As 2024 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on the top 10 airline lounges I visited in 2024.

Note, this is not my all-time “top 10” list, but only my “top 10” list of lounges I visited this year, so you will see many of my favorite lounges like the Lufthansa First Class Terminal or Cathay Pacific’s The Pier are missing from the list below.


10. SAS Gold Lounge Copenhagen (CPH)

a bar with a counter and stools

I love the coffee in this lounge and the hidden sleeping rooms, where I spent a long day after my flight plans fell apart (more on that in a future trip report).

Review here.


9. Saudia AlFursan Lounge Jeddah (JED)

a tree in a building

This lounge would score a lot higher if the internet worked, but I loved the other amenities including barista-made coffee and an omelet at 10:00 pm!

Review here.


8. Air France Lounge Paris – Terminal 2E, Hall L (CDG)

a wooden bench in a sauna

I love the sauna in this lounge…such a fun amenity and I enjoyed a 20-minute sweat with my son Augustine before our early morning flight to Tunis.

Review here.


7. JAL First Class Lounge Tokyo (HND)

a room with a plant and chairs

This is a solid lounge, though there’s not anything in particular that makes this lounge one of the best in the world.

Review here.


6. United Polaris Lounges (LAX, SFO, ORD, EWR)

a room with tables and chairs

I’ve traveled on United a lot this year and visited many Polaris lounges (interestingly, not the Houston location for the third year in a row), which do get crowded but remain very competitive and are a huge value-add to flying on United or Star Alliance.

Reviews:


5. Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)

a restaurant with tables and chairs

While I held BA Gold status, I greatly enjoyed using this lounge when flying domestically on American Airlines. The excellent coffee and food make this perennially one of my favorite lounges.

Review here.


4. Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge Istanbul (IST)

two men in white coats cooking food in a kitchen

I know this lounge gets “boring” for those who travel through Istanbul often, but for me (who visits it 1-2 times per year), I find the selection of food and drink here is always very satisfactory and I like the sleeping rooms as well.

Review here.


3. Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge London (LHR)

a room with chairs and tables

I consider this lounge one of the most beautiful in the world (perhaps only to The Pier in Hong Kong) and enjoyed spedning some time here earlier this year when flying on British Airways.

Review here.


2. Qatar Airways Lounge London (LHR)

a plate of food on a table

The Qatar Airways Lounge in London scores highly because of the delicious a la carte menu…the food was spectacular (not so much the coffee, unfortunately). I wish this lounge was in Terminal 3 or 5 instead of Terminal 4.


1. Delta One Lounges (JFK, LAX)

a room with plants and windows

I unexpectedly had a last-minute business trip this month and flew Delta from New York to Los Angeles in Delta One, which gave me access to the new Delta One Lounges in both JFK and ALX. Reviews are coming, but these are beautiful spaces with superb food and drinks and do indeed beat both United Polaris and American Flagship Lounges.


What was your favorite airline lounge in 2024?

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