LONDON – Earlier this week saw American Airlines & British Airways begin the co-location process at JFK’s Terminal 8.
Such a tie-up began on December 1, with customers able to enjoy a more enhanced travel experience caused by a $400m overall investment made into the terminal.
This means that British Airways has moved from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8 at the airport.
Executive Comments…
New York Governor Kathy Hochul commented on the completion of Terminal 8:
“The completion of Terminal 8 is the latest milestone in our historical efforts to build a whole new JFK worthy of New York”.
“I congratulate American Airlines, British Airways, and the Port Authority for the first of what will be many milestones to come.”
“We will continue our close partnerships as we transform JFK into a magnificent global gateway that will help to keep New York at the center of the world stage.”
Also commenting on this milestone was American Airlines CEO Robert Isom:
“We are thrilled to welcome our long-standing joint business partner, British Airways, as it joins American and other oneworld partners at Terminal 8.”
“As part of our investment to transform JFK into a leading global airport, we are excited to offer customers expanded terminal space, new check-in areas, and elegant lounges.”
Finally, Sean Doyle, the CEO of British Airways, added to everyone’s comments:
“We announced our joint investment early in 2019, so it is an honor to reach this significant milestone with our business partner, American Airlines.”
“From December 1, our customers and colleagues will be able to enjoy all the benefits that Terminal 8 has to offer.”
The New Benefits…
Within this new set-up, there are three new lounges that passengers can take advantage of.
The Chelsea Lounge is 10,000 square feet and offers a capacity of 128 seats, featuring a Krug! champagne bar, a la carte dining, and an in-lounge fireplace.
The Soho Lounge is a 12,000 square feet lounge which offers a capacity of 282 seats, a cocktail bar, a buffet and a la carte dining, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows.
Finally, The Greenwich Lounge, which is designed for long-haul business class flyers, has an overall capacity of 590 seats, a terrace bar, and some cool views of the airport too.
As well as lounges, there are now two new exclusive check-in areas for First Class & Business Class passengers alike.
The First Class area is behind frosted glass doors and features check-in desks with comfy seats, whereas the Business Class check-in area represents an upgrade but still resembles a traditional priority lane.
Overall…
This is a major milestone for American Airlines & British Airways, especially when we can begin to see the formation of a oneworld terminal at JFK.
BA and Iberia moved into the terminal this week, with Japan Airlines due to move in by May 2023.
Either way, it’s been a fancy transition for oneworld, which is something that will be enjoyed by members, but at what cost to Admirals Club users?
