10 Best US Airport Lounge Brands in 2026, According to Frequent Fliers

by Jessica Puckett
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Wed August 19, 2026

An airport lounge can be a serene escape from the stresses of modern air travel. But not all lounges are created equal.

Increasingly, these once-exclusive spaces are becoming almost as crowded as the regular waiting areas in the terminal. Some lounges can even offer subpar food or outdated amenities that frustrate travelers.

Fortunately, a new ranking from J.D. Power has identified the airport lounges that still offer a sense of glamor and are still worth the visit.

The study asked 2,991 travelers who visited a U.S. airport lounge in the past year to rank their satisfaction across eight key categories, including value of experience, staff, food and beverage, cleanliness/upkeep, amenities, ease of accessing lounge, ambiance, and Wi-Fi service.

According to the results, the best airport lounges in the U.S. are American Express Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges.

The two credit card brands tied for first place in the study, with even scores of 771 out of 1,000.

Both the Centurion Lounge Network and Capital One Lounges are known for gourmet dining options, craft cocktails, and stylish atmospheres.

Those amenities are the most important ones for travelers, with 39% of fliers surveyed in J.D. Power’s study saying they use airport lounges as a respite from high-priced food and beverage options in the airport terminal.

Another 45% of travelers said they use lounges to escape crowds in the terminal.

“With air travel demand as high as ever, the airport lounge customer experience is being challenged by crowded facilities and food and beverage offerings that do not always live up to expectations,” said Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at JD Power. “As this segment of the airport economy continues to grow, it will be critical for lounge operators and their partners to continue to find ways to delight guests with higher quality food and beverage, and happier staff.”

Rounding out the top three lounges is the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, which ranked in second place with a score of 764.

Although credit card companies swept the top three rankings on the list, airlines made a strong showing with domestic and international carriers securing six out of the 10 slots on the list.

Here’s a look at the 10 best airport lounges in the U.S., according to J.D. Power: