The Soho Lounge at JFK Terminal 8 is the middle of the three premium lounges American and British Airways share there, and you get in through status or a top cabin, not a business class seat. American's lounge page, read on October 9, 2026, lets in ConciergeKey members, top AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards elites on qualifying international flights, oneworld First passengers and oneworld Emerald members. British Airways' JFK page adds its own: Gold members of The British Airways Club.
Two details matter most. American sends its Flagship Business passengers to the Greenwich Lounge above Gate 12, not Soho. And a oneworld Emerald whose status comes from a program other than AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards can walk into Soho on more flights than American's own Executive Platinum members can.
The Three Lounges at a Glance
American says the lounges are named after neighborhoods in London and New York City, and that access to each depends on your AAdvantage status, fare class and ticket. Here's where each sits in Terminal 8 and when it's open, per American's page:
- Chelsea: above Gate 14, daily 4:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. American calls it its most exclusive lounge.
- Soho: also above Gate 14, with the same 4:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. hours.
- Greenwich: above Gate 12, daily 4:15 a.m. to 1:15 a.m.
Terminal 8 also has an Admirals Club in Concourse C, on the third floor after security, across from Gate 42. American lists its hours as 4:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Who Gets Into Soho
American's page splits Soho access into three groups. British Airways' page covers its own members.
ConciergeKey Members
American says ConciergeKey members can use Soho when they're on a flight marketed and operated by a oneworld airline, or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American, in any cabin. They can bring immediate family (a spouse, domestic partner or children under 18) or up to two guests.
Top AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards Elites
Four tiers qualify, according to American:
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum.
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro.
- Alaska Airlines Atmos Titanium.
- Alaska Airlines Atmos Platinum.
The flight has to qualify too. American says you must be departing, arriving or connecting on a same-day international flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld airline, or marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American (that last route is for AAdvantage members only).
On American, that means seats ticketed as Flagship between the U.S. and Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand or South America, with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela excluded. On oneworld partners, it's any flight they market and operate between the U.S. and Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand or South America. You can bring one guest, and American counts children 2 and older as guests.
Oneworld First and Oneworld Emerald
American lets in anyone flying First on a oneworld airline between the U.S. and Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand or South America. It also admits oneworld Emerald members "flying on any oneworld flight." Both get one guest, with children 2 and older counting.
British Airways Club Gold
British Airways' JFK page says Soho is available to Gold members of The British Airways Club, its loyalty program.
Why Some Emeralds Get in More Often Than American's Elites
Read the Emerald line closely. American's footnote on "any oneworld flight" sends AAdvantage and Atmos members back to their own section, which requires a qualifying international flight. American heads that line "Other oneworld Emerald," so the open-ended rule is for Emeralds whose status sits in a oneworld program other than AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards.
In practice, one of those Emeralds flying American in economy from JFK to Los Angeles can use Soho under American's rules, while an American Executive Platinum member in economy on the same flight can't, because a domestic flight isn't one of the qualifying international flights in the AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards section. American's Admirals Club rules follow a similar pattern, which we walk through in our Admirals Club access guide. If your Emerald status sits in AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards, the qualifying-flight rules above are the ones that apply to you.
Business Class Gets Greenwich, Not Soho
This is the part to know before you book. American's page sends Flagship Business passengers to the Greenwich Lounge on qualifying international, transcontinental and Hawaii flights, with no guest. Flagship Business Plus is a step up: American lists it with Flagship First for the Chelsea Lounge.
oneworld business class passengers on long-haul flights also go to Greenwich, as do oneworld Sapphire members, AAdvantage Platinum members and Atmos Gold members on qualifying itineraries. British Airways' page sends its Club World passengers and Club Silver members to Greenwich as well.
So if you're buying a business class seat and hoping for Soho, the seat alone won't do it. Status or a First ticket will.
How Soho and Greenwich Compare
Both lounges list chef-inspired meals and shower suites. Past that, the feature lists on American's page go in different directions.
Soho adds a la carte dining you can order from your seat by mobile, cocktail tastings, a library, work pods, a sleep and quiet area and phone booths. American describes it as an ultra-premium lounge with runway views, and British Airways mentions the runway views and the quiet area too.
Greenwich has a premium wine table, a self-service specialty cocktail bar, expansive seating, The Bridge Bar for cocktails and light bites, and The Tasting Room, a tap room with Brooklyn Brewery beers.
If you want to work or sleep before a long flight, Soho's list fits better. If you're departing late, check the clock: Soho closes at 11:30 p.m., while Greenwich stays open until 1:15 a.m.
Seated Check-in on Qualifying American and BA Flights
American says that if you're on a qualifying American or British Airways flight and have access to the Chelsea or Soho Lounge, or Five Star Service, you can use the premium check-in area. It's seated check-in that leads directly to dedicated fast-track security, open daily from 4:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
If You Don't Qualify
The ways in above are the ones American's lounge page and British Airways' JFK page list for Soho. If you're flying American out of Terminal 8 without the status or cabin above, the Admirals Club in Concourse C is the lounge to look at. American sells an Admirals Club One-Day Pass for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles, online and at select locations, and says One-Day Pass access may be limited or unavailable based on lounge capacity. Our guide to the best card for Admirals Club access covers the cards that include passes or membership.
Who Should Plan on Soho
It comes down to where your status sits and what you're flying. If you hold oneworld Emerald in a program other than AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards and fly American through Terminal 8, American's rules let you in on any oneworld flight, so use it. British Airways Club Gold members have their own line on BA's page.
If you're an American Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro, Soho is a perk of your qualifying international trips, not your domestic ones. And if you're paying for Flagship Business, plan on Greenwich, which has the later hours anyway. Check American's joint premium lounges page the week you fly, since American says access depends on status, fare class and ticket.
