In this article, I hope to compare the airport lounges for the three major intercontinental airlines from the USA: American, Delta, and United. I will compare the types of amenities passengers have access to at the various lounges. 

Lounges for International Business Class Passengers by Airline:

American:

All passengers on American Airlines traveling on international first or business class have access to American Airlines Flagship Lounges. At the Flagship Lounge, there is a buffet with warm meals, a bar, many different types of seating, and shower suites.  At airports without a Flagship Lounge, customers can visit the American Airlines Admirals Club which have a smaller variety of seating options, food, and drinks than at Flagship Lounges. Passengers in American Flagship First Class have access to Flagship Dining, which is kind of like a sub lounge inside some of the Flagship Lounges which features restaurant style meals. Overall, the Flagship Lounges are a solid step above the Admirals Clubs, and are about up to the same standard as international lounges.

Who else can visit? Flagship Lounges are only available for international First and Business customers on American and partner airlines and for Oneworld elites (Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire/American Platinum Status). The Admirals Clubs are also available to select elites and first class passengers connecting internationally from domestic flights.

Flagship Lounges are currently available in:

Chicago (Terminal 3)

Los Angeles (Terminal 4)

Miami (Concourse D)

New York JFK (Terminal 8)

Flagship Lounges will be added to:

Dallas / Fort Worth 

London Heathrow

Philadelphia 

An American Airlines Flagship Lounge (Photo Courtesy of American Airlines)

Delta:

Delta Airlines is the only of the 3 airlines to not have a specific type of lounge for international business class passengers. Passengers can visit the Delta SkyClub which is similar to the American Airlines Admirals Club or the United Club. Passengers receive free snacks, drinks, showers at select locations, and can sit in a variety of seats there. Delta SkyClubs are maybe a bit better than United Clubs or Admirals Clubs, but certainly are not as good as Polaris or Flagship Lounges.

Who else can visit? Delta Skyclubs are also available for internationally connecting domestic first class passengers and Delta Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion elites, Delta Airlines partner airlines international business class passengers, AMEX Platinum and Centurion Cardholders, Diamond Medallion Club Members.

United:

Passengers traveling on United Polaris have access to the United Polaris lounge. It is similar to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Passengers have access to a buffet with hot meals, shower suites, and many types of seating. A specialty about the lounge is that passengers have access to free restaurant style dining. At all locations, passengers can go to a special section of the lounge where you can order free multi course meals, a feature not available in business class on American or Delta. Also, at all locations there are personal suites which have day beds, a pillow and a blanket, and noise cancelling machines. Neither American nor Delta have personal rest areas in any of their lounges. At airports without Polaris Lounges, passengers have access to United Clubs, which are similar to Delta SkyClubs or Admirals Clubs. I have personally been to United Clubs a few times. While they are nothing special, they are great in terms of offering a private place to stay with free snacks before a flight. However, they are not the most luxurious in terms of the amount of amenities they have, as they don’t offer any specific resting area or full meals.

Who else can visit? Only passengers traveling in United Polaris can visit United Polaris Lounges (not even Global Services). Passengers connecting to international flights in United Polaris, United Club Members, and passengers with Star Alliance Gold Status or above can visit United Clubs.

Polaris Lounges are currently available in:

Chicago (Terminal 2, Concourse C)

Houston (Terminal E)

Newark (Terminal C)

San Francisco (Terminal G)

Polaris Lounges will be added to:

Los Angeles (Fall 2018)

Washington Dulles

London Heathrow

Hong Kong

Tokyo-Narita

Pictures: United Polaris Lounge (All Photos Courtesy of United Airlines)

United Polaris Lounge Seating (San Francisco)

Dining Area (Houston)

Shower Suites

Rest Area (Chicago)

Ranking:

1. United Polaris: United offers rest areas and a full meal service to business class passengers: features neither Delta nor American have. Because United’s Polaris Lounges are most up to standard for business class lounges compared to world class airlines for reasons stated above, I have to give the first place for best long haul business class lounge for any American Airline. 

2. American Airlines: American Airlines’ Flagship Lounge is a step above Admirals Clubs/Delta SkyClubs/United Clubs in terms of types of seating and food options, but at the same time is not anything special.

3. Delta Airlines: As they do not even have a special lounge for international business class passengers, I do have to give them last place on this list.

If you have not read it yet, please see Part 1: Comparing Long Haul Business Class Hard Products of American, Delta, and United.