British Airways has a new and luxurious First lounge at New York’s JFK Terminal 7. You can get in if you are a gold cardholder or a customer traveling in the airline’s First cabin. You can’t access this lounge if you are traveling in Business Class unless you have a coveted British Airways gold card.
We have reviewed flights on British Airways in First Class to give you an idea of what it will be like once on board. Pre-flight, this lounge tops off the experience with a new level of luxury from your airport arrival right through to arriving in the UK.
This lounge is the airline’s first long-haul lounge to showcase the new design direction that customers are already enjoying in Rome and Aberdeen, and which will be rolled out across other destinations including Geneva, San Francisco, and Johannesburg. The refurbishment forms part of a £52 million GBP investment in the British Airways customer experience at JFK’s Terminal 7.
The lounge is 60 percent larger than its predecessor and covers more than 5,480 ft² split into tailored zones.
A new wine room forms the centerpiece boasting an enomatic dispenser, which enables customers to enjoy wines at exactly the right temperature that has been oxidized to the correct level. Customers will also be able to enjoy “Flights of Wine” – a selection of different wines linked to a theme. The current theme is “Chardonnays of the World”.
Other features include an opulent First bar with a wide range of premium beverages and a quiet work area. Customers can also dine in the airline’s upgraded dining room before they fly to maximize rest on their flight. A new boutique menu created by Executive chefs Gavin Mackenzie and Waylon Walker will include dishes influenced by the season, as well as a new ‘bowl food’ concept designed to offer customers a chance for a lighter option before they fly.
Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “We fly thousands of customers between London and New York every week, so we’re absolutely dedicated to making the experience as relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
“We are investing £52 million GBP into our home at JFK this year as part of the £4.5 billion GBP investment we’re making in our customer experience globally, and there will be further investments at JFK planned for the future. We hope our guests enjoy using the new facilities as much as we’ve enjoyed designing them.”
The opening of British Airways’ new First lounge at Terminal 7, is one of a number of changes the airline has already made to improve the customer experience this year. The Concorde Room at JFK, for First customers, was refreshed earlier this year, and customers flying in First and Club World now also enjoy an enhanced check-in experience at the exclusive new Premium Zone, with direct access to Fast Track security. The new First Wing and First check-in are also open to ensure a smooth start to the journey.
The airline has upgraded the main concourse for all customers adding extra seating in the gate areas and increasing access to power for customers to charge their electronic devices before flying. Security and check-in zones have been redesigned to enhance the look and feel of the terminal and speed up the process of traveling through the airport. Customers also now benefit from updated washrooms and a new customer service desk, providing further assistance in the departures area.
British Airways will complete its refurbishment of Terminal 7 in 2019 after the upgrade of the Galleries (business class) lounge has been completed.
You can also read our other lounge experience and what we consider to be the best British Airways airport lounges in the world.
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