Review: SWISS Lounge New York (JFK)

UPDATE: Swiss has moved to Terminal 1 at JFK. This lounge is now the new Wingtips Lounge and no longer a SWISS – Star Alliance Lounge.

SWISS has done a marvelous job remodeling its Terminal 4 lounge at New York (JFK). It felt like I was stepping into Switzerland and the food and drink selection as well as the service makes it one of the best Star Alliance Gold lounges in the USA.

SWISS Lounge New York (JFK) Review

I visited this lounge before a recent trip to Los Angeles. What a difference between this and the next door Wingtips Lounge…

Location + Hours + Access

The lounge has two sides, a business class and first class side. My focus in this review will be on the business class side, though currently there is no difference in services offered. Eventually, a la carte dining will return to the first class side.

Access to the first class side requires a same-day onward boarding pass in SWISS or Lufthansa First Class or HON Circle status in the Miles & More program.

Meanwhile, access to the business class sides requires an onward business class ticket on any Star Alliance flight or Star Alliance Gold status plus an onward ticket on any Star Alliance carrier in any class of service. Miles & More Frequent Travelers (silver status) are also granted access.

Note: while United Airlines MileagePlus elites cannot use their status or class of service to access United Clubs on most domestic itineraries, that limit does not apply to this lounge (and other non-United Star Alliance Gold lounges in the USA).

So say you were a United Premier Gold traveling from New York to San Francisco in economy class. You’d have access to this lounge before your flight.

It is located in Terminal 4 just past the security checkpoint. After clearing security, immediately turn right and you will hit the lounge.

Current hours of operation are:

• Wednesday – Monday, 5:00PM – 9:00PM
• Closed Tuesday

I arrived just as the lounge was opening at 5:00PM.

Seating

As I mentioned, this lounge really feels like you are at a SWISS lounge in Zurich…and that is a good thing. The natural wood, red and black accents, and dark leather work so well to make the lounge feel functional yet cozy yet elegant. There’s a combination of chairs, tables, and couches including a large dining area, which underscores a main function of this lounge: eat before your flight to maximize sleep onboard.

You’ll find great tarmac views, including a pair of telescopes to plane spot:

The lounge has done a great job of offering plenty of power outlets and sources to charge your devices, including many wireless charging stations. Rather than offer universal outlets, there is a bevy of outlet-types from around the world.

Food + Drink

I wasn’t expecting to eat dinner in the lounge prior to my flight…but ended up staying for dinner. Just beyond the reception is the food and beverage area, which included a self-serve buffet with a high-quality and delicious selection of:

• Minestrone soup
• Cesar salad
• Green salad
• Roasted root vegetables
• Meatballs with jasmine rice and sautéed vegetables in a coconut sauce
• Potato chips
• Whole fruit
• Fruit salad

Drink selection included:

• Beer
• Wine (including sparkling wine)
• Water
• Coffee
• Soft drinks
• Juice

I loved the plates and dishes as well and made myself a tasty little feast:

My only complaint: plastic utensils. It really cheapened the entire experience.

Restrooms + Showers

Restrooms are gender segregated, but private rooms rather than a shared facility.

Showers are available. Check in with lounge staff if you wish to use one.

Service

The staff and the chef, who carefully watched over the buffet, were great. Very kind and attentive…friendly too. The lady who checked me in could not understand why I had come all the way over from Terminal 7, but was happy to welcome me to the lounge.

CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a nice environment to relax before your flight or eat and drink something, this is a great lounge. The nearby American Express Centurion Lounge does have a better food and drink selection, but this beats the Air India lounge in T4 by miles and miles and is one of my favorite Star Alliance Gold lounges in the country.