British Airways is moving from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8. This will have significant implications for passengers, so I wanted to remind them of what we can expect.

Why British Airways is moving JFK terminals

British Airways has been the main airline at Terminal 7 for a long time.

JFK Terminal 7 exterior

The $65 million renovation of Terminal 7 at JFK was done before the coronaviruses.

British Airways First Lounge JFK Terminal 7

British Airways will be moving some of their facilities. $400 million is being invested to make JFK terminal 8 better. Terminal 7 will be demolished in order to make room for Terminal 6.

Passengers have been frustrated by the fact that American and British Airways are not co-located at JFK. The two airports aren't connected airside, making it difficult to connect between the two airlines.

American 777 at JFK Terminal 8

British Airways has a big presence in New York and hasn't been able to move from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8. It will be changing.

British Airways moving to JFK Terminal 8 shortly

British Airways is just weeks away from moving from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8.

  • British Airways’ first flight will operate out of Terminal 8 on November 18, 2022
  • British Airways’ last flight will operate out of Terminal 7 on November 30, 2022

New lounges and check-in facilities will be opened by American and British Airways at JFK Terminal 8. There will be three new lounges with seating capacities for around 1000 customers.

  • The most exclusive lounge will have an all-new champagne bar, fireside lounge, and a la carte dining room; this will replace American’s Flagship First Dining facility, though will be in a different location
  • Another adjacent premium lounge will feature sweeping airside views, a wine bar, cocktail lounge, library, and buffet
  • American’s Flagship Lounge and Concourse B Admirals Club will be repurposed into a single lounge for eligible business class passengers (the Concourse C Admirals Club will be the only lounge for Admirals Club members)

We don't know if these facilities will open in November or not.

JFK Terminal 8 lounge
JFK Terminal 8 lounge

Is JFK Terminal 8 actually expanding?

This move should make it easier to connect. There is a large catch. JFK Terminal 8 won't be getting bigger.

The terminal will be adding five new wide body gates, four new wide body hardstand parking locations, an enhanced baggage system, and 130,000 square feet of new and renovated terminal space. The conversion of a regional jet gate into a wide body gate is one example of how space is being utilized more efficiently.

Rendering of new JFK Terminal 8

The terminal will no longer be used because of the convenience of easier connections. In the evening, I would expect Terminal 8 to be busy.

British Airways will be moving from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8 at JFK. It will make connections between American and British Airways easier. The details of the new lounges are still being worked out.

Terminal 8 is likely to be busy with the changes. Given that Terminal 7 will be torn down, this change has been inevitable.

British Airways moved to JFK Terminal 8.