Airport lounges have made headlines in recent years for long lines and crowded seating, but at least one perk keeps flyers coming back: free food.
The 2026 JD Power U.S. Airport Lounge Satisfaction Study found that the high cost of food and drinks elsewhere in the airport drove 39% of travelers to lounges. The study’s results were based on responses from nearly 3,000 people – gathered between April and June – who have been to a U.S. airport lounge within the prior year.
"The airport lounge has become an oasis for travelers, but that oasis can sometimes become a mirage when lounges are overcrowded and people need to wait in line to gain access," Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at JD Power, said in an Aug. 19 news release. "With air travel demand
as high as ever, the airport lounge customer experience is being challenged by crowded facilities and food and beverage offerings that do not always live up to expectations."
Some lounges ranked higher than others, too. Here's how they stacked up.
Which airport lounges have the highest satisfaction ratings?
The study evaluated customer satisfaction with various airport lounges across eight categories, including the value of the experience, the staff, the lounges’ food and drinks and their cleanliness and upkeep. The top five were:
- American Express Centurion Lounge and Capital One Lounge tied for first place
- Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
- Delta Sky Club (including Delta One Lounge)
- British Airways Lounge
- American Airlines Admirals Club (including American Airlines Flagship Lounge)
The study found that 52% of respondents felt lounges' food and beverage offerings were better than expected, while 44% said they were "in line with what they expected," according to the release. When it came to staffing, 77% said they experienced welcoming employees.
However, only about half saw the staff as happy or knowledgeable.
There was other room for improvement, too. While 45% used lounges to get away from crowds in airport terminals, 46% said "the lounge they use most often is usually moderately or severely crowded."
The full study is available here.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These airport lounges beat the crowds and won over travelers
