Inside Capital One’s new ‘flagship’ lounge at JFK

Within the metropolis that by no means sleeps, there’s now an airport lounge that by no means sleeps.

Welcome contained in the brand-new Capital One Lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), the primary credit score card-branded lounge to be open 24/7.

This new Capital One Lounge can also be dwelling to some different firsts, together with the primary “flagship”-branded outpost within the issuer’s community, the primary with a cheesemonger, the primary with a reimagined bodega-style grab-and-go counter, the primary to measure practically 13,500 sq. ft and way more.

As you may most likely already inform, Capital One pulled out all of the stops for its first New York outpost. Whereas the issuer may let you know it is as a result of New York is such an necessary marketplace for its cardmembers, the reality is that JFK, and Terminal 4 particularly, is probably essentially the most aggressive airport for credit score card-branded lounges.

Here is all the things you could find out about this brand-new lounge opening Thursday, June 19.

Capital One Lounge JFK entry

The $395-per-year Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card is the first means most vacationers can entry a Capital One Lounge.

Given the adjustments coming for approved person and visitor entry, being a major Enterprise X cardholder will turn into essentially the most sensible strategy to entry airport lounges.

Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, the Enterprise X will not present complimentary lounge entry to approved customers, nor will it provide computerized complimentary visitor entry to Capital One Lounges and Capital One Landings for major cardholders.

Main cardholders may have the choice to pay $125 yearly for every approved person to keep up entry to all lounges included with the cardboard (Capital One Lounges, Capital One Landings and Precedence Cross lounges). Main cardholders who wish to deliver company into the lounge might want to spend $75,000 a yr on their card to unlock this profit.

There’s way more to unpack with Capital One’s revised lounge entry insurance policies, so remember to take a look at our full information.

The brand new Capital One Lounge is the primary within the community to be open 24/7. Whereas that is perhaps a bit stunning — particularly since Terminal 4 solely sees a handful of exits between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., in line with Cirium timetables — Capital One did not even have a selection within the matter.

One of many nonnegotiable facets of its lease was that the lounge house should be open across the clock.

Capital One Lounge JFK location

The Capital One Lounge at JFK is within the airport’s iconic Terminal 4, dwelling primarily to Delta Air Traces’ large hub operation, in addition to a slew of different worldwide carriers.

When you’re flying from Terminal 4, you may discover the lounge simply previous safety on the departures stage, which is one stage beneath the entrances to the American Specific Centurion Lounge, the Chase Sapphire Lounge and the Delta One Lounge.

The Capital One Lounge is within the central hall connecting the A and B gates in Terminal 4, however it’s a bit nearer to the B pier. Both means, count on an extended stroll to the tip of both the A or B pier and plan your go to accordingly.

The lounge’s entrance will probably be exhausting to overlook — you may discover acquainted branding and signage to welcome you inside.

When you’re not flying from Terminal 4, you would theoretically use the lounge earlier than departure by taking the AirTrain from one other terminal, however you may have to clear safety twice and allot sufficient time to make it again to your departure terminal earlier than your flight.

Capital One Lounge JFK structure

Getting into the lounge brings you into the primary hall that lies perpendicular to the remainder of the lounge space.

This entrance hall has a couple of small seating areas cut up between two-top eating tables and particular person recliners, and whereas the design right here already exudes a way of luxuriousness, I would encourage you to proceed inside to search out extra snug and personal areas to sit down.

As you retain going, the primary nook you may discover is the library space, full with a couple of two-top tables.

On the finish of this hallway is the lounge’s flagship chandelier with crimson and silver crystals hanging above some bench-style seating adorned in crimson and organized in an inverted circle.

That is additionally the place you may catch your first glimpse of the spectacular airside views of Terminal 4’s B gates. Sadly, the home windows have small dots on them, which is a relic of the house’s earlier tenant and one thing Capital One could not change.

When you flip left, you may enter the primary eating space, which was designed to evoke Central Park.

There is a small tree within the middle of the house and a big number of tables and seating areas surrounding this tree.

You will discover a chilly buffet situated alongside one of many partitions, whereas the opposite wall has expansive home windows that permit in loads of pure mild and provide nice views.

Proper on the finish of the eating room is the place you may discover the all-new cheesemonger, however extra on that beneath.

On the opposite aspect of the central hall is an extended hallway lined with bar-style seating, in addition to Capital One’s signature dusty-pink solo recliners.

This hallway options the lounge’s restrooms and one other refreshment space.

On the finish of the hallway, you may enter the brand new flagship bar, which is probably Capital One’s nicest, and most premium, one but.

I beloved the mirrored-ceiling therapy, and the sconces alongside the help beams actually assist elevate this house.

The gold-plated bar design with the spectacular chandelier positively feels fairly luxe and on-brand for a bar in New York.

There may be additionally a wide range of seating areas surrounding the bar.

One other hallway alongside the inside of the house connects the bar to the restrooms and the primary hall that’ll hopefully assist ease site visitors circulate.

Provided that the lounge is open 24/7, Capital One obtained artistic in the way it partitioned the areas. There are doorways that may be closed to shutter the bar and eating areas in periods of low demand.

Capital One will initially shut these areas throughout the in a single day “graveyard shift,” but when it sees sufficient demand to maintain them open — corresponding to if a brand new airline launches in a single day flights — it’d take into account preserving these areas open on a 24/7 foundation.

All in all, this house appears like Capital One’s best-designed lounge but. The structure feels pure and intuitive, and the native paintings and lighting actually assist elevate the house, too.

Capital One Lounge JFK eating

When Capital One obtained began within the lounge sport, it notably centered on elevating the food-and-beverage expertise.

That philosophy extends to the JFK outpost — after which some.

To start out, the lounge options an all-day chilly buffet close to the eating space. Count on totally different salads, mild bites and desserts on this space.

As a substitute of placing scorching meals on a buffet, Capital One realized from its not too long ago opened Touchdown idea that scorching meals protect their freshness and look higher once they’re made to order. To account for this reality, all tables within the lounge now characteristic QR codes that may be scanned to open the a la carte menu of scorching meals.

The issuer’s knowledge from its Touchdown in Washington, D.C., means that it shouldn’t have any bother fulfilling orders on time, even throughout peak hours.

To enhance the buffet, Capital One may have a rotating signature cart service that roams all through the eating space with totally different meals and drinks. Examples embrace wellness teas and black-and-white cookies throughout the afternoon, Champagne pours throughout sundown, and even a midnight snack at 12:30 a.m.

All Capital One Lounges characteristic grab-and-go stations, however that is the primary one to characteristic the next-generation takeaway counter.

For one, all of the grab-and-go objects are situated behind glass, which means that they are going to be served by a lounge attendant. Capital One mentioned that it has no plans to restrict how a lot you may take, and that this variation is solely pushed by a need to raise the expertise.

Both means, I am principally enthusiastic about what’s behind the fridge: a brand new bagel counter that includes freshly baked Ess-a-Bagel selections all day lengthy.

Capital One partnered with this storied New York Metropolis bakery to deliver six totally different bagel flavors to its lounges. And since that is New York, frozen or hours-old bagels simply would not minimize it. Ess-a-Bagel is bringing within the dough on daily basis and partnering with Capital One to bake the bagels within the lounge’s kitchen.

As you may count on, your bagel might be topped with an assortment of schmears to your liking. There may be additionally a handful of recommended bagel creations, such because the basic smoked salmon, which options smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, crimson onions and capers on an all the things bagel.

Bagels will probably be out there for consumption each within the lounge and for takeaway.

There’s additionally a small snack counter subsequent to this bagel and takeaway station that includes a couple of treats like chocolate-covered espresso beans and barbecue-flavored corn nuts.

However that is not all.

Capital One even partnered with New York’s famed Murray’s Cheese to open a cheesemonger station all the way in which on the finish of the eating buffet.

Right here, you may discover a rotating choice of 10 specialty cheeses, served alongside varied meats and specifically curated wines. Simply to focus on how steadily these cheeses will change, Capital One is not printing a menu. All the pieces will probably be handwritten to save lots of paper when the picks change all through the week.

There are six stools on the cheese counter, and this complimentary 45-minute expertise will probably be bookable when you enter the lounge.

A cheese specialist will information you thru a personalised tasting, served on a wooden board and completed off with a black-and-white cookie.

Even when you do not have time for the total tasting expertise, the cheesemonger will preplate one cheese on small plates to your enjoyment whereas roaming the lounge.

Whereas the meals expertise is arms down the perfect among the many bank card lounges at JFK, Capital One did not overlook about the way you wash all of it down.

The signature bar encompasses a choice of greater than 15 cocktails, all designed after totally different areas in New York Metropolis, such because the Decrease East Aspect, Staten Island and even Idlewild, the unique nickname for the airport the place JFK sits at the moment.

Laird and Co. even created a particular apple brandy spirit for the JFK lounge (one thing Capital One likes to do in any respect its areas), which you’ll’t discover served wherever else.

By way of nonalcoholic drinks, there are two beverage stations within the lounge. Every options drip espresso from La Colombe, some espresso drinks on faucet and a water bottle refill station.

The bagel and takeaway space can also be joyful to whip up your favourite espresso order designed in partnership with Bean & Bean.

All the pieces I tasted throughout my tour was implausible, and primarily based on my experiences at different Capital One Lounges, I would count on that to proceed as soon as the lounge opens to the general public.

Capital One Lounge JFK facilities

Whereas some Capital One Lounges characteristic gyms and sleep pods, this one is a bit lighter on the facilities.

To start out, there are two personal rooms reverse the bar. These are bookable on a first-come, first-served foundation for 45 minutes, and I envision them changing into common with households and teams touring collectively.

There are no desks inside, so that they possible would not be supreme for a enterprise traveler.

Talking of households, there’s a mother and father room close to the restrooms that encompasses a baby-changing pad, diapers, a bottle heater and different last-minute necessities you may want to your baby. (As a brand new father myself, I really like this idea.)

You will not discover any telephone cubicles or different particular facilities right here, however at the least the house has all of the fundamentals lined.

There are seven properly appointed all-gender restrooms: 5 within the hallway connecting the 2 major corridors and two close to the takeaway bar. (The latter two will probably be open throughout the in a single day hours.)

One of many bogs doubles as a bathe suite, full with Dyson hair dryers and plush towels. The bathe might be reserved with reception, although I think about there will probably be fairly an extended line within the afternoons and evenings earlier than the height transatlantic departure financial institution.

I observed energy retailers and USB-C ports close to virtually each seat, and quick and free Wi-Fi was out there all through the house. (I really like that Capital One etched the Wi-Fi password subsequent to the QR code at every desk, however the one draw back is that if the issuer ever decides to alter the password, it will need to exchange the entire QR code placards.)

Capital One Lounge JFK backside line

All in all, the brand new Capital One Lounge at JFK is a shining star each within the issuer’s portfolio and the airport itself.

The lounge is Capital One’s largest but, and with upcoming adjustments to entry insurance policies, it hopefully will not get too overcrowded.

The house additionally options some distinctive experiences, corresponding to a cheesemonger and freshly baked bagels from Ess-a-Bagel. The design is among the many nicest within the Capital One portfolio and positively appears like its most premium one but.

After all, the lounge faces some stiff competitors in Terminal 4, however whereas it’ll actually be the latest of the credit score card-branded outposts in JFK, it could very properly be the nicest, too.

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