The American Airlines terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport never seems crowded, even when it’s running at full tilt, thanks to its airy and open design that keeps passengers moving without long waits.  American offers a quiet, dedicated first class check-in and I only waited two minutes before I was in front of an agent who cheerily greeted me and handed me my boarding pass, wishing me a pleasant flight.  A dedicated priority line for first- and business-class passengers meant that the wait for security was also about two minutes …

Even though it’s been open for several years now, it never ceases to amaze me how walking into the American Airlines terminal at JFK places the business traveler in an oasis of calm.
The design of the terminal, with its towering 65-foot roofline, reduces the stress of air travel and makes each departure seem exciting.  The new terminal replaces American’s two terminals (8 and 9) at JFK.  Terminal 8, which served international traffic, had been built in the early 1960s and sported what was once the world’s longest stained glass installation, …

There were only two people in line for Business Class when I arrived at the Lufthansa counter at JFK’s Terminal 1 so my wait time was less than five minutes.  I was greeted warmly by the agent and, when she found out that I was not a member of the Miles and More mileage program, she immediately enrolled me.  She also issued my boarding pass and itinerary and directed me to the Senator Lounge, which, while comfortable, could use some updating as it hasn’t changed since the last time I …

I was unable to print my boarding pass from my home computer because the printer had run out of ink, so I had to check in at American’s new Terminal 8.  There was only one passenger ahead of me in the first class line so I waited all of two minutes.  The agent greeted me by name, directed me to the Admiral’s Club, and wished me a pleasant flight.
BOARDING
Our departure was scheduled for 6:10 p.m. and approximately half an hour before, we began boarding.  The gate areas in the new …

Check-in at JFK Terminal 8 was a breeze since American Airlines now allows international travelers to use self-service kiosks. The machine scans your passport and issues a boarding pass after a roving agent verifies your credentials.. This was probably my last Terminal 8 departure as that terminal will soon close. And I will certainly be sad to see it go in some respects, Terminal 8, built in the early 1960s, sports what was once the world’s longest stained glass installation, designed by the artist Robert Sower.
It was close to departure …