2023 is poised to be one other blockbuster yr for airport lounges.
Airways and bank card issuers have been busy constructing new lounges and renovating present ones as a way to meet the unprecedented demand from flyers on the lookout for a (quiet) area to calm down earlier than their flights.
As an increasing number of lounge-eligible vacationers take to the skies, we have seen lounges add new entry restrictions to fight overcrowding. Whereas a few of these insurance policies are beginning to work, maybe the easiest way 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 artistic by debuting several types of lounges, together with smaller outposts targeted on fast grab-and-go service.
All instructed, there are some much-anticipated lounge openings on the horizon this yr, and listed below are those I am most enthusiastic about.
Amex Centurion Lounge in Washington Nationwide
Estimated opening: 2023.
American Specific is the undisputed chief amongst bank card issuers that additionally provide airport lounges. The issuer already has 15 Centurion Lounge outposts worldwide, and Amex will open the sixteenth at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) later this yr.
The area will likely 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 will likely be bigger than the beforehand constructed Centurion Lounges. Anticipate floor-to-ceiling home windows, airfield views and distinctive, domestically 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 Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) in late 2021.
The issuer’s sole lounge has earned excessive marks from vacationers, myself included, and I am unable to look forward to the issuer’s different lounges to open.
Two extra areas are confirmed to open this yr (after being delayed from 2022), together with an outpost in Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN). The Denver location will likely be roughly 11,200 sq. ft and will likely be in Concourse A on the mezzanine stage.
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Capital One Lounge in Dulles
Estimated opening: First half of 2023.
Particulars are mild, however Capital One can also be debuting a brand new lounge this yr at Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD). The 9,100-square-foot area will likely be instantly after the TSA PreCheck safety line in the primary terminal. The Dulles lounge ought to open within the first half of 2023.
Capital One can also be anticipated to open a brand new location in Las Vegas, however no timeline has been printed 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 companion 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 will likely 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 deal with the meals and drinks with out a lot room to calm down and unwind.
Capital One hasn’t mentioned when these first two Landings will open aside from teasing that they’re going to open “within the not-so-distant future.” Hopefully, meaning 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 moving into the airport lounge wars with the upcoming opening of its first home Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Membership.
The primary outpost to open is predicted to be in Boston Logan Worldwide 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 at the least seven home lounges, simply two are more 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 will likely be in San Diego’s Terminal 2 West and can characteristic domestically impressed design, meals, drinks and artwork partnerships.
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Delta Sky Membership in New York’s JFK
Estimated opening: June 2023.
Delta lately consolidated its operations at John F. Kennedy Worldwide 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 domestically curated artwork gallery. A year-round, heated Sky Deck may also be out there.
Moreover, the airline continues 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 season 2023.
As a part of Delta’s progress in Boston, the airline expanded its worldwide operations to the airport’s Terminal E, which can quickly be residence to a brand new Sky Membership, opening this summer season. 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 lately acquired a giant glow-up with the opening of the gorgeous 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 development is accomplished there this summer season, and the airline will open a Sky Membership within the new terminal at the moment.
No extra particulars are at the moment out there, 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 small print are mild, the brand new lounge will likely be “very massive” 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 very 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 should 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 Membership that opened final Might. This new 30,000-square-foot area is close to Gate C123 and has been a success with flyers.
The previous membership close to Gate C74 is present process 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 provider’s newest lounge in DCA.
Three extra new Admirals Membership outposts are within the works (and can characteristic 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 areas:
- Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS).
- Denver Worldwide Airport.
- Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport.
That mentioned, we’re positively hopeful that at the least considered one of 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 present areas.
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