USA. Airport lounge access is now a critical factor shaping airline and route selection among US travellers, underlining the growing strategic importance of lounges to airlines, airports and travel retail stakeholders.
The finding comes from the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark study. It reveals 47% of airport lounge users say they plan their flight routes based on access to a preferred lounge, while 82% report that lounge access influences their choice of airline.
The research highlights the rapid democratisation of lounge access, driven primarily by financial services partnerships.
According to the J. D. Power research, more than one-third of lounge customers (34%) now gain entry through credit card benefits, compared with 21% who access lounges via elite frequent flyer status and 18% through standalone lounge memberships.
Food & beverage continues to be the dominant driver of lounge usage. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) cite food & beverage as their primary reason for visiting a lounge, ahead of rest and relaxation (62%) and escaping terminal crowds (37%).
Notably for airport concessionaires, 38% of lounge users say they visited specifically because of the high cost of food & beverage in the public terminal.
The study also indicates a strong correlation between dwell time and satisfaction. The majority of lounge users (56%) spend between 31 and 60 minutes in a lounge, generating an average satisfaction score of 758 on a 1,000-point scale.
Satisfaction rises with longer stays, reaching 797 among travellers spending two hours or more in a lounge.
In the overall rankings, the American Express Centurion Lounge took top position with a customer satisfaction score of 782. Capital One Lounge and Delta Sky Club shared second place, each scoring 773.
J.D. Power Managing Director of Travel, Hospitality and Retail Michael Taylor said, “Airport lounges have become so popular that many airports are now starting to mimic their designs and layouts in their public terminal areas.
“Lounges are clearly resonating with travellers, as expanded access through credit card perks and other non-status-related offers has fuelled demand, bringing with it the unfortunate side effect of increased crowding.
“This is driving the demand for additional lounge space within airport terminals.”
Methodology
The U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark evaluates satisfaction across eight dimensions: value of experience, staff, food & beverage, cleanliness and upkeep, amenities, ease of access, ambiance and wifi service.
The 2025 study is based on feedback from 1,430 travellers who visited a US airport lounge in the past 12 months, with fieldwork conducted between September and October. ✈
