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Home » Reviews » Lounge Reviews » Review: Air India Maharaja Lounge New York (JFK)
Air IndiaLounge Reviews

Review: Air India Maharaja Lounge New York (JFK)

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 19, 2024November 18, 2024 15 Comments

a sign in a building

Other than the sign reflecting Air India’s new logo, nothing about this Star Alliance lounge in JFK Terminal 4 has changed much over the last few years. I’ve provided updated pictures of the food and drink selection, all of which are complimentary. 

Here are some updated photos:

a room with a buffet and a coffee machine

a group of bottles of alcohol and a container of fruit

a display of food on a counter

a group of white pots on a counter

a counter with different types of food on it

a coffee machine and other appliances on a counter

a basket of oranges and a plant

This is not my favorite lounge, but does beat the nearby Prime Class Lounge. My original review, from September 2021, is below.


a group of signs in a building

The Air India Maharaja Lounge at New York JFK is probably not worth your time, but if you have a morning Star Alliance flight from T4, it still beats the gate area.

Air India Maharaja Lounge New York JFK Review

Located in busy Terminal 4, the lounge serves Star Alliance business class passengers, Star Alliance Gold members, and Priority Pass members. The lounge is open daily from 9:30am to 6:30pm and is upstairs above Gate 5. You’ll find it next to the Emirates lounge adjacent to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which both provide a decidedly different experience…

a staircase with glass railings and a yellow sign

a sign with a couple of people on it

I visited recently before a United Airlines flight from JFK-LAX (after a steak at Bobby Van’s, thankfully I was not hungry). I could have entered with Priority Pass credentials but that was not necessary; I just had to scan my United boarding pass then present by digital Star Alliance gold card.

The lounge was crowded when I arrived, though 10 minutes later it had substantially emptied out. The entire lounge is one large rectangular room with chairs, couches, and tables. And these chairs, couches, and tables are showing their age, with many sporting ripped or torn fabric.

I’ve never flown Air India business class, but this is what I hear the seats look like on Air India too…

a room with chairs and tables

a room with chairs and tables

a room with chairs and tables

a room with chairs and tables and a window

a plant in a room

a plant in a room with a window

a room with chairs and tables and a window

a group of people sitting in a room with chairs and tables

a room with chairs and tables and luggage

I will say the tarmac views are nice if you enjoy watching planes:

an airplane parked at an airport

Perhaps this lounge offered a nice spread of delicious Indian food prior to the pandemic, but these days it is packaged or individually-wrapped food, including:

  • hummus
  • vegetables and dip
  • macaroni salad
  • turkey wrap
  • veggies sandwiches
  • cheese
  • grapes
  • instant noodles
  • chips
  • trail mix
  • cinnamon rolls
  • cookies
  • apples

a group of containers with food on them

a tray of food on a table

a trays with food on them

a table with food on it

a group of boxes of food on a counter

iIt could be worse, but the sandwiches and wraps did not look fresh or cold.

There’s no alcohol available – just water, juice, soft drinks, tea, and coffee:

a coffee machine and cups on a counter

a refrigerator with a glass door

a juice box with straw

The men’s restroom had water and soap all over the counter and floor:

a sink and mirror in a bathroom

a sign on a wall

a bathroom with a urinal and a urinal

CONCLUSION

With both the American Express Centurion and SWISS lounge located nearby, I would only visit this lounge as a lounge of last resort. I suppose it would do in a pinch and is essentially for Air India passengers (considering AI102 to Delhi departs at 12:30pm), but the (recently renovated) SWISS lounge is open 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Consider it the better Star Alliance option.

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Next Article A Tale Of Two Delta Sky Clubs In JFK Terminal 4

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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15 Comments

  1. Stuart Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    Irony is everything, as one would think that the “Maharaja” would be less than pleased with this in his title.

  2. Jerry Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    Thanks for this post. I’ll never bother letting curiosity get me to leave the Centurion in T4.

    I flew AI in J DEL-FRA back in ’17. It was actually a very pleasant flight with attentive service, but the AI lounge offering is bad everywhere… Except, if I recall correctly, domestic in DEL.

  3. Talent Hacker Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 5:28 pm

    It’s the worst lounge on the planet. Even pre covid they offered similar selections and nasty bathrooms. They kinda match the terrible and smelly air India flights

  4. Eric Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 6:46 pm

    It looks like the lounge is catered by Costco. Kirkland hummus. Cup noodles and juice you can buy at Costco.

  5. SINJim Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 7:55 pm

    How did Costco (Kirkland) hummus make it into the lounge? There is a Costco in Westbury, Long Island, so perhaps someone popped by on his way to work…

    P.S. I am literally drinking Kirkland drip coffee made at home as I type this so I am not against Kirkland hummus. 🙂

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      September 3, 2021 at 10:08 pm

      Oh Jim, Kirkland coffee when you have so many great coffee ships around?! 😉

      • SINJim Reply
        September 4, 2021 at 1:15 am

        I start my day with Braun drip and hopefully improve from there. 🙂

  6. Tom Reply
    September 3, 2021 at 9:44 pm

    Please review an Air India flight! I’d love to see that on a ultra long haul from SFO-DEL.

  7. FNT Delta Diamond Reply
    November 19, 2024 at 11:25 am

    I’m confused. When were you here and how did you access? When you seemingly update a 3-year-old article, can you clarify the date of the new visit and under what circumstances you visited? I’m confused. I must have missed something. I don’t understand how you were just at the Virgin Atlantic lounge, both Delta lounges, and now the Air India lounge.

    That aside … Woodbridge wine? Wow. That makes Yellow Tail look like a grand cru vintage wine.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 19, 2024 at 12:10 pm

      I was just there – it’s a Priority Pass lounge (and Star Gold Lounge) located next to Virgin Lounge so I stopped by to check it out…it has not changed.

      Since I am a SkyTeam Elite Plus with SK (and AZ), I was able to visit the Delta lounges plus the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse during my 12-hour layover (though the Delta Sky Clubs only three hours prior to departure).

      • FNT Delta Diamond Reply
        November 19, 2024 at 1:08 pm

        Maybe you should put a header on these posts or an editor’s note. Like,

        “This article was updated with additional [photos or content] based on a subsequent visit in/on [date]. Access to the lounge was achieved through […].”

        It would be useful for similar articles on other lounges or hotels.

        From an SEO and click-generating standpoint, you’re probably better off creating and publishing a brand-new article rather than updating a 3-year-old article.

  8. Stuart in GA Reply
    November 19, 2024 at 1:08 pm

    Ooof. I almost went there when I was at JFK recently. I’m glad I didn’t waste my time.

  9. 121Pilot Reply
    November 20, 2024 at 12:15 pm

    Ouch that looks as nasty as I expected it to be. I never been in there but based on the pictures I’d say the Prime Class lounge is slightly ahead. My last visit there it was an ok Priority Pass lounge.

  10. simmonad Reply
    November 21, 2024 at 5:04 am

    In December 2016, I used the Maharaja Lounge at LHR and the fresh food served up was great! By contrast, in their flagship lounge in DEL, the food was an utter embarrassment, no better than a motorway service cafe on a British motorway in the 1980s (so, unappealing, all pre-packed, etc.). Wifi was only available for people with an Indian mobile number and AI were unable to provide towels for their showers. I hope Tata has addressed these issues.

  11. adam Reply
    December 3, 2024 at 1:59 pm

    Confused: you said “I visited recently before a United Airlines flight from JFK-LAX (after a steak at Bobby Van’s, thankfully I was not hungry). ” I assume you meant American? United does fly to JFK and Bobby Van’s is in (or was in) the American Terminal (8)

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