellness space, enterprise lounge, bathe suites and a household room, in keeping with airport authorities.
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Chase Sapphire Lounge in San Diego
Estimated opening: Doubtless 2023.
Whereas Chase has plans to open no less than seven home lounges, simply two are likely to open in 2023. Along with Boston, Chase is predicted to open a Sapphire Lounge location in San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) later this yr.
The 11,000-square-foot lounge can be in San Diego’s Terminal 2 West and can function regionally impressed design, meals, drinks and artwork partnerships.
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Delta Sky Membership in New York’s JFK
Estimated opening: June 2023.
Delta just lately consolidated its operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Terminal 4. As a part of the transfer, the airline will open a brand new Sky Membership on the A gates.
This 13,700-square-foot area will boast greater than 220 seats and have Delta’s newest design motifs, together with an open kitchen, full premium bar and regionally curated artwork gallery. A year-round, heated Sky Deck may also be obtainable.
Moreover, the airline remains to be planning a business-class-only lounge for JFK, however that is anticipated to open in 2024.
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Delta Sky Membership in Boston
Estimated opening: Late summer time 2023.
As a part of Delta’s development in Boston, the airline expanded its international operations to the airport’s Terminal E, which is able to quickly be residence to a brand new Sky Membership, opening this summer time. The 21,000-square-foot area will seat over 400 vacationers.
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Delta Sky Membership in Newark
Estimated opening: Fall/winter 2023.
Newark just lately acquired a giant glow-up with the opening of the stunning new Terminal A. Proper now, American, Air Canada, JetBlue and United all name the terminal residence. (Solely a subset of United flights depart from Terminal A.)
Delta will transfer into Terminal A after the second part of building is accomplished there this summer time, and the airline will open a Sky Membership within the new terminal at the moment.
No further particulars are at the moment obtainable, however Delta will share the upper-level lounge area with a brand new American Admirals Membership.
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2 new United Golf equipment in Denver
Estimated opening: 2023.
United will open a United Membership in Denver’s Concourse A later this yr. Whereas the main points are gentle, the brand new lounge can be “very giant” and “multi-level,” in keeping with United’s head of lounges, Alex Dorow.
Along with the brand new area in Concourse A, the airline may also open a totally overhauled membership in Concourse B close to Gate B44.
The so-called B-East outpost closed final yr for renovations, and the completed product is poised to impress vacationers, particularly as a result of it’ll double in dimension.
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2 new United Golf equipment in Newark
Estimated opening: Between the second and third quarters of 2023.
Newark is now residence to a “one-of-a-kind” United Club that opened final Might. This new 30,000-square-foot area is close to Gate C123 and has been successful with flyers.
The outdated membership close to Gate C74 is undergoing a renovation, and United is constructing a brand new location in Terminal A; each will open this yr.
The brand new membership in Terminal A will open on the finish of the second quarter (round June), whereas the revamped C74 membership will reopen on the finish of the third quarter (in September).
Each lounges are anticipated to appear like the brand new C123 membership by way of design.
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To-be-determined American Airways Admirals Membership
Estimated opening: Unclear.
Final yr, American debuted a formidable new Admirals Membership design that is on show on the carrier’s latest lounge in DCA.
Three extra new Admirals Club outposts are within the works (and can function the brand new design), nevertheless it’s unclear if any of them will really open in 2023. American hasn’t publicly shared any timelines but for the next three new places:
- Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS).
- Denver Worldwide Airport.
- Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport.
That stated, we’re positively hopeful that no less than one among these new outposts opens this yr as a result of the brand new design is actually a sight to behold, particularly in comparison with American’s current places.
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