Three years ago I declared the US Airways lounge at New York LaGuardia to be the worst lounge in North America.
This was a chair in that lounge:
Since that time, US Airways traded many of its takeoff and landing slots at LaGuardia with Delta in exchange for slots at Washington’s National airport and cash. Delta renovated the old US Airways club, and US Airways opened a new club to support its scaled-down operation at the airport.
And the new US Airways club is much, much better than before.
There are even modest snacks, like bagels, available.
There’s ‘premium’ wine to order (although I don’t really consider Santa Margherita all that premium or worth $12 a glass.
There’s a paid snack menu to order off of as well.
And there’s a great view of airport operations (nearly all Delta these days!) as well as back into the terminal.
The only problem with the new club, it seems to me, is that it isn’t meant to support very many people. The coffee maker that makes individual coffee cups is complicated (two different packets to insert, one at a time, for a cappuccino) and takes way too long when more than one person wants a cup.
And more significantly the restrooms are meant for one person at a time. That’s not great when you’ve got to go…
All in all though, I’m thrilled to say that I’m now in search of a new “worst lounge” to bestow the honor upon!
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Which is the worst lounge in the US Lounge?
I nominate AA Lounge in the Concourse D in MIA.
But the AA Lounge in LGA is a close 2nd.
the worst lounge is Admirals Club in EWR.
As a traveler (and I hope the airline management thinks the same way) a large LGA operation is well worth a few bucks to maintain it.
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I think selling slots at LGA is one of the worst moves by Doug in the whole process.
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US would have been better off spending a few $ to fix the chair than selling the slots and using the money to get a new lounge
Have you seen the United Club at PHL recently? Leaking roof, not ventilated in summer time (feels like a sauna) and lack of seating when operations go sideways (as they typically do at PHL).
RB you’re out of your mind – the AA lounge at LGA is pretty new, and is quite nice.
If you think that’s bad, go to a dozen different UA clubs all over the country.
I don’t think anybody would disagree that the worst club is now the Admirals Club ORD, G concourse. I schlep all the way to H/K even when my flight is out of G to avoid that club. I haven’t been in the AS Boardroom in LAX since they moved to terminal 6, but the old terminal 3 one was dingy.
As usual, food (and drink) dominate the review. 🙂
@Corey: The new AS Boardroom at LAX is great. I was just there on Tuesday. It blows away US/AA/UA clubs in the food dept…
It is a coin toss between the UA Club in SNA with its “bus station-inspired” washrooms or the HA lounge in KOA.
@RB – Have you been to the AA LGA lounge in the past three years?
Take you pick of any United Club at IAD.
Gary, if I’m not mistaken, there’s also cheese and crackers in a refrigerator in the cabinets underneath the bagel machine. Might not be there all day, but every time I’ve been in the lounge after Noon, the cheese has been there – but it’s not obvious at first glance.
@NYBanker
I was there last month on my way to MIA.
Food offering was horrible. Perhaps I am accustomed to lounges outside the US.
No fair to use that article title and not tell us which lounge is now the worst.
UA club at PHL is pretty bad. US club at PIT is close (think green carpeting, fake gold sink handles, old school tv flight display where 80% still sits there with blank screen and chairs that sink when you sit on it). It is apparent US did not put a single dime to refresh the club since the 80s.
@Corey – The Admirals Club at ORD Terminal 3 G concourse has been renovated. I was there in January and it was shiny and new.
HA’s lounge at OGG takes the cake. [tied with HA’s KOA lounge]
Sure, it’s in Maui, but it’s always crammed with limited seating.
The only food offering is HA’s snack mix, and no outside food is allowed. No alcohol is offered, no water is offered– only sugary drinks from the self-serve soda fountain.
Need to use the restroom? Well since there’s no restroom inside the club, you have to exit the club and use the public restroom somewhat nearby.
I guess I can’t complain that badly since it’s free to HA First passengers regardless of status. Plus you’re in Hawaii and have managed to fly first class.
But I have yet to run into a Club [besides HA’s KOA club which is similar] in the U.S. which lacks a private restroom, is majorly congested, and offers few amenities.
I second UA’s IAD clubs. They’re in terrible shape.
Looking for a new worst…United at Washington Dulles (IAD). DIRTY, old, lousy or non-existent food…and this is the first class lounge in a United international hub.
As a resident of Spain, this lounge looks like an oasis compared to the *A lounges at MAD…
The Star Alliance clubs at NBO are really rough and small. If you want a seat, get to the airport well ahead of your flight. On a level with Third World clubs is the United lounge in the F Concourse at ORD.
Wow. The comments are better than the post. First world problems I say 🙂
I like the photo of the bathroom. The random Lysol can and hand soap dispenser like it’s some road side gas station. You could of at least done a selfie in there.
To me the worst lounges are the airports without lounges like MCI, etc. etc.
The one bathroom at this club is a huge issue. There is often a line and twice has been closed for cleaning so I’ve had to go outside the lounge. Seating can become an issue too. While it is much better, we were spoiled by being able to use the Delta lounge during US construction and it is def a step back from Delta.
I nominate the United Club in B at IAH and the Sky Club at B10 in ATL for worst lounge.
ANY United club is the worst.
I nominate the Club at LAS.
Incredibly small, poorly staffed, dimly lit, and a nightmare to check into.
Especially now that there is a Centurion Lounge in Vegas, it’s definitely the worst one I’ve been to in the US.
I have to disagree with Gary! The Delta Club at JFK hands down the worst. First its hot as hell in there. I login on foursquare and a guy mentions he was there in dec and barely any AC and they were working on it. I was there a few weeks ago, still barely any AC. It is extremely small, overcrowded and I spend several minutes just to get in that crappy lounge. I did not stay more than a few mins. American Club in Miami is often crowded and food choices are limited. I was in the United Club in Paris. That place is dark like a cave and a time warp to the 1970s. The best for me was many years ago Quantas Arrival Lounge in Sydney, British Air in Heathrow nice (but some of the people working there are the worst) and the best in the US is American Express LAS Vegas. In fact Amex is just that good. I have not been in Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow even thought I have flown Upper Class many times.
Also the Miami Club shared by several international carriers is nothing great with very limited food choices.
Headed to LGA today and will have some down time while I wait for colleagues to arrive- is there a magic way to get from the us air terminal to the AA lounge in terminal B without going in and out of security?
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