2026 Airport Lounge Rankings Expose a Crowding Problem

JD Power's second annual U.S. Airport Lounge Satisfaction Study, released this month, found American Express Centurion Lounges and Capital One Lounges tied for the top satisfaction score among U.S. lounge networks, each earning 771 points out of a possible 1,000. Chase Sapphire Lounge came in third at 764, and Delta Sky Club led airline-operated lounges at 763. The rankings come from a survey of 2,991 travelers who had visited a U.S. airport lounge in the past year, fielded between April and June, The Points Guy reported.

JD Power scored lounges on eight factors, ranked in order of importance: value of the experience, staff, food and beverage, cleanliness, amenities, ease of access, ambiance and Wi-Fi service, according to the study. United Clubs and United Polaris scored 702, near the bottom of the field, while The Club, a third-party network, scored lowest at 650.

Crowding, not amenities, turned out to be the biggest swing factor in overall satisfaction. Nearly half of respondents, 46 percent, said the lounge they use most often is usually moderately or severely crowded. Satisfaction scores fell from 833 points among travelers who called their lounge "not at all crowded" to 589 among those who called it "severely crowded" — a 244-point gap tied to that single variable. Value was still the top-weighted factor overall: 39 percent of travelers said they visit lounges mainly to avoid overpriced terminal food, and 45 percent said they're there mainly to escape the crowds outside.

What this means for remote workers and nomads spending long layovers between destinations

For nomads who treat a long connection as work time rather than dead time, this study is a reminder that the lounge with the best reputation isn't automatically the best place to get a video call done. Wi-Fi service was the least-weighted of JD Power's eight factors — worth remembering before betting an inbox-zero afternoon on a top-ranked lounge, since none of the factors that pushed Amex and Capital One to the top of the list were about connectivity. Treating a long layover as productive time, rather than a waiting room, is one of the skills worth building as a full-time nomad.

Access also doesn't require the most expensive card in your wallet. Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a $795 annual fee and includes complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, covering more than 1,300 lounges worldwide, plus its own Chase Sapphire Lounge network — the study's third-highest scorer. Travelers who'd rather skip a premium travel card altogether can buy into Priority Pass directly, starting at $99 a year for pay-per-visit access or $469 for unlimited entry. That's a lower bar than the American Express Platinum's $895 annual fee, which now also carries a $50-per-adult guest charge at Centurion Lounges — a cost that adds up fast for nomads traveling with a partner or kids.

Sources

• "These are America's best airport lounge networks of 2026, according to JD Power study" — The Points Guy — https://thepointsguy.com/news/best-airport-lounges-2026-jd-power/ — accessed 2026-08-20

• "Complimentary Food and Beverage, Staff Interactions Drive Guest Satisfaction with Airport Lounges" — AOL (JD Power release) — https://www.aol.com/articles/complimentary-food-beverage-staff-interactions-110000000.html — accessed 2026-08-20

• "Priority Pass Membership Levels and Cost" — Chase — https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/rewards-benefits/priority-pass-levels — accessed 2026-08-20

• "Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Airport Lounge Access" — Upgraded Points — https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/reviews/chase-sapphire-reserve/airport-lounge-access/ — accessed 2026-08-20

• "Centurion Lounge Guest Charge Starting Feb. 1 (+ How To Avoid It!)" — Upgraded Points — https://upgradedpoints.com/news/centurion-lounge-guest-charge/ — accessed 2026-08-20

• "Amex Platinum Benefits 2026: Full Credits List + How to Offset the $895 Fee" — Roaming Cactus — https://roamingcactus.com/credit-cards/amex-platinum-benefits-2026 — accessed 2026-08-20