JD Power: American Express and Capital One tie for top airport lounge ranking

The American Express Centurion Lounge and Capital One Lounge have tied for the top spot nationwide in customer satisfaction among U.S. airport lounges, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Airport Lounge Satisfaction Study. The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club ranked third. All three top-tier lounges are branded by credit card companies.

The study surveyed 3,000 individuals between April and June 2026, measuring satisfaction across eight key dimensions: value of experience, staff, food and beverage, cleanliness, amenities, ease of access, ambiance, and Wi-Fi.

"With air travel demand as high as ever, the airport lounge customer experience is being challenged by crowded facilities and food and beverage offerings that do not always live up to expectations," said Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at JD Power. She added that as the segment grows, it will be critical for operators to focus on higher quality food and beverage and staff satisfaction.

Beyond ambiance and amenities, the study revealed that 39% of lounge guests used the facilities to escape expensive airport food and drink options. Nearly half of guests found the lounge meals to be better than expected. However, 45% sought lounges to escape crowded airport terminals, despite nearly half of respondents reporting that lounges themselves are often moderately or severely crowded.