Review: Chelsea Lounge; American Airlines/British Airways First Class Flagship Lounge New York (JFK)
Updated: Jul 18
Intro
This post has been updated on July 18th, 2024
The Chelsea Lounge is British Airways and American Airlines' nicest lounge in their network by a long shot. With a capacity of up to 130 people but rarely seeing over 40-50, this lounge is open from 4:15 am- 11:30 pm daily. Having had access to this lounge multiple times, I have compromised a detailed review regarding the Chelsea Lounge at New York JFK.
All in all, I love the Chelsea Lounge. This lounge is the nicest lounge that airlines offer in the USA and perhaps comparable to some of the best first-class lounges in the world, such as the Private Room. The space is small and intimate, and the offerings are extensive.
Access/Location
Access is usually reserved for passengers flying in First Class with British Airways or for passengers flying First Class with American Airlines on qualifying routes. These consist of almost all international flights (in F) in lie-flat seats on same-day itineraries and transcon routes between Boston/New York & Los Angeles/San Francisco/SNA. The only other way to access this lounge is if you are Concierge Key or on a Flagship Business Plus itinerary.
The Soho and Chelsea Lounge are located next to one another near Gate 14. As you can see, access is extremely restricted.
Once upstairs, I met the agent who scanned my boarding pass and was admitted into the lounge.
The Lounge
The Chelsea Lounge is a small space with plenty of different seating options.
This was the busiest I had ever seen (7 pm), and there were around 30 people in the lounge. Since I didn't have much time, I stopped off at the bar and asked for a glass of Krug. AA serves Krug and LPGS, but they don't feature it on the menu. The server was friendly and said she would bring it to my table for dining.
Interestingly, the champagne offerings are constantly on rotation. The week before, they were offering "Cristal," which is some of the nicest champagne in the world.
Before we got into the dining, in the 5 minutes I had before walking to my gate, I checked out the naproom. The nap room is one of my favorite places to relax at any airport.
Each bungalow is secluded with a curtain, and the chaises are extremely comfortable. The room is located in the back right corner.
Dining
Dining was the main activity in the hour I spent here. I sat down in my favorite corner booth for 1.
It's truly a full restaurant-style concept, and the service here is stellar. The server came over and started up some conversation, asking if I came here a lot since he had never seen me.
A menu was distributed, and I ordered some sparkling water and a glass of Cabernet.
The menu seems to be on rotation, as there was a terrific New York Strip Steak last time I was here!
My drinks came out within about 5 minutes. The service here is quite good, whether it be in the morning or the evening.
Within 15 minutes, a beautiful short rib was presented. This is where the Chelsea Lounge has every other lounge in the USA beat. The short rib was tender and restaurant quality. The recommended wine was a great pairing as well.
In regards to breakfast, they have a terrific menu featuring French Toast, crispy bacon, Bacon butties, and more.
The French Toast and bacon is my go-to in the Chelsea Lounge as it is truly delectable.
A glass of Krug never hurt anyone. The cappuccinos are also fantastic.
If you happen to have only 10-15 minutes in the lounge, there is bar seating where friendly staff will greet you, asking for a drink order.
Another aspect I want to mention is that they have great liquor options at the Chelsea Lounge. AA even has one of top 5 tequilas, Clase Azul!
The Bathrooms
The bathrooms are adequate. Nothing about them screams a first-class lounge (certainly not the showers), but they feature 3 sinks and 3 stalls.
Very small, but seeing as the population seems to range from 10-30 people, it works.
It's certainly nothing like the Singapore Private Room bathrooms...
But at least it was kept clean.
All in all, the bathrooms are functional but nothing luxurious. Even if there are showers, it's nothing quite like the showers at the Flagship Business Lounge in Miami, or even Los Angeles, for that matter.
If you want to check out more reviews around lounges and products of American Airlines, feel free to check them out below
Final Thoughts
The Chelsea Lounge might be one of my favorite airport lounges in the world. It is better than the CX one in HK, better than the Concorde Room, and in some ways better than the Singapore Airlines Private Room. The decor of the lounge is incredible, the offerings of food and drink are compared to restaurants in New York, and the service is splendid. However, my favorite part of the lounge is just how quiet it remains to be due to the very limited access. At most, I have seen up to 30 people in the lounge at a busy time in the evening.
Comments