The Club BUF

Priority Pass access between Gates 6 and 7, but temper expectations

The Club BUF sits in the main terminal between Gates 6 and 7, opens early at 04:00, and closes at 19:00, so it covers the first departures but not late-night delays. It’s about 2,800 square feet, so think small contract lounge, not big-hub flagship. Regulars on FlyerTalk mostly treat it as “better than nothing” in an airport that used to have no lounge at all.

Entry runs about $40 for a day pass at the desk, or you can walk in on Priority Pass and similar memberships, with the usual 3-hour stay cap. Most people drop in 60–90 minutes before boarding rather than planning a full workday here. If you’re flying out of a gate in the teens, factor in a 5–10 minute walk back to your flight.

Food and drinks are complimentary and self-serve, with a small buffet of hot and cold items that bloggers rate as clearly better than the main concourse but nowhere near a big-city business lounge. Alcohol is free too, but New York rules mean the bar doesn’t pour anything alcoholic before 08:00, so early birds get coffee and soft drinks only. If you just want a quick sandwich and a beer before a 10:00 departure, it does the job.

Seating mixes cubby chairs, sofas, and bar stools across that 2,800-square-foot footprint, with plenty of power outlets at regular seats instead of a separate business center. Wi‑Fi comes from The Club’s standard network and is fine for email and streaming. Think laptop-at-a-side-table setup, not dedicated offices or conference rooms.

The windows run floor to ceiling along the ramp between Gates 6 and 7, so avgeeks can watch arrivals and departures while they eat. There are no showers, unlike some other The Club locations, so overnight connections land you here with nowhere to properly freshen up. Lighting plus the tarmac views make it feel a bit more open than its square footage suggests.

Common gripes from frequent flyers: “not all that great,” occasional crowding during banked departures, and noise levels that sometimes match the main terminal. The value call is tight if you’d be paying the full $40 walk-up fee. If you already hold Priority Pass, treat The Club BUF as a place for a drink, a snack, a plug, and then head to your gate about 30 minutes before boarding.