The worst-rated lounges at major US airports (and where to go instead)

Most lounge rankings tell you where to go. This one tells you where not to bother, and what to do instead. We took 23 major US airports in our directory, found the lowest-scoring open lounge at each, and ranked the dozen that have photos from worst upward. Every alternative named below is in the same airport and, wherever possible, the same terminal.

Ground rules before the list

A lounge only qualified if it is open, listed under one of the 23 airports, and has at least eight rated metrics. That rule knocked out a few partially scored rooms, which we flag where it matters. Minute Suites appear at six of these airports and mostly score between 1.1 and 1.5. They are nap suites sold by the hour, not lounges, so we left them off the ranking. Three bottom-of-airport lounges have no photos and sit in the text instead. Scores are our editorial ratings from 1 to 5, explained in our methodology.

The two that are not really lounges

The bottom two are grab-and-go counters wearing lounge branding, and both earn 1 on cleanliness, coffee, crowding, drinks and food. United Club Fly at Denver scores 1.4 with no bar, no restrooms inside and no guests allowed. Walk west along Concourse B to the two-level United Club (B West) near gate B32, which rates 4.5 on the same membership. The airport's best room is the Centurion Lounge at 4.8; see the Denver rankings.

Charlotte's Provisions by Admirals Club near gate A1 scores 1.5 and has 30 seats. The Admirals Club (B) between gates B3 and B5 rates 4.6 with showers, on the same Admirals Club or oneworld access. Charlotte's full list has three lounges tied at 4.6.

New York and Chicago

VIP One Lounge at JFK Terminal 1 is landside, international departures only, and scores 1.9 with 1 for coffee, crowding, food and service. The fix is in the same terminal. The Primeclass Lounge airside near gates 8 and 9 rates 4.8 and takes Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass. Priority Pass needs pre-booking and is limited to 09:00 to 21:00. JFK's leaderboard is deep enough that nobody should be settling.

The LOT Polish Airlines Business Lounge in O'Hare's Terminal 5 is new, opened in December 2024, and still scores 2.1 with 1 for seating and power. Priority Pass holders have the Swissport Lounge at gate M13 in the same terminal at 3.9, with entry sometimes capped from 15:00 to 20:30. Star Alliance Gold members get a better deal at the United Club (B18), which rates 4.7 but is not in Terminal 5. O'Hare's rankings show the Delta Sky Club (M) at 4.8 for anyone on SkyTeam.

LaGuardia's Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge scores 2.1, dragged down by 1 for cleanliness, food, seating and service. It sits on the level 3 lounge floor of Terminal B's Eastern Concourse. The United Club is on the same concourse, one level up from the gates, and rates 4.2 for Star Alliance Gold members. LaGuardia's best are the Chase Sapphire Lounge and the Delta Sky Club at gate 81, both 4.8.

West coast

San Francisco's Air India Maharaja Lounge opened in 2026 and already scores 2.4, with 1 for views and workspace. Star Alliance Gold members can use the United Club (G) at 4.5 instead. SFO's top tier has three rooms at 4.8.

At LAX the lowest photographed room is the Air France Lounge in the Tom Bradley terminal at 2.9, with 2 for coffee, food, views, wifi and workspace. The Admirals Club in the regional terminal scores lower at 2.8, but on only eight metrics and with no photos, so it stays out of the ranking. SkyTeam Elite Plus members can reach the Delta Sky Club (T3) at 4.7, and the Korean Air Lounge in Tom Bradley rates 4.1. The LAX list is led by the Flagship Lounge at 4.8.

Phoenix's Escape Lounge (Terminal 4) scores 3.1 across nine metrics, with 2 for coffee, crowding and restrooms. It is across from gate B22, the same spot as the Centurion Lounge at 4.5. Amex Platinum cardholders get both but not on the same day, so pick the Centurion. Priority Pass is only accepted at the Terminal 3 Escape Lounge, which rates 4.0. Phoenix's best is the Chase Sapphire Lounge at 4.8.

East coast and the middle

Minneapolis's golf-themed PGA MSP Lounge scores 2.8 with 2 for coffee, crowding, food, quiet, restrooms and seating. The Escape Lounge on the same Terminal 1 mezzanine rates 4.0 on the same Priority Pass. MSP's Delta Sky Clubs all score 4.7.

Boston's Air France Lounge in Terminal E scores 2.9, with 2 for drinks, quiet, seating, views and wifi, and Priority Pass is only admitted from 08:00 to 13:30. SkyTeam Elite Plus members have the Delta Sky Club (E) at 4.6 in the same terminal. Priority Pass holders can walk airside to the Chase Sapphire Lounge at 4.6, though non-Reserve members get one free visit a year. Boston's rankings put the British Airways and Emirates lounges at 4.7.

Miami's Avianca and TAP Portugal VIP Lounge near gate J6 scores 3.0, with 2 for coffee, crowding, drinks, power and wifi. The Turkish Airlines Lounge (H/J) in the same South Terminal rates 4.7, runs 24 hours, and takes both Priority Pass and Star Alliance Gold. Miami's leaderboard tops out with the Flagship Lounge at 4.9.

Newark's SAS Lounge in the Terminal B satellite scores 3.0, with 2 for coffee, food, quiet and restrooms, and is not in Priority Pass. SkyTeam Elite Plus members have the Delta Sky Club (B) at 4.3. Newark's best is the United Club (C, mezzanine) at 4.9.

The three without photos

Houston's KLM Crown Lounge in Terminal D scores 3.0 and may refuse Priority Pass from 12:30 to 18:45. The United Club (E) rates 4.7. Detroit's Lufthansa Business Lounge scores 3.0 and is the only lounge in the Evans Terminal, so the alternative means going to McNamara for the Delta Sky Club (A, central) at 4.6. At Dulles the Etihad Lounge on Concourse A scores 3.1; Priority Pass holders do better at the Turkish Airlines Lounge at 4.1, and United flyers have the United Club (D) at 4.9.

Where the floor is high

Minute Suites aside, eight of the 23 airports have no lounge below 3.5. Salt Lake City's lowest is The Club SLC at 4.4. Seattle, Washington National and Orlando bottom out at 3.8, Las Vegas at 3.7, Atlanta and Dallas Fort Worth at 3.6, and Philadelphia at 3.5. If you are flying from one of those, skip this page and go straight to the airport's rankings.