The 4 best Air India Maharaja Lounges, ranked: 2026

Who gets into a Maharaja Lounge

Air India first and business class passengers get into its Maharaja Lounges, and so do Maharaja Club Gold and Platinum members, the airline's own elite tiers. Star Alliance Gold members get in with one guest when flying a Star Alliance airline the same day, and Star Alliance business and first passengers get in on their ticket. Guest rules vary by lounge. The JFK lounge is listed in Priority Pass, although members report being turned away outside Air India's departure banks, and the San Francisco lounge takes no cards at all.

Air India has only four lounges under this name, and all four have a photo on file, so this is the whole network. The gap between the new Delhi flagship and the two US rooms is as wide as any in our directory.

1. The Maharaja Lounge, Delhi

The Maharaja Lounge in Delhi opened on February 16, 2026 in the international pier of Terminal 3, and it is the lounge Air India's rebuild was meant to produce. It covers about 16,000 square feet with separate business and first sections, each with its own dining and bar, plus sleep suites on the first class side and four showers. Food, coffee, service, showers, views, crowding and Wi-Fi all score five, and the bar mixes proper cocktails rather than pouring from a trolley. Entry is for Air India first and business passengers, Maharaja Club Platinum and Gold members and Star Alliance Gold customers on a same-day itinerary.

2. Air India Maharaja Lounge, Bengaluru

The Bengaluru lounge is a domestic lounge, which makes it unusual on this list. It opened in 2024 on Level 4 of the Terminal 2 domestic pier, on the same floor as the 080 Domestic Lounge, with the Air India reception on the right as you head up. It holds 200, has two showers and a full bar, and food, drinks, quiet and crowding score five. Cleanliness, coffee, service, power and Wi-Fi are a three, which is why it sits at 3.7. On an Air India domestic connection it is a clear step up from the shared terminal lounges.

3. Air India Maharaja Lounge, New York JFK

The JFK lounge is on the upper level of Concourse A in Terminal 4, near gate A5, open 7:15 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. It is an 80-seat room with beer and wine only and no showers. Service, Wi-Fi and workspace score four, but cleanliness, food, drinks, seating, quiet, restrooms and views are all a two. Business and first passengers, Flying Returns Gold and Platinum members and Star Alliance Gold members get in with one guest. If you have access to anything else in Terminal 4, use it.

4. Air India Maharaja Lounge, San Francisco

The San Francisco lounge opened in 2026 on level 4 of International Terminal A near gate A1, between the China Airlines Dynasty Lounge and the Golden Gate Lounge. It is open 6 a.m. to 11:55 p.m., holds 80 and has one shower and a full bar. A new lounge should do better than a 2.4, but service, seating, quiet, crowding, drinks and power score two, and views and workspace score one. Star Alliance Gold members get one guest; Star Alliance business passengers get none. It is not on Priority Pass.

Which one to pick on a connection

In Delhi there is no decision to make: the new flagship is the best Air India lounge by a distance and worth arriving early for. In Bengaluru the lounge is domestic only, so it helps on an internal leg rather than before a long-haul flight. At JFK and San Francisco, Star Alliance Gold members and premium passengers on other Star carriers usually have a better option in the same terminal and should take it. Air India's own passengers at those two airports may still prefer a quiet seat to none, but should eat before they board.

Access and method

Air India does not yet have its own program page on Lounge Frog, so entry rules for status holders are on the Star Alliance Gold lounge access page. Scores follow our methodology.