The Greenwich Lounge in Terminal 8 at New York JFK is a shared American Airlines – British Airways facilities that combines the real estate of the old Flagship Lounge, Flagship First dining facility, and Admirals Club to create a large space intended for business class and oneworld Sapphire guests.
Greenwich Lounge JFK Review
American Airlines and British Airways now both fly out JFK T8 and have opened new lounges to coincide with the joint operations.
- Chelsea Lounge – for first class passengers on British Airways and American Airlines and invite-only high status holders
- Soho Lounge – for oneworld Emerald members
- Greenwich Lounge – for oneworld business class passengers and oneworld Sapphire members
This review will highlight the JFK Greenwich Lounge.
Access + Hours + Location
Just past security in Terminal 8, you will see Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on the right side.
On the other side of the concourse is the entrance to the Greenwich Lounge. Take the elevator up one level then walk straight into the lounge. It is open from 04:30 AM until 11:00 PM daily.
(There’s an entrance on both sides with stairs as well)
This lounge is intended for oneworld Sapphire members and longhaul business class passengers (AA flagship transcontinental business class guests also have access). Alaska and American Sapphires need to be flying a longhaul oneworld international or AA premium transcontinental flight to gain access while Sapphire members of other oneworld programs, including British Airways, can access when traveling on any oneworld flight, even if in domestic economy class.
Seating
As I motioned above, this lounge combines the former space of three separate facilities (four if you count the Flagship Bridge) to create one large “super” lounge of about 27,000 square feet (with room for 590 guests). While it still can get crowded, there is plenty of seating available that should prevent this lounge feeling unbearably crowded during peak hours.
Everyone now enters the lounges through a long corridor on the left, which opens into a large seat area. On the right side is the buffet and entrance to Brooklyn Brewery, which I will discuss in greater detail below.
Seating includes individual booths, chairs, and couches, all with power ports within reach.
There’s a quiet room with regular chairs (no recliners or sofas)–
and also glass cubicles intended to make phone calls inside–
You can walk through Brooklyn Brewery and on the other side will find the old Admirals Club space with even more seating.
There are always moments that will be forever seared into our memory. I was in this portion of the lounge, when it was a separate Admirals Club, on January 6, 2021. Yes, it was from this lounge that I watched the insurrection against American democracy unfold on Live TV.
Restroms + Showers
Restroom and shower facilities are available in the rear of the lounge on the left side. Toiletries are available on request and the bathroom products are from DS &Durga.
Flight Help
Should you need flight help, you can ask one of the reception agents or visit a customer service desk just past the entrance (though these desks were not staffed during my visit).
Service
My interactions with staff were limited, but I was warmly greeted upon entry and welcomed to the new lounge space. Inside the restaurant, I was strongly encouraged to sit down and eat (I was stuffed from lunch).
Dining
This lounge offers an innovative trio of dining concepts including a standard buffet, brewery, and cocktail bar.
Buffet
I quite appreciate the depth of the buffet selection, which features a wide range of hot and cold dishes from a variety of cuisines. Soup is also available, though curiously there is not a salad bar (at least with simply green salad and all the fixings on the side).
Champagne Bar
In the main part of the lounge, there is self-serve liquor, including Champagne from Piper-Heidsieck as well as beer, wine, and spirit (over by the buffet).
Brooklyn Brewery
The former Flagship First dining facility is now called Brooklyn Brewery and not only offers beer, but an a la carte menu of pub-style food like black truffle fries, hot pretzels, and bratwurst.
Bridge Bar
The former Flagship Bridge, now the Bridge Bar, has reopened as a cocktail bar specializing in Aviation American Gin and Betty Buzz. It was closed during my visit, but here’s a picture of what the space formerly looked like:
And this is a photo from American Airlines showing what the lounge looks like now:
CONCLUSION
This is an outstanding business class lounge that features not only a high-quality buffet and nearly 600 seats to spread out, but a sit-down brewery and a separate cocktail bar. American Airlines and British Airways have done a superb job in re-engineering the former Flagship Lounge into the new Greenwich Lounge.
Gorgeous. Waiting for incoming comment from someone about taking photos in bathrooms.. keep out 🙂
It is a great lounge and has held up well. Lots of space. Food is good. The champagne bar is fun. The new brewery section is a nice to have. Staff are pleasant. It does get crowded during the afternoon run up to the transatlantic push. The coffee though is not good.
Amazing that we all agree the coffee in all three lounges is bad. Time for AA/BA to wake up and doing something about it.
Have been there a few months ago, in the same day passed time in the flagship lounge on Miami, that was much better. In New York the food that day was horrible, both soda and coffee machines were broken, really cheap wine, just one beer can selection, (a few days later the brewery opened). lounge had a few broken things . Miami’s lounge looked newer, fair food, better selection of beverages, everything working. Only good thing AA offers is the champagne. Also the new terminal 8 JFK is bad even by JFK standards.
As a business class passenger travelling internationally, which domestic airline do you think does best out of their NYC hubs? United Polaris in EWR, AA/BA’s new T8 JFK options or Delta’s Skyclub in T4 JFK?
Chelsea Lounge better than Polaris Lounge which is better than Soho Lounge. All better than DL T4 lounge. I guess the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK is somewhere between Polaris and Soho. Coffee is really a drag in AA/BA Lounges, though.
Yes to all of that! Spot on.