Unlike its more upscale facility in Terminal 1, the Primeclass Lounge in Terminal 4 at JFK was dungeon-like and crowded. I would avoid this lounge unless you get stuck at JFK…and you may find the lounge so crowded you cannot get in anyway.
Primeclass Lounge JFK Terminal 4 Review
This is a Priority Pass lounge and used by some of the non-aligned carriers that serve T4 for their business class passengers (also used by Singapore Airlines, which I will address below). It located near gate A2 (a long walk from the security checkpoint) and open daily from 4:00 am to 12:00 am. Other lounge memberships like Dragon Pass or Lounge Key will also get you in.
Singapore Airlines uses three lounges in Terminal 4, including:
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse – First Class/Suites guests
- Primeclass Lounge – Business class guests
- Air India Lounge – Star Alliance Gold members
I suppose the good news for Singapore passengers is after visiting this lounge you’re really going to appreciate the Singapore onboard product.
I arrived just before 2:00 pm and found the lounge quite crowded. There were a handful of open seats, as you can see below, but most were taken. I guess what I really did not like about this lounge was how dark and drab it feels. While the nearby Air India lounge is also not a lounge I would ever go out of my way to visit, at least it has some natural light. Even the Chelsea Lounge, which also lacks natural lights, at least attempts to create natural light through backlit windows. This lounge really does just seem like a dungeon.
Beyond the drabness of the lounge, there are limited power ports, which is so fundamental for a lounge. Many seats will not have a plug within reach.
The dining area near the food was empty when I arrived (perhaps there were no power ports) but filled up within 10 minutes…every single table.
In terms of food and drink, I found the following:
- Cup of noodles soup (you add the hot water)
- Oranges
- Apples
- Goldfish crackers
- Nature Valley granola bars
- Hershey’s chocolate
- Cookies
- Chocolate-covered peanuts
- Peanuts
- Trail mix
- Dried apricots
- Dried green beans
- Salads (potato, pasta, and couscous with black beans through all had lettuce)
- Sandwiches (ham and cheese, vegetarian, turkey and cheese, beef wrap)
Paper plates and plastic utensils were used.
Drink selections included:
- Coffee (Keurig)
- Tea
- Water
- Apple juice
- Canned sodas
- Beer (Amstel Light and Stella Artois)
- Cavitt white wine
This lounge has no restrooms.
By the time I left, the lounge was so crowded that a sign was placed on the door saying that no more Priority Pass guests could be accepted.
CONCLUSION
I was not impressed this lounge due to the crowding and lack of power ports. I’ll stipulate that a sandwich and salad here during a delay may beat the gate area, but I will also note that Terminal 4 is home to an American Express Centurion Lounge and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, both of which offer a far superior lounge experience.
Reminds me of the swissport and BA galleries lounges in ORD, except larger. Dungeons are the best word to describe them!
Still better than most in HNL lol
If I recall correctly, this lounge is pitched as a “pop-up”, which would explain the relative lack of investment. Perhaps there is a longer term solution in the works for SQ? For example the old Wingtips space and/or possible closure of the conversion of the Virgin lounge to a new space when the Delta One/business lounge opens up?
Is that SWISS/WingTips space being used for anything right now? That’s the most beautiful lounge at JFK.
The former Swiss lounge area at T4 will be part of the new Delta One lounge, so the area is all boarded up and under construction now.
I hope Delta doesn’t mess up that beautiful woodwork!
Pop up lounge could still improve a couple areas – add a red and potentially a sparkling wine plus a handful of liquor bottles for mixed drinks, which seems to be the bare minimum most lounges will adhere to.
This lounge looks like a gate area with slightly better furniture.
If I were on a paid SQ J Fare, and was told to wait for my flight here, I would be angry.
SQ should really open a lounge in JFK
I flew SQ J out of T4 in May 2022 and went to the Virgin Clubhouse. Has this changed?
I’m surprised – my understating is that is only for Suites Class (of course you could use AMEX Plat or Cap One Venture X to enter as well).