There’s just something about an open bar and a warm buffet that makes all the common headaches of air travel a little easier to tolerate. According to the inaugural J.D. Power “U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark,” that welcome respite has become such an important component of the air travel experience that nearly half (47 percent) of airport lounge customers now plan their route selections based on access to their preferred airport lounge and 82 percent say their choice of airline is influenced by lounge access.
“Airport lounges have become so popular that many airports are now starting to mimic their designs and layouts in their public terminal areas,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power. “Lounges are clearly resonating with travelers, as expanded access through credit card perks and other non-status-related offers has fueled demand, bringing with it the unfortunate side effect of increased crowding. This is driving the demand for additional lounge space within airport terminals.”
Key findings
- Lounge access influences travel plans: Access to a preferred airport lounge has become a major driver of airport and airline selection, with 47 percent of lounge customers indicating they plan their routes based on lounge access and 82 percent indicating they choose a specific airline based on lounge access.
- Credit card perks expand lounge access: More than one-third (34 percent) of lounge customers use credit card perks to gain access to an airport lounge, while just 21 percent are granted access due to elite frequent flyer status and 18 percent have a standalone lounge membership.
- Food and beverage are the big draw: The most popular services and amenities utilized in airport lounges are food and beverage (74 percent), rest and relaxation (62 percent) and an escape from the airport crowds (37 percent). One noteworthy trend airports will want to watch closely is the fact that 38 percent of lounge customers say they visited the airport lounge due to the high cost of food and beverage in the terminal.
- Satisfaction increases the longer the lounge stay: A majority (56 percent) of lounge customers spend between 31 and 60 minutes, on average, in an airport lounge. Among these guests, overall satisfaction averages 758 (on a 1,000-point scale). Overall satisfaction climbs 39 points to 797 when guests spend 121 minutes or more in a lounge.
Study Ranking
American Express Centurion Lounge ranks highest in customer satisfaction with a score of 782. Capital One Lounge and Delta Sky Club rank second, in a tie, each with a score of 773.
The U.S. Airport Lounge Benchmark measures customer satisfaction with airport lounges in the United States across eight core dimensions (in order of importance): value of experience; staff; food and beverage; cleanliness/upkeep; amenities; ease of accessing lounge; ambiance and Wi-Fi service. The 2025 study is based on responses gathered from 1,430 travelers who visited a U.S. airport lounge in the past year. The study was fielded from September through October 2025.
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