Terminal F
5:30am to 9:30pm

If you’re looking for a great lounge to pass some time at the Nation’s Busiest Airport:  Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (no big deal, only about 260k people pass through everyday! About 20% more than runner-up Beijinng-PEK), might I suggest The Club at ATL.

As I’ve said before in this post (JFK Terminal 4 Lounges/The Oasis Lounge), which lounge I go to is often a function of which one will let me in. The Club at ATL is by far the least exclusive of all ATL lounges–to get in you’ll need to show some credentials, your choices include:

1. $35 cash for a day pass
2. Priority Pass member card (free for AMEX Platinum cardholders)
3. Diners Club International card
4. Louge Club member card (free for Chase Ink cardholders)
5. British Airways Business/First ticket
6. Lufthansa Business/First ticket

The lounge’s bright, expansive floor plan with seating for 160 is situated on a corner with windows onlooking check-in and security at the new Terminal F & onlooking outside to the iconic “FLY DELTA JETS” sign. You don’t have a front row seat to the runway and airport operations, per say, but you can still do your fair share of plane watching. Most of the view is really the parking deck drop-off area of Terminal F.

The lounge is by no means huge, but it’s floor plan works well. They make things pretty well spread out, with a small partition to break up the space. Best things about new lounges: the power outlets! You’ll have no trouble powering up your devices here. Lots and lots of pretty comfortable seating. If this place were full, you could imagine a scenario where it feels a little like everyone is on top of each other.

The food options are leaps and bounds better than Delta SkyClub’s offerings, but could disappoint the seasoned international traveler–like the BA/Lufthansa passengers who have likely been to fancier lounges. On my visit, they had 2 different soups, a veggie bar, and a few sandwiches and wraps to choose from. This might actually come close to being a bonafide substantial meal, much more so than Delta’s cookies and carrots. They’ve also got chips, Oreos, cookies etc…”Premium Food” is available for around $9-11, including larger sandwiches and salads in a refrigerator. No premium hot options are available, though.

There is a large bar, with a nice atmosphere–all around well designed. A small diving wall separates “the bar” from the main room, giving it all a nice feel. You’ll find the drink choices to be much better than Delta SkyClub too, only 4-5 items are considered premium with a huge amount of complimentary choices. Things that you would assume like Patron, Crown, Grey Goose, a few of the wines and champagne etc… were available for an additional charge. However, the likes of Jack, Jim, Tanqueray, Johnny Walker Red & Black, Jose Cuervo, etc. and many beers were all complimentary.

Best of all: a real espresso machine. I’m always rather suspicious that the coffee makers in SkyClubs just shoot out a warmed, pre-brewed coffee concentrate of sorts. While it’s still automatic, and thereby far from perfect, this machine was rocking whole beans that were ground and then brewed to order. Much, much better–well done “The Club,” well done.

Other amenities: A Business center with 2 computers available. The bathrooms were brand spanking new, in great shape and equally as nice. A large selection of newspapers & magazines, most are actually in German (thanks for the supply, Lufthansa–if only you’d also provide Rosetta Stone, I might have a fighting chance). Shower suites–nothing too fancy but they’re brand new and get the job done.

BOTTOM LINE: ATL is Delta country, so it’s nice to have a 3rd party lounge option that is (gasp!) better than a Delta SkyClub–in quality, food and drinks. The Club at ATL is my new go-to on longer layovers (since terminal F is out of the way for the typical domestic traveler).