Honestly: A crowded airport lounge without seats is usually more attractive than an empty gate area. Over the past decade, numerous travelers with club visits have influx have resulted in overcrowding, longer waiting lists, and experiences (read: not luxury).
However, a version of commercial air travel has emerged, often hidden from the public’s perspective, and is inaccessible to even advanced credit card holders. Rob Karp, founder and CEO of travel consulting firm Milesahead, said this more private pre-flight experience is crucial for wealthy business travelers.
“What we’re seeing now is a correction: layered access, differentiated spaces, and new incentives to spend or more on specific airlines,” Karp notes. Business travelers want to optimize time and minimize stress and are willing to pay for it. This means sitting down to enjoy the right meal, making a phone call in a quiet, uninterrupted environment, and even squeezing in a quick spa treatment before boarding.
Distinguish space
In the United States, new lounges that require international business-grade tickets, such as the network of Delta One Lounges or United Polaris Lounges, are delivering on that promise.
For example, Delta offers à la carte, bistro-like dining experiences, soundproof stalls, and even external monitors for focused work in its flagship business lounge. “Each space is designed to balance comfort and luxury and practical efficiency,” said Claude Roussel, vice president of Delta Sky Club and Lounge Experience.
For Aaron Kokoruz, director of public relations for nearly 100 flights a year, such a lounge is a time of peace and comfort before boarding, whether you are hopping into Omaha or flying halfway through the world. Kokoruz lists Lax’s Qantas First Lounge (with Neil Perry menu) and London Heathrow’s Cathay Pacific First Lounge as personal favorites.
“My top priority in the lounge is healthy and hearty food options, as well as a variety of cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktail options,” Kokoruz said. “This is 2025 – every big lounge should be nailed.”
