Get to Know the Airport Layout

Large airports like JFK, LAX, and Heathrow are really clusters of mini airports. Each terminal has its own lounges and its own personality. Some feel like hidden gems. Others feel like an afterthought.

Before your trip, check which lounges sit in each terminal. Priority Pass, airline lounge maps, and airport websites make this easy. A card like Capital One Venture X opens doors to many spaces, but airline lounges and day passes also widen your options.

Example. At Chicago O’Hare, Terminal 1 might offer a solid United Club buffet while Terminal 3 has a Centurion Lounge from American Express® with standout cocktails. Knowing the landscape sets up the whole strategy.

Plan the Terminal Hops

Moving between terminals takes time. Sometimes it is a quick tram ride. Sometimes it feels like a cardio workout.

Give yourself a loose plan. An hour or two per lounge usually works well. In Atlanta, one traveler started with breakfast at a Delta Sky Club in Terminal B, then hopped over to Terminal F for a quieter international lounge with sushi. Total travel time was about 15 minutes.

Always check airport maps. Some connections are simple. Others can drain half your layover. If it takes more than 20 minutes each way, the payoff needs to be worth it.

Know What You’re Chasing

Every lounge has strengths. Some win on food. Some on drinks. Some on peace and quiet. Lounge arbitrage is about matching each stop to what you want most.

One traveler in Dubai started at the Emirates lounge in Terminal 3 for a strong breakfast spread, then moved to a calmer Plaza Premium space for a shower and a nap. One offered better coffee. The other offered serenity.

Crowds and offerings shift throughout the day, so a quick scan of recent reviews or social posts can help you zero in on the best options.

Understand Your Access Options

A hefty card isn’t required to lounge-hop, though it certainly smooths the way. Priority Pass covers a wide range of lounges with no loyalty commitment. Premium airline tickets often come with complimentary access to carrier lounges.

If none of those apply, many lounges sell day passes in the 30 to 50 dollar range. If the food is good, that can be cheaper than buying meals in the terminal. At London Heathrow, a traveler once paid £25 for a Terminal 5 lounge that offered a full English breakfast. It beat the cost of grabbing food in the terminal.

Different terminals can have very different access policies, so checking each one can reveal unexpected opportunities.

Stay Close for the Final Stop

Lounge hopping is fun until it gets stressful. To avoid a last-minute sprint, end your routing in a lounge near your departure gate.

Picture Miami. One traveler enjoyed steak sliders at an American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Terminal D, then wrapped up at a nearby Priority Pass lounge for a quick drink right before boarding. Setting a timer about 45 minutes before boarding keeps everything on track.

You avoid the chaos at the gate and stay relaxed before takeoff.

Lounge hopping turns a layover into an experience. Instead of paying airport prices for mediocre snacks, you explore, sample, rest, and enjoy the best perks each terminal offers. With a little planning, the airport becomes part of the trip instead of something to power through.

Talk soon,

Your Maestro Concierge

Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are only the author’s and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.