- Introduction: Zipping To Tokyo Via Mongolia
- Review: American First Class Boeing 737 (MIA-LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Review: Chase Sapphire Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: VIP ONE Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Turkish Airlines Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Lufthansa Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Lounge New York Kennedy Airport (JFK)
- Review: Air France Business Class Airbus A350 (JFK-CDG)
- Review: Air France HOP Business Class Embraer E190 (CDG-FRA)
- Review: Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 (FRA-UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Lounge Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN)
- Review: MIAT Mongolian Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 (UBN-ICN)
- Review: Seoul Incheon Airport Transit Hotel (ICN)
- Review: Oneworld Lounge Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN)
- Review: ZIPAIR Full Flat Business Class Boeing 787 (ICN-NRT)
- Review: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: TIAT Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Review: Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
During my trip to Japan via Mongolia, I had the chance to check out several lounges at New York JFK Terminal 1 prior to my Air France A350 flight to Paris. One of the lounges that I checked out was the Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK, which is one of the newer lounges in the terminal (this took over the space of the former Alitalia Lounge).
To be honest, I found this to probably be the weakest lounge that I visited in the terminal. While the decor is okay, the lounge has a basic food selection, doesn’t serve alcohol, and also doesn’t have shower rooms. If you have Priority Pass, I’d much rather visit the Air France Lounge, the Lufthansa Lounge, or the Primeclass Lounge.
In this post:
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK location
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK is located in Terminal 1, between gates two and three. So after clearing security (hopefully by using the VIP ONE Lounge experience), follow the signage in that direction.
If you walk just a short distance, you’ll see the entrance to the lounge on the left.
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK hours
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK is open daily from 9AM until 12:10AM. However, you can expect the hours to change based on airline schedules, so don’t count on that sticking, since this also acts as the contract lounge for many other airlines.
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK entry requirements
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK is intended largely for Turkish Airlines passengers, given that the airline typically operates two daily flights to the airport. However, that’s not the only way to access the lounge:
- The lounge is open to Priority Pass members, with usage allowed for up to three hours (at times there may be capacity constraints); there are many premium credit cards offering Priority Pass memberships
- In line with Star Alliance lounge access policies, you can use this lounge if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member, or are departing in Star Alliance first or business class; however, personally I’d prefer the nearby Lufthansa Lounge
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK seating & layout
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK is roughly 4,600 square feet, with seating for around 140 guests. The lounge primarily consists of one big room, with several seating options.
When you enter the lounge, you’ll first see some long padded benches, which aren’t exactly the most comfortable place to sit, but I suppose they make good overflow seating.
Deeper into the lounge you’ll find the dining area, featuring a dozen tables, seating three people each (which seems like an odd number of chairs to put at each table, in terms of the parties in which people typically travel).
To the side of the dining area, you’ll find some chairs arranged in rows facing one another, as well as a counter with some high-top seating, looking out over the apron.
Lastly, the very back of the lounge has a bunch of couches, which won’t exactly win any design awards.
The only part of the lounge that isn’t in the main room is a small area inside the entrance and to the right, featuring a conference room table, which essentially seems to act as a communal workstation.
One nice thing about this lounge is the views, as it’s a fantastic vantage point from which to look at the apron. But my gosh, winter weather in New York almost makes you wish there weren’t windows…
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK food & drinks
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK has an underwhelming food and drink selection, all available at a self-serve buffet. Note that the lounge doesn’t have alcohol — I was under the impression that it was just taking time to secure a license to serve alcohol, but it has been so long now, and I wonder if it might just be intentional.
Around breakfast, food options included a variety of carbs (muffins, bagels, croissants, toast, etc.), olives, whole and sliced fruit, cheese cubes, and yogurt.
Then there were four hot options, including cheese omelets, pogača (a Turkish cheese pastry), home fries, and lentil soup.
In terms of drinks, there was an espresso machine, drip coffee, a selection of tea, juice, canned soda, and bottled water.
That’s a rather disappointing selection in terms of both food and drinks, if you ask me.
Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK bathrooms
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK has bathrooms, but not showers. The men’s room had two sinks and three stalls, and was pretty basic.
Bottom line
The Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK would probably be my last choice among the lounges in Terminal 1. While the lounge has lots of natural light, it’s otherwise not very impressive. The furnishings aren’t particularly nice, the food selection is limited, and there’s no alcohol. Turkish Airlines’ outstation lounges are usually above average, but this lounge is an exception.
What do you make of the Turkish Airlines Lounge New York JFK?
I am surprised no one corrected Lucky with the two daily flights : there are three or four daily flights , depending on the day and season, 27 weekly flights .
There's obviously quite a bit of sarcasm in this review that people seem to be taking literally in the comments.
Wow I guess I've been to two of their best, will skip this dog. IAD, and IST especially, were incredible.
Probably wouldn't describe IAD TK lounge as incredible. Especially considering if you're flying biz, not using PP & have the time, you can use the Polaris lounge.
Otherwise I do find it interesting that the JFK TK lounge is 4600 SF & accomodates 140 pax while the (bens recently reviewed) T1 prime class lounge is 4300 SF & only accomodates 95 pax.
Yeah the TK lounge at IAD is nice, but not incredible. I'd rank both UA's Polaris lounge and the AF lounge ahead of it.
I don't know why people find the TK lounge at IAD to be nice. Maybe it would be if wasn't always packed to the gills. I don't find the food or the furnishings to be significantly better than what Ben just reviewed at JFK. I'd rather sit in the terminal than the TK lounge at IAD.
Visited this lounge earlier this month on our way to Istanbul. Ours was the earlier of the TK flights and around the same time Egypt Air and Asiana airlines were to depart. All were using TK lounge plus all priority pass members. It was crowded and saw lot of people walk out because they couldn’t find a place to sit.
The choices and quality of food was awful just as Ben observed. Very unlike Turkish.
I remember seeing a 3D model airside of the planned works for T1 starting shortly with its phased demolition and airlines including TK being accommodated elsewhere and the airport authority apologising for any inconvenience. All these lounges you reviewed will be closed and demolished very soon unless of course the works have been delayed.
Spent an hour and half here recently waiting out a delayed AF flight to Paris (the AF lounge was so crowded so my partner and I opted to try a different lounge and this one was adjacent to our departure gate). The space is open and airy, and the apron views are great. The food was bad and there wasn't much on offer, and no liquor was available that day, not sure why. It's all...
Spent an hour and half here recently waiting out a delayed AF flight to Paris (the AF lounge was so crowded so my partner and I opted to try a different lounge and this one was adjacent to our departure gate). The space is open and airy, and the apron views are great. The food was bad and there wasn't much on offer, and no liquor was available that day, not sure why. It's all fairly basic, but clean and unlike the rest of the lounge portfolio at T1, this one felt a bit more spacious but nothing truly exceptional. It is located in what was the old Alitalia lounge.
What an embarrassment to the people of Turkey that this is the flagship lounge of their flagship airline in the flagship airport of the richest country in the world.
Those are not cheese omelets. They are pucks of rubber and plastic.