Ever since the Airspace Lounge closed in JFK’s Terminal 5 in 2018, the only lounge left in the terminal is the Aer Lingus lounge, which is only open to passengers on their flights. JFK’s Terminal 5 building is modern for a U.S. airport and offers many amenities that people are looking for while waiting for a flight. Not having a lounge is a minor inconvenience but there are plenty of places around the terminal to sit, eat and work. JetBlue passengers are accustomed to not having lounge access so it’s not a huge surprise there isn’t one, even at one of their major hubs.
However, JetBlue has added a feature into T5 which is usually only found in airport lounge spaces. A rooftop terrace.
The T5 Rooftop
The entrance to the rooftop terrace is located between gates 27 and 28 on the far left side of the terminal. It’s about 5-10 minutes from the main area of the terminal, depending on how fast you walk.
While the rooftop isn’t a secret, there’s not much signage for it in the terminal.
The entrance is through this rather plain-looking door:
The T5 Rooftop isn’t a lounge. However, it is a comfortable outside space that provides an escape from the terminal and lets you get some fresh air.
When I visited, it was a crisp October morning so there was only one other couple who was visiting the area. There are plenty of seats so the area can comfortably seat a number of passengers.
I liked the use of plants to give the otherwise sterile surroundings a splash of color.
The Rooftop also has a “Wooftop” for doggie passengers to stretch their legs (and relieve their bladders) before a flight.
The one thing I wish the Rooftop had is a better view of the planes or runways at JFK. You’re only able to see a few planes from the area and you have to look over an area of the roof and through fencing to see any aircraft.
The outdoor deck at Austin airport has much better sightlines.
Final Thoughts
In New York City, any outdoor deck is only useful for 6-8 months of the year. When I visited, the weather had already turned colder (and windy) so spending a long time outside wasn’t comfortable. I could see the rooftop being a very nice space in the spring or summer to bring a snack or drink and enjoy eating outside instead of being stuck inside the terminal to wait for a flight.
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2 comments
Because of the cold and snow, the new outdoor terminal ends at Denver have fire pits to help passengers keep warm outside.
Totally disappointed that although I have paid for a Priority Pass, I am not able to go to another Terminal in JFK that is not my Departing Terminal. All the lounges in the other terminals were situated behind security and I was not allowed to enter. really a disappointment