As 2021 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the 10 best airport lounges I visited in 2021.
Note, this is not my all-time “top 10” list, but only my “top 10” list of lounges I visited this year.
10. United Club Chicago (ORD – B6)
Why a United Club? Chicago-style hot dogs, one of my weaknesses. No ketchup allowed!
> Read More: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs In ORD United Club!
9. Iberia Premium Lounge Velasquez Madrid (MAD)
A nice lounge during my summer trip to Spain with decent food and plenty of room to spread out.
8. ANA Suites Lounge Tokyo (HND)
Decent a la carte menu and a comfortable lounge to wait out my flight to Bangkok, despite trouble getting in.
> Read More: ANA Suite Lounge Tokyo Haneda (HND) Review
7. American Express Centurion Lounge Denver (DEN)
This lounge opened in February 2021 and is a great addition to Denver Airport
> Read More: American Express Centurion Lounge – Denver (DEN) Review
6. Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
It’s so nice to see this beautiful lounge open again and for service and food to be virtually unchanged from its pre-pandemic inception.
> Read More: Star Alliance Lounge LAX Has Reopened!
5. SWISS Lounge New York (JFK – T4)
I enjoyed a great dinner here in this beautiful lounge before my flight to Los Angeles.
> Read More: SWISS Lounge New York (JFK) Review
4. Alaska Airlines Lounge New York (JFK – T7)
This earns a surprisingly high position on the list because of the tremendous coffee bar.
> Read More: Alaska Airlines Lounge New York (JFK) Review
3. United Polaris Lounge Washington (IAD)
United has opened a beautiful new lounge in Washington Dulles for its international premium cabin passengers.
> Read More: United Airlines Polaris Lounge Washington Dulles (IAD) Review
2. Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)
Always a treat, the Lufthansa First Class lounge includes great service as well as a nice menu of food and drinks.
> Read More: My Tasty Breakfast In The Lufthansa First Class Lounge
1. Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt (FRA)
After a year of closure, it was so nice to be back in the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt. While the menu is not as comprehensive as prior to the pandemic, you can still a very comfortable stay here.
> Read More: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt Review
What is the best lounge you visited in 2021?
I’m still hoping for #1 and 2 for next year.
Just spent some time in the Senator lounges in FRA and MUC ( first time in either) enroute to Tbilisi the other day and relished the solitude.
We were 2 of 5 people in MUC for almost 7 hours in the lounge by H24; sadly the sleeping area was closed.
Well, I guess #1 and #2 were predictable.
For a Sky Team boy like me I would like to also bring up the new Air France lounge in CDG for consideration as one of the best non-F lounges out there
This is a Star Alliance blog, Sky Team is irrelevant. Literally has Delta, Air France, and KLM, every other airline in it is useless. Not really a true alliance.
So this is a Star Alliance blog? Is this why Matthew has a Alaska Lounge and a Centurion Lounge in his list?
Do you enjoy being a dumbass?
Someone missed his sarcasm.
@Jan: I cannot wait to visit that beautiful new Air France lounge in CDG.
I’m surprised the holding pen at Changi while in transit to LAX didn’t make the list. 🙂
Lol beat me to it
I visited my first centurion lounge a couple of weeks ago in Miami. Really enjoyed it. Big, nice view of tarmac, drinks, decent food. Definitely my top of 2021.
FCT bleh 🙂
I am flying to London this May from Denver in United Polaris, but want to experience a Polaris lounge so am not going to go on the nonstop. Any recommendation on which Polaris lounge I should try, is one better than the other or are they all pretty much the same?
I personally think the Polaris lounge in Chicago is massively overrated. Always busy (well used to be), dirty and not great food. I prefer the American lounge in ord myself.
The DC lounge is pretty new and gets good reviews overall.
Showers make for a great lounge for me. Add both inside and outside large balconies with lots of seating, self pour alcohol, a variety of food choices, and you have me sold on #6. Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles (LAX).
My wife and I will be there again tomorrow on our return from Hawaii.
Pretty surprised the BA Concorde Room at T5 Heathrow was not on the list.
These are only lounges I visited in 2021, not my all-time list.
Any list should include the Qatar first class lounge at Hamad International.
I didn’t visit it in 2021.
What about the Emirates business lounge from JFK and the straight connection to the airline from there.
A nice lounge; I just did not visit it in 2021.
You should try Doha airport, I am sure your top 10 will change automatically.
I’ve been many times. Just not in 2021.
How is the Qatar Business Class (and First) not even on the list? You can get your own private man-cave room for free with TV, Sofa, the works in a kid-free zone after you take a shower, just to mention one gem in the Business Lounge. United Chicago is on the list? Best laugh I’ve had all week! Thanks!
Dude, can you read?
I didn’t travel to Qatar in 2021. This list was only lounges I personally visited during the calendar year of 2021. Is there something I could have said clearer?
Just spent several hours at the awesome JAL/Sakura first class lounge at NRT. It was simply awesome; outstanding service; great collection of alcohol; fresh sushi; lots of seating options and the fanciest of toilets ! Was the best for me in 2021.