The revamp of JFK Airport’s Terminal 1 will bring two shiny new airport lounges and good news for early risers and red-eye fans: one of them will be open 24/7. Travelers can gain access to the lounges by jumping through a few hoops, but in the city that never sleeps, it’s a valuable perk. The right credit cards can get New Yorkers and visitors alike into the new digs.
Premium Lounges Coming Soon
Plaza Premium Group, a global airport lounge operator, has partnered with JFK Airport to build two new lounges in the renovated Terminal 1, set to open in 2026.
The 9,300-square-foot Plaza Premium First lounge, located beyond the security checkpoint, will offer travelers handcrafted cocktails, a premium dining area, a reserved Infinity Room and, most importantly of all, will be open 24/7.
The second, smaller lounge (4,200 square feet) located before the security checkpoint will have “restaurant-quality” food, a full bar, showers and a business center.
“We are delighted to partner with Plaza Premium Group, a global innovator renowned for reimagining airport hospitality,” Jennifer Aument, CEO of The New Terminal One, a consortium of financial sponsors of the renovation, said in a news release. “Their lounge offerings align perfectly with our mission to create an unparalleled guest experience that is tailor-made for international customers flying out of JFK, the nation’s largest global gateway.”
Your Ticket In
The easiest way to gain access to a network of airport lounges is by holding the right credit card. Premium travel cards linked to Priority Pass, a global membership program for airport lounges, will provide access to Plaza Premium Group lounges. The lounge provider re-signed an agreement to grant access to 63 of its lounges to Priority Pass members in 2023, and the two new JFK airport lounges will likely be accessible through the same network.
Travelers can purchase a Priority Pass membership directly from the company, and prices range from $99 to $469 a year. But it may be more cost-effective to sign up for the right credit card for complimentary access to airport lounges and other perks.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply, rates & fees) is a premium travel card that, while it comes with a hefty annual fee of $695, provides cardholders with a long list of benefits, including complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that grants access to over 1,400 lounges around the world upon enrollment.
Members can also bring up to two accompanying guests. Travelers can take advantage of the card’s multipliers to earn 5 Membership Rewards® Points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 per calendar year, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel® and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
5X Reward Rate
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 onRead More
Welcome Bonus
As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual Fee
$695
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Score
Good, Excellent
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world’s most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also grants access to the Priority Pass network, with larger multipliers for travel if Chase is your bank of choice, at 8 points per dollar on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠, 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
With an annual fee of $795, the price is no easy pill to swallow, but if Priority Pass membership is valuable to you, it’s an easy decision. On top of Priority Pass, cardholders also gain access to every Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, which includes entry for up to two guests.
Up to 8x Reward Rate
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels bookedRead More
Welcome Bonus
125,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$795
Regular APR
20.24% – 28.74% Variable
Credit Score
Excellent (740 and above)
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for those looking for Priority Pass access at a lower cost of entry, with its annual fee of $395.
As with other travel cards, passengers can earn elevated rewards when booking travel through the Capital One portal at 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.
Bottom Line
JFK Airport’s Terminal 1 is getting a refresh that comes with two new premium lounges. Travelers can gain access through the Priority Pass network, offered as a complimentary perk for many premium travel cards.
To view rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
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