There is bar hopping but is there a thing called lounge hopping? Well, here is the Midlife Adventurer’s Lounge Hopping Adventure at JFK’s Terminal 4 in New York.
Table of Contents
Toggle- Background to My Lounge Hopping
- The Centurion Club Lounge
- The Air India Maharajah Lounge at JFK T4
- Primeclass Lounge JFK T4
- Conclusion of Midlife Adventurer’s Lounge Hopping at JFK Terminal 4
Background to My Lounge Hopping
As my previous posts have detailed, I recently went on a three-week, three nation tour that took me to Singapore, Cambodia and Malaysia. I was taking the world’s longest flight, the JFK – Singapore flight, operated by Singapore Airlines from JFK from where some of the world’s busiest and longest routes are operated.
I live in Canada so I flew a day ahead to New York to be fully rested to enjoy the business class flight, which will almost 19 hours.
The Singapore Airlines, surprisingly, doesn’t have its own lounge at JFK. Instead, the check-in counter officials directed us, as business class passengers, to Air India’s Maharaja Lounge and the Prime Class Lounge. There is also the Virgin Clubhouse but that’s for Suites and Solitaire PPS Club members. We were travelling using our loyalty points.
Check My Post & Video on My Experience on Flight SQ23 Including How I Used My Alaska Points
The flight to Singapore was late in the night and I had spent the whole day in New York, so I wanted to have a shower to feel rested before I board the flight. But neither lounge had a shower facility.
But I had a solution. I had access to the Centurion Club lounge through American Express Platinum Card.
The Centurion Club Lounge
Who Has Access to the Centurion Club Lounge
- Platinum Card Members
- Business Platinum Card Members
- Corporate Platinum Card Members
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Members (with your same-day Delta flight booked with the same card)
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Members (with your same-day Delta flight booked with your card)
- Centurion Members
Members can bring guests but the cost depends on the type of card and from which country you got the card.
The lounge is massive, as many would see, spanning two floors with a total area of 15,000 square feet. We were checked in fast and the front desk officer was kind enough to check whether we could get a shower. Fortunately for me, the shower was available and I was requested to be back within 20 minutes.
The Shower at Centurion Lounge JFK T4
It’s a compact cabin. It had a comfortably sized sink with all the necessities including the dryer and a shower which had shampoo etc. Then there was the toilet. A towel was also laid out and the officer had given me a small package with toothbrush and paste.
I was done in about 15 minutes.
The Food at Centurion Lounge JFK T4
Afterwards, it was time to check what was available. My first stop was at the bar. A few beer and other alcohol varieties were available along with cocktails which are created together with local chefs. Here too, the one-drink per person policy was implemented but I could get drinks for two people.
For food, there was pasta, chicken, salads etc. Of course, there were desserts as well. There were the usual dispensers for coffee, cappuccino etc., and pops.
I decided to check out the lounge’s 2nd floor. Again, it was almost the same food and bar options.
But the food options change depending on the time of the day. I went around 7 pm.
Wifi at Centurion Lounge JFK T4
I had signed up for an e-sim but didn’t want to use up the data package so the great wifi at the lounge came in handy.
Other Facilities at Centurion Lounge JFK T4
There was comfortable seating for those dining and then cushion chairs to work or just to lounge and have a drink. There are also small cubicle-like spots for those who want some quietness to concentrate or work.
Centurion Member Features
There was a section cordoned off for Centurion members.
This lounge also features the Equinox Body Lab which features treadmills, seating and other features suitable for meditation, yoga facilities etc.
The Speakeasy
One has to mention this part of the lounge. Quite hidden from most of the visitors, this is the third bar of the lounge and offers special alcohol drinks including whisky, gin and cocktails. This is open in the evenings and is a members-only bar.
All in all, the Centurion Lounge is a special lounge with great features.
The Air India Maharajah Lounge at JFK T4
Having checked out the Centurion, it was time to check out the two SIA lounges.
First was the Air India’s Maharajah Lounge. This is located next to the Emirates lounge.
Access to Maharajah Lounge at JFK T4
- Star Alliance business class
- Priority Pass members are among those who have access to this lounge.
This was a smaller lounge, with seats on either side of the only aisle. There were no comfortable, sofa chairs, but the seating arrangement wasn’t that uncomfortable either.
I went there around 8 pm and the lounge closes at 9 pm, so it was a low key affair.
Food at Maharajah Lounge JFK T4
It was closing time but I still thought they had sufficient amount of food for us. There was, of course, rice, and then chickpea stew, a mixed vegetable curry etc. There was also pop and beer cans in the mini-fridge. Interestingly, it looked like an open bar.
Other Facilities at Maharajah Lounge at JFK T4
The toilets were clean and the wifi was great too.
Primeclass Lounge JFK T4
I didn’t stay in the Maharajah Lounge for too long. This is because I wanted to test the second SIA lounge, and the third within three hours.
So, I went to the Primeclass Lounge after 9 pm and it was getting crowded. I suppose it is because some of the other lounges were closing or already closed.
Access to the Prime Class Lounge JFK T4
Same as the Maharajah Lounge
Food at Prime Class Lounge JFK T4
This lounge was more like a semi fast food type one than a full-fledged location. There were mostly sandwiches, wraps, salad in small containers, dry soup mixes in containers, cookies etc. There were also soft drinks and hot drinks such as coffee. Surprisingly, there were small wine bottles and beer cans as well.
Other Facilities Prime Class Lounge JFK T4
The wifi connection was good.
There is no toilet facility in this lounge so the guests have to use the ones outside of the lounge, in the airport hallways. I was able to return to the lounge after using the toilet.
Conclusion of Midlife Adventurer’s Lounge Hopping at JFK Terminal 4
This was my first experience in trying out different lounges within a short period of time.
Was it worth it? There was a time, perhaps 15 years ago, I would have tried all the dishes in every lounge and still be ready to enjoy the meals available on board a long-haul business class flight.
