As 2024 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the top 10 airline lounges I visited in 2024.
Note, this is not my all-time “top 10” list, but only my “top 10” list of lounges I visited this year, so you will see many of my favorite lounges like the Lufthansa First Class Terminal or Cathay Pacific’s The Pier are missing from the list below.
10. SAS Gold Lounge Copenhagen (CPH)
I love the coffee in this lounge and the hidden sleeping rooms, where I spent a long day after my flight plans fell apart (more on that in a future trip report).
Review here.
9. Saudia AlFursan Lounge Jeddah (JED)
This lounge would score a lot higher if the internet worked, but I loved the other amenities including barista-made coffee and an omelet at 10:00 pm!
Review here.
8. Air France Lounge Paris – Terminal 2E, Hall L (CDG)
I love the sauna in this lounge…such a fun amenity and I enjoyed a 20-minute sweat with my son Augustine before our early morning flight to Tunis.
Review here.
7. JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo (HND)
This is a solid lounge, though there’s not anything in particular that makes this lounge one of the best in the world.
Review here.
6. United Polaris Lounges (LAX, SFO, ORD, EWR)
I’ve traveled on United a lot this year and visited many Polaris lounges (interestingly, not the Houston location for the third year in a row), which do get crowded but remain very competitive and are a huge value-add to flying on United or Star Alliance.
Reviews:
5. Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
While I held BA Gold status, I greatly enjoyed using this lounge when flying domestically on American Airlines. The excellent coffee and food make this perennially one of my favorite lounges.
Review here.
4. Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge Istanbul (IST)
I know this lounge gets “boring” for those who travel through Istanbul often, but for me (who visits it 1-2 times per year), I find the selection of food and drink here is always very satisfactory and I like the sleeping rooms as well.
Review here.
3. Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge London (LHR)
I consider this lounge one of the most beautiful in the world (perhaps only to The Pier in Hong Kong) and enjoyed spedning some time here earlier this year when flying on British Airways.
Review here.
2. Qatar Airways Lounge London (LHR)
The Qatar Airways Lounge in London scores highly because of the delicious a la carte menu…the food was spectacular (not so much the coffee, unfortunately). I wish this lounge was in Terminal 3 or 5 instead of Terminal 4.
1. Delta One Lounges (JFK, LAX)
I unexpectedly had a last-minute business trip this month and flew Delta from New York to Los Angeles in Delta One, which gave me access to the new Delta One Lounges in both JFK and ALX. Reviews are coming, but these are beautiful spaces with superb food and drinks and do indeed beat both United Polaris and American Flagship Lounges.
What was your favorite airline lounge in 2024?
This list might make some people very, very upset
But I do have a date with CPH in the distant future and I’m glad you think their lounge is one of the better ones
We both chose Delta One® as our #1 for 2024. 🙂
Solid list.
I little unpopular but I think that if TK’s lounge at IST had a couple more seating options it would be a very good business class lounge.
I’ve been to most of the Polaris lounges on the list and I think LAX would be my favorite since the couple times I’ve been there it has been dead, followed by SFO since it’s massive and even during busy times you can find some quiet space. I think however the quality of the a la carte food has declined over the years. SFO had this killer bento years ago but now its mostly bland attempts at luxury dining, with tiny portions.
I liked the Air France CDG lounge a LOT more than the Polaris lounge at SFO. I was underwhelmed with the food options there.
Also, check for the typo in your # 8 title.
I totally forgot the Chase Sapphire Lounges in SAN and BOS…those would go in #3 and push out the SAS lounge.
You also forgot the link to the LHR Qatar Airways review?
No, haven’t published it yet.
Delta One at BOS…very good IMHO
It’s interesting that 3 out of the top 5 are outstation lounges.
The Pier? Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Doha and Dubai? FRA F terminal?
Read the second paragraph. 😉
What’s in Seoul? Always been a “Meh… not bad” sort of lounge experiences for me there.
I’m guessing the new-ish SQ lounge there? Which is arguably the best lounge at ICN now.
And I do love that lounge.
Dude, Star Alliance LAX. It just is. And yes, CPH, IST, and Polaris are always solid but Gulf carriers are in an altogether different class.
I did not visit the Star Alliance LAX lounge once in 2024 or any of the QR/EK/EY lounges. This is only my 2024 list of lounges I actually visited.
A great list! I have to add my personal favourite which is the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse T3 LHR. I travel through there every 2 or 3 months and I love it!