Terminal 8 at New York’s JFK airport is entrenching its position as a Oneworld hub with this week’s opening of new lounges which will welcome Qantas travellers when Sydney-Auckland-New York flights take off from June 2023.

The upmarket lounges are a joint development by American Airlines and British Airways as part of their trans-Atlantic joint business venture.

Other Oneworld airlines flying out of T8 include Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways.

So this trio of lounges has been designed to cater for a wide variety of passengers, whether they’re holding frequent flyer status or a first class boarding pass.

What’s described as an ‘elevated journey’ actually begins at the check-in stage, with a spacious dedicated business class check-in area plus an first class check-in suite providing “personalised, concierge-style service for top-tier guests” for first class passengers and those with Oneworld Emerald status.

Once through security, loungeworthy flyers will find three lounges have been given unique names of New York neighbourhoods which are also London landmarks.

The Chelsea Lounge is for first class passengers as well as high flyers holding membership of elite programs such as American Airlines Concierge Key, British Airways Gold Guest List and Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.

Highlights of the Chelsea Lounge include a champagne bar (reportedly serving Krug)...

... an à la carte dining room...

... plus a fireside lounge, luxury shower suites and nap beds in case a pre-flight snooze is called for.

The Soho Lounge is effectively a Oneworld Emerald lounge, which will include Qantas Platinum and Platinum One-grade frequent flyers.


Located next to the Chelsea Lounge, the Soho Lounge has an expansive dining area with a self-serve buffet and a tender wine bar...

... along with private shower suites, work-friendly cubicles and sweeping airside views through sloping floor-to-ceiling windows.

Finally, the Greenwich Lounge is the go-to for business class passengers and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers (such as Qantas Gold).

This is actually a rebranding of American Airlines’ Flagship Lounge, which explains why it lacks the lush look of the new-build Chelsea and Soho lounges and instead looks like, well, an American Airlines lounge.

Features of the Greenwich business class lounge include a terrace bar, ‘chef-inspired meals’ and a ’premium wine table’.