First Take: We Step Inside Air India's Yet-to-Launch Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport

Air India’s transformation story has largely been told through its aircraft orders, cabin retrofits, and refreshed onboard service. But at San Francisco International Airport, the airline has unveiled another important piece of its premium playbook: its own dedicated Maharaja Lounge. For an airline that once relied heavily on partner lounges abroad, the opening of this lounge marks a symbolic shift — Air India now wants to control more of the premium ground experience end-to-end.

Air India Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport

Located at the International Terminal A complex at San Francisco International Airport, the new Maharaja Lounge officially opens on May 23, 2026. It is situated between the China Airlines Lounge and the Golden Gate Lounge on Level 4 of Concourse A.

The timing of the opening is significant. San Francisco is one of Air India’s most strategically important long-haul gateways in North America, with the airline being the sole direct link between India and the American West Coast, serving Silicon Valley traffic and India-bound premium travellers alike. The airline used to offer multiple weekly services from SFO to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, making the airport one of its busiest overseas stations. Currently, though, the airline flies only between San Francisco and Delhi, as it had to trim its schedule due to the Iranian conflict.

Inside the Air India Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport

What immediately stands out about the lounge is that it looks unlike the older-generation Air India lounges many travellers may remember, such as at New York JFK. The design language is intentionally contemporary, with warm lighting, muted tones, and a more boutique-hotel aesthetic than the utilitarian airline lounges of the past. Air India will use this template to replicate at other major airports in the future.

The new Air India Maharaja Lounge can accommodate up to 80 passengers, with a mix of seating options. First Class passengers can rest in a private section with only 8 seats, while everyone else can grab a lounge chair to work or grab a drink before their flight departs. If you enjoy and marvel at flying machines, the lounge offers a sweeping view of San Francisco’s International Operations, with chairs lined up by the window as well.

The Food and Beverage programme, though, is the star of this show. The Aviator Bar, similar to Delhi’s International Maharaja Lounge, is a tribute to the founder, the late JRD Tata, who was also India’s first commercial pilot. The lounge offers flagship cocktails shaken up in front of you, along with a collection of brews and spirits. Try "The Limitless", a floral gin-based cocktail, which is the flagship. "Golden Gate" is Air India’s tribute to the city of San Francisco. And if you are a teetotaller, enjoy a cup of cutting chai with rusk or Parle G, just like you would in an Indian home.

The airline also has a large dining room, and the chefs have lined up a meal that will take you home before you even set foot on board. From Chicken Tikka Masala to Shyam Savera and Dal Bukhara, you’ll find a whole bunch of classics. For breakfast, you can get hot parathas off the griddle. Desserts have a more modern Indian take, with Gulab Jamun Macarons, Motichoor Cheesecake bites, and more. If you’re flying First Class, expect a treat, prepared specially for you, on order.

Expect a blend of Indian comfort dishes alongside Western staples, targeting the Indian-origin business traveller while remaining accessible to global Star Alliance passengers. The emphasis is less on extravagance and more on creating a polished, dependable premium experience. The exciting F&B programme breaks away from the drab meals traditionally offered at an American lounge.

Air India’s lounge strategy here is driven as much by geography as by branding. The airline operates from Concourse A, while the acclaimed Polaris Lounge is located at the G Gates. Although the terminals are technically connected airside, the walk can take upwards of 20 minutes each way.

Access policies are also broader than one might initially expect. The lounge is open daily from 6 AM until just before midnight, far beyond Air India’s own departure bank.

Entry is available to eligible First and Business Class passengers travelling on Air India and other Star Alliance carriers, as well as qualifying elite members, including Maharaja Club Platinum and Gold flyers, Star Alliance Gold members, and partner airline elites. Singapore Airlines has already started directing eligible premium passengers to the Air India lounge following operational changes at SFO, effectively validating the lounge as a serious Star Alliance facility rather than merely an airline-branded waiting room.

For luxury travellers, this matters because lounges are often where airline perception is formed before passengers even board the aircraft.