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San Francisco International Airport (SFO) just got a new airport lounge, and it’s a sight to be seen.
The Club at SFO — located in the newly opened Harvey Milk Terminal 1 — opened earlier this month. Best of all, it’s accessible using a Priority Pass membership, which is a benefit of many premium travel rewards credit cards.
It’s a big step forward for the airport as the lounge aims to provide travelers with a comfortable and stylish space inspired by Northern California’s natural beauty. In fact, all the wines and art in the lounge are made in California.
With features like double-height ceilings designed to mimic redwood trees and nature-inspired decor, this lounge does an exceptional job of blending outdoor-like tranquility with modern travel convenience. It’s a true California gem, and as a Bay Area native, I couldn’t wait to check it out.
CNN Underscored visited the Club at SFO shortly after it opened, and we were thoroughly impressed despite some quirks. Here’s what to expect when visiting this new lounge.
How to access the Club at SFO
With several access methods, this lounge is extraordinarily popular. On its first day open, the lounge more than doubled its forecasted traffic. Expect lines and wait lists, especially during peak travel times.
Credit cards
Most travelers access the Club at SFO with a Priority Pass membership. The lounge’s opening comes on the heels of Chase removing Priority Pass restaurant access on July 1, 2024 — a significant loss, as SFO had about half a dozen restaurants available through the program.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite travel rewards credit cards and their welcome bonuses that offer a Priority Pass membership. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- The Platinum Card? from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards? Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- The Business Platinum Card? from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership. $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Alternatively, you can purchase a Priority Pass membership outright, with memberships starting at $99 per year. LoungeKey members can also access the Club at SFO.
Travel class or elite status
Although the Club at SFO has more airline partners in the pipeline, Turkish Airlines is the lounge’s only current airline partner.
Turkish Airlines business-class passengers and Star Alliance Gold elite members flying on Turkish Airlines can access the lounge. Additionally, if you meet either of these criteria, you will be given priority on the lounge’s wait list if one exists.
Apart from Turkish Airlines, if you’re traveling in a premium cabin or hold elite status, it won’t get you into the lounge for now.
Purchase a day pass
Finally, the lounge sells day passes for $75 (subject to availability) on its website. You must purchase a day pass online at least six hours before your scheduled departure time. Infants under 2 can access the lounge with an adult free of charge.
Regardless of how you access the lounge, you can arrive up to three hours before your scheduled departure.
Inside the Club at SFO
The Club at SFO spans 12,000 square feet and offers seating for 249 people. It’s open daily from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Let’s take a look inside.
Entering the Club at SFO
The lounge is located close to Gate B4 in Terminal 1. American, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest each operate out of this terminal.
SFO recently connected all its concourses within the secured area, so you can access the lounge from any gate. However, there isn’t any transportation between terminals within the secured area at SFO. It took about 15 or 20 minutes to walk from the lounge to Terminal 3 where my United flight departed.
The Club features a large glass facade with a tasteful logo. Visitors can queue up outside and enter through the sliding glass doors to check in. Inside, a few benches provide seating for customers waiting to be called off the wait list. From there, you can take either the staircase or the elevator to the upper level.
The lounge commissioned the design help of Corgan, a Dallas-based architecture firm. As you leave the elevator, you pass by a fireplace-like feature with a nook-like seating area, which leads you to the open seating and dining area and cabin-inspired bar.
We loved the local art from Californian artists whose unique pieces included installations made from reclaimed materials. There’s also a tasteful mural in the dining area that offers a panoramic view of the Redwood Forest.
Seating at the Club at SFO
When I visited on a Wednesday afternoon, about 50% of the seats were available. However, customers downstairs were being given a 30-minute wait due to a communication issue: The front desk didn’t have an accurate understanding of the seating availability upstairs. It was frustrating to see customers turned away when there was ample seating available. Hopefully, the lounge will be able to better manage capacity control in the future.
Seating at the Club at SFO is organized in an open concept with a mix of private and social areas. The main seating section features armchairs, dining tables and shared/private work desks with the buffet conveniently located nearby. There are also three private rooms for calls and a family room in this area.
The bar has about a dozen high-top chairs and is beautifully lit with ropelike lights hanging from the ceiling. The reflective ceiling enhances the brightness of the space.
At the bar, you’ll find additional seating with a combination of armchairs, tables and booths. The “SFO” Scrabble pieces and Golden Gate Bridge bookends on the bookshelf added another local touch to the lounge’s ambiance.
And don’t miss the hidden rest zone tucked away behind the elevator.
Food and drink at the Club at SFO
If you’re expecting a gourmet feast in the lounge, you might be disappointed. Compared to recent lounge openings like the Chase Lounge at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and the Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the food at the Club at SFO falls short.
Most of the food in the lounge is plant-based, which aligns with the sustainable dining ethos the Golden State is known for. However, I found the flavors underwhelming.
The hot entree, a Southwest Chicken Enchilada Bowl, was the only meat option but was disappointing in both appearance and taste, coming off as mushy. Despite being labeled a bowl, there were no bowls available, and it seemed to have been prepared in bulk.
The carrot coconut curry, though not visually appealing, had a pleasant coconut flavor. The only issue was that it was served lukewarm.
The broccoli and portobello wraps were too cold to enjoy, while the asparagus and black rice salad was fresh and tasty.
There was also a nice fruit salad and brownie bites. The strawberry shortcake was delicious with a light, delightful taste.
Additionally, the lounge offers baked goods from Le Chef, a local bakery, including local sourdough breads and other tempting options that looked appetizing.
Things turned for the better at the bar, however. There’s no question that the bar is a standout feature of the lounge. There are three signature cocktails — Frisco, Golden Gate Gramble and the Gold Rush. Each is freshly prepared upon request and exquisite.
We also appreciate the local emphasis on other bar drinks. For instance, the bar’s lemon vodka is sourced from Hanson of Sonoma, and the lounge exclusively serves California wines, including those from Foley Family Wines.
Amenities at the Club at SFO
There are three amenities you can reserve at the Club at SFO. This can be done from the QR codes located throughout the lounge or at the concierge desk upstairs.
First, there’s a workout room equipped with weights, yoga mats and preprogrammed Lululemon fitness mirror screens. Complimentary reservations last 30 minutes, and the lounge allows up to two people in this space at a time, so be prepared to exercise alongside someone you may not know.
The lounge also features three “bioluminescence rooms” with two light settings — warmer-toned Relax and cooler-toned Energize. These settings are designed to help travel-weary users adjust to a new time zone or wind down before a long flight. Again, complimentary reservations last 30 minutes for these rooms.
Finally, there are three showers in the lounge. As the only paid amenity, the showers cost $25 to use.
In addition to men’s and women’s restrooms, there’s a gender-neutral restroom and lactation room for nursing mothers.
Bottom line
The Club at SFO is a posh and comfortable new lounge in SFO that’s easily accessible with Priority Pass memberships from many premium travel credit cards. The lounge’s design, inspired by Northern California’s natural beauty, provides a modern preflight lounge experience.
Pros of the Club at SFO include its easy access, tasteful decor and amenities like the workout and bioluminescence rooms. The bar stands out with exquisite signature cocktails and a focus on local beverages, including California wines.
However, there are a few drawbacks. The lounge often gets overcrowded, leading to long wait lists, particularly during peak times. There’s a need for better capacity management to avoid turning away guests when there’s ample seating available inside. Additionally, the food offerings can be disappointing in terms of flavor, temperature and presentation.
Still, the next time I fly out of SFO, I’ll pass by to see if I can get in without a wait.
Click here for the rates and fees of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Click?here?for rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card.?
Click?here?for rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card.
Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards?CNN Underscored Money?chose as the?best travel credit cards?currently available.
