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:
This is not my favorite lounge, but does beat the nearby Prime Class Lounge. My original review, from September 2021, is below.
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…
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…
I will say the tarmac views are nice if you enjoy watching planes:
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
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:
The men’s restroom had water and soap all over the counter and floor:
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.
Irony is everything, as one would think that the “Maharaja” would be less than pleased with this in his title.
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.
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
It looks like the lounge is catered by Costco. Kirkland hummus. Cup noodles and juice you can buy at Costco.
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. 🙂
Oh Jim, Kirkland coffee when you have so many great coffee ships around?! 😉
I start my day with Braun drip and hopefully improve from there. 🙂
Please review an Air India flight! I’d love to see that on a ultra long haul from SFO-DEL.
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.
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).
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.
Ooof. I almost went there when I was at JFK recently. I’m glad I didn’t waste my time.
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.
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.
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)