A Guide to Fort Lauderdale Airport Lounges

If you’re traveling to southern Florida or connecting on a flight to further destinations, there’s a chance you may find yourself hanging out in the Fort Lauderdale airport.

With over 700 flights a day in and out of the airport, plenty of passengers want a calm place to relax while waiting for their flight. That’s where the lounges at Fort Lauderdale airport come in.

Find out what your Fort Lauderdale airport lounge options are — and how to access them — below.

The Fort Lauderdale airport may not be as big as its neighbor in Miami, but it was ranked the 17th busiest airport in the U.S. based on passenger traffic in 2022. It’s convenient for those in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Boca Raton, and both Miami and Palm Beach are within an hour’s driving distance.

Four airlines have operations bases in Fort Lauderdale: Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. Several others, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and various international carriers, also have flights in and out of the airport.

The lounges in Fort Lauderdale airport are all found within the airport’s four terminals: 1, 2, 3 and 4. With so much passenger traffic, you might expect many lounges to choose from; however, there are only three lounges in this airport, with an additional Priority Pass dining option.

Two lounges are linked to specific airlines, Delta and United, while the other options are accessible for certain credit card holders or Priority Pass members. Whichever lounge you choose to bide your time in, you’ll likely require a same-day boarding pass to enter.

Terminal 1 typically serves domestic carriers, such as Allegiant, Southwest and United, though some international flights also depart from here. There’s only one lounge in this terminal, and to access it you’ll need to be flying on United or one of its Star Alliance partners.

• Located next to the escalators near Gate C1.

• Open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

• Must have a same-day boarding pass to enter.

• Amenities include Wi-Fi, snacks and a full-service bar.

This lounge is open to those flying in a United or Star Alliance premium class cabin, Star Alliance Gold elite status holders flying on a United or Star Alliance flight and those holding a United Club membership or a one-day pass.

United Club membership allows travelers to access more than 45 United Club locations around the world. Prices begin at $650 or 85,000 miles annually. Membership is also included as a benefit if you hold the United Club℠ Infinite Card.

Terminal 2 serves American, Delta and Southwest, along with a handful of other domestic and international airlines. If you’re looking for a lounge in Terminal 2, your only option is the Delta Sky Club.

• Located between gates D2 and D3.

• Open from 4:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.

• Access is limited to those with a same-day boarding pass up to three hours before the flight’s departure.

• Amenities include Wi-Fi, a hot and cold buffet and a full-service bar.

There’s a wide range of travelers who are eligible to enter the Sky Club. Passengers booked in Delta One on domestic or international flights (excluding the Caribbean) or in a SkyTeam partner’s premium cabin receive lounge access, as do Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion and SkyTeam Elite Plus status holders.

Certain credit card holders can also gain complimentary access to the Sky Club lounge. These cards include the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, the Centurion card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Those who hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card can access the lounge for a $50 fee per visit.

Some premium class flyers or elite status holders with LATAM, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet also can receive access to the Sky Club lounge.

Finally, annual memberships to all Delta Sky Clubs are available for purchase by Medallion status holders. Prices start at $695.00 or 69,500 SkyMiles for an individual membership. Note that even if you hold a membership, you won’t be able to access the lounge if you’re flying in basic economy — unless you also hold an eligible American Express credit card.

Terminal 3 is where you’ll find gates for American, Delta and United, as well as other U.S. airlines like Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit. This terminal has one lounge — the Escape Lounge — which isn’t connected to any specific airline, and therefore is open to any traveler who wants to pay the entrance fee.

• Located between the E and F gates. 

• Open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

• Accessible to travelers flying on any airline.

• Amenities include Wi-Fi, a hot and cold buffet, full-service bar and showers.

For most travelers, it will cost $45 to enter the lounge, or $40 if you pre-book more than 24 hours prior to your arrival.

However, access is free to anyone holding The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Centurion card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

However, those entering with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card must be traveling on a Delta flight to receive free entry.

Terminal 4 is home primarily to Southwest airlines, among others, and is lacking an actual lounge. However, Priority Pass members do have one option available to them in the form of a restaurant discount.

• Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

• Must have Priority Pass membership card and same-day boarding pass to receive discount. 

Those with certain types of Priority Pass memberships can receive a $28 discount off their restaurant bill for dine-in service. Note that those who get Priority Pass memberships through a credit card, notably some American Express and Capital One cards, may not be eligible for this benefit.

If you’d like to join Priority Pass, memberships begin at $99 annually, which includes a $35 fee every time you visit a lounge. Plans that include limited free visits begin at $329 per year. However, many travel credit cards include Priority Pass Select as a benefit, which is another way to receive membership.

For such a busy place, there aren’t very many lounge options available at Fort Lauderdale airport. However, if you’re flying on Delta or United and are eligible to access their lounges, you’ll have a great place to relax and recharge before your flight.

For those who aren’t able to access the airline lounges, the Escape Lounge is a good choice if you don’t mind paying to enter — or if you have a credit card that gets you free access. If you’re planning to use the Priority Pass dining benefit, make sure you check the rules of your particular membership to ensure you’re eligible for the restaurant credit.