“My top priorities in a lounge are healthy and hearty food options, and a solid selection of cocktails and mocktails,” Kokoruz says. “It’s 2025—every great lounge should nail both.”

“The best spaces feel more like high-end hospitality than a pre-flight pit stop,” he adds.

In order to cater to different tiers of travelers, both airlines and credit card companies have debuted new “lounge-within-a-lounge” concepts—reservable, private spaces ideal for a power lunch or power nap. Last year, Air France introduced private suites within its already-exclusive La Première lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). These 500-square-foot sanctuaries are connected to the main first-class lounge and feature a spacious living area, a bedroom with a double bed, an outdoor patio, and a dedicated butler. Meanwhile, Chase’s “Reserve Suites,” private rooms with a personal attendant, include a welcome caviar service, á la carte dining, and an ensuite bathroom with Augustinus Bader amenities. The smallest suite, with a four-person capacity, costs $2,200.

Easing Airport Stress

Beyond in-lounge amenities, easing airport stress for business travelers is about eliminating points of friction. Karp says that includes “skipping the line to enter, accessing a private security checkpoint, or avoiding crowds altogether.”

In 2023, Delta Air Lines opened an exclusive check-in area at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Delta One customers. Tucked away on the arrivals level, the 4,200-square-foot space not only offers white-glove assistance (hot towel, anyone?) but also a special TSA lane and direct access to the lounge upstairs.

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