Star Alliance flyers have a new lounge option when traveling from San Francisco: the Air India Maharaja Lounge. It's worth a visit — especially if you like Indian food.
Opened in May 2026, it’s the airline’s first premium lounge outside India as it works to transform its image into that of a high-end carrier. The upscale lounge is located in the lounge complex by the A gates in the international terminal at San Francisco International Airport. Star Alliance Gold members and premium cabin passengers traveling on a Star Alliance member airline have access.
I visited this lounge on three separate occasions in May 2026, including a special opening for members of the media. Here’s what it’s like inside this facility.
Location
The Air India lounge at SFO is located immediately on your left after clearing security at the A gates checkpoint.
Several other lounges are located in this area, including the Air France and China Airlines lounges, as well as the Golden Gate Lounge.
The lounge is open from the morning until late in the evening; you can check its operating hours on SFO's website. It's the only Star Alliance airline lounge in this section of the airport. That matters, especially since United Airlines removed Polaris Lounge access for premium cabin passengers on all but its closest Star Alliance partners.
Air India SFO lounge design
If you’ve been to the Air India lounge at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has more dated finishes, this lounge is the complete opposite.
Think high-end finishings, plush seating and fun aviation-inspired art. Plus, large windows offer easy viewing of planes parked at their gates and taking off.
The space isn’t huge — it can accommodate approximately 80 guests across 3,300 square feet — but it’s well laid out and doesn’t feel cramped.
There are three main sections to the lounge: a private zone for international first-class passengers and other VIP guests, the main seating area with the Aviator’s Bar and a dining area with the buffet.
I particularly loved the chairs in the main section of the lounge, which provided comfortable cushioning and had a small swiveling tabletop.
The lounge's small and cozy private zone for its international first-class passengers is fantastic if you want privacy. But it can also feel a little claustrophobic and isolating given how airy the rest of the lounge feels.
Once you’re in the private zone, you’ll have access to top-shelf liquors and an à la carte dining menu.
Food and beverage options
At the far end of the lounge, you’ll find a buffet offering a variety of Indian dishes. If you're hungry and prefer other cuisines, you might want to look elsewhere in the terminal for dining options.
I thought the food quality was good, and there were several meat and vegetarian options to choose from. I love chicken tikka masala, and wrapping a few pieces in warm naan was the perfect meal before I headed to my flight.
There is also a beverage station, a dessert bar, and a substantial spread of fruit, crackers, pita and falafel with various cheeses and dips.
The Aviator’s Bar is located in the central area of the lounge, serving up a mix of cocktails and mocktails, as well as other alcoholic beverages.
The Maharaja Lounge’s signature cocktail is the Limitless, made to resemble the red in Air India’s designs. Since you’re in San Francisco, you can also try this lounge’s exclusive concoction: the Golden Gate, a gin-based cocktail with citrus and yuzu notes.
Is the Air India lounge at SFO worth it?
The Air India lounge is a fantastic addition to SFO’s lounge offerings. The space is beautiful, the food is tasty and the seats are comfortable.
If you’re flying on Air India or another airline that uses this lounge, such as Singapore Airlines, then it’s a great place to relax before your flight if you have access.
As a Star Alliance Gold member through my United elite status, I was able to access the Maharaja Lounge even when flying on a domestic economy ticket.
While it was a bit of a trek before my United flight — which probably deters many United flyers from visiting — I enjoyed my experience at the lounge. I was able to avoid peak traffic hours, so the lounge felt very private during my visit.
Contrast that with my recent (very crowded) experiences at SFO’s United Clubs and the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, and I’d say the walk was well worth it.
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