I’m a fanatic about airline products, and I enjoy maintaining an up-to-date list of some of the finest offerings available, from the top first-class airlines to the best first-class lounges and business-class airlines. In this article, I will share my top business class lounges worldwide — after all, a fantastic lounge significantly enhances the business class experience.
I must acknowledge that everyone has different preferences for amenities in airport lounges, depending on the reason for our visit. Additionally, various factors can affect our feelings about a lounge, such as how crowded it is. Consequently, two individuals can have completely different experiences in the same lounge — indeed, the same person may have distinct experiences at the same lounge at different times.
Given the multitude of variables, I won’t create a definitive ranked list. Instead, I’ll present them in a general order of preference, at least in “clusters” (meaning those at the top are my favorites, preferred over those at the bottom). I would also love to hear from OMAAT readers about your opinions and how your list might differ from mine.
With that settled, here are some of my preferred business class lounges around the globe (and you can click each title to read a review of that lounge)….
Delta One Lounges are still a relatively new idea, as Delta began rolling them out only in the last few years. Nonetheless, the airline has excelled, and the New York JFK location stands out as one of the most remarkable business class lounges globally.
The lounge features an outstanding restaurant, a wellness area, a stunning terrace, luxurious shower suites, and above all, incredibly friendly service. This really puts American Flagship Lounges and United Polaris Lounges in the shade. The Delta One Lounge LAX is also fantastic, but if I had to choose just one, I believe the JFK location has the advantage.
Qatar Airways boasts two extraordinary Al Mourjan Business Lounges in Doha — the original Al Mourjan Lounge North and the new Al Mourjan Garden Lounge South. Honestly, both lounges are excellent, and I can’t decide which I prefer more. If time allows, I highly recommend visiting both. For this post, though, I’ll focus on the first lounge. It might just be the world’s most architecturally stunning business class lounge, which is what impresses me the most.
Additionally, the lounge offers several excellent dining options, including a bistro for a quick meal and a full-service restaurant featuring a la carte dining. The lounge also includes rest areas, civilized smoking rooms, showers, and more. Qatar Airways also has outstanding outstation lounges (I would argue they have the best outstation lounges of any airline worldwide), but I still find the hub lounges to be even more impressive.
Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Class Lounge in Hong Kong easily holds my favorite design of any business class lounge worldwide. The lounge exudes coziness, warmth, and luxury, making it a delightful place to unwind.
It’s not only the lounge’s beautiful interior design that stands out. The lounge also offers a full bar with cocktails and barista-quality coffee, along with several dining concepts, from a noodle bar to a tea room. Additionally, the lounge features elegant shower suites and a relaxation area. This lounge is an absolute gem for premium oneworld travelers. For higher-tier oneworld members, Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge is even more impressive.
I’m also a fan of Cathay Pacific’s reliable design template for outstation lounges, where you’ll find a similar ambiance in lounges at London Heathrow (LHR), Tokyo Haneda (HND), etc.
Riyadh Air’s Hafawa Lounge in Riyadh is the most recent addition to the list, being the newly opened flagship lounge of the airline startup Riyadh Air. This lounge is stunningly beautiful, and in addition, it offers an exceptional soft product.
When it comes to attention to detail in design and overall elegance, I’d say Riyadh Air rivals Cathay Pacific. The design is slightly less uniform, however, as the lounge is divided into several areas, each with its own unique decor.
The food and beverage offerings in the lounge are excellent as well. There’s a comprehensive buffet, a restaurant with a la carte dining, a couple of barista coffee stations, and a bar serving creative cocktails. The only downside to this lounge is that no alcohol is available, as airlines from Saudi Arabia are all dry.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse is my top choice for a business class lounge in Europe, and it likely is the lounge with the most enjoyable atmosphere. Its quirky design,