Man Goes To The Atlanta Airport, Does A 9-Course Tasting Menu At The Lounges: ‘I Think You Call This Loungemaxxing’

If you’ve ever waited around in airports looking for a comfortable place to sit after learning your flight’s been delayed yet again, lounges can be tempting. If you’ve never been in one, it can feel like some kind of elites-only secret society. And if you have, you know they offer the type of conveniences you’d find at a fancy business exposition. A travel enthusiast got the most out of all nine airport lounges in Atlanta’s airport. He calls it “loungemaxxing.”

In his video, Patrick Plank (@partypat) gives an inside look at airport lounges in the world’s busiest flight hub: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. And he did so in a creative way: He curated a nine-course tasting menu in each of the airport’s lounges. His video garnered over 267,000 views on TikTok.

The Tasting Tour

“The Atlanta Airport has eight Delta Sky Clubs plus the American Express Centurion Lounge. I’ve got three hours before my flight. I haven’t eaten yet today. So I’m gonna try to take advantage, and I’m gonna do a nine-course tasting menu—by hitting all nine lounges before my flight,” he tells viewers.

His inaugural pick is the lounge located in Terminal 6 of the airport, which he calls one of the airport’s “smaller lounges.” The first meal he picks is some raw vegetables and hummus. He pairs it with a glass of sparkling wine, which he downs, before the video jumps to him hopping on a tram. Now, at a different terminal, he visits the lounge at the airport’s Concourse A. Unlike the previous facility, this one is quite large. So large, in fact, that it’s only one of two lounges that are multiple stories.

And its food options appear plentiful. In one area, there are several hot buffet options, along with numerous sandwiches laid out for those with lounge access. Pat gets a “small chicken curry sandwich” and slurps down a vodka soda in the area before heading to his next destination, also located in Concourse A.

Onto Delta Sky Club 3 Of 8

He explains why Delta has so many Sky Clubs at ATL—it’s because it’s been the busiest airport in the world for nearly three decades. Over 100 million people pass through the facility each year. Furthermore, since Delta’s headquarters are located in Atlanta, it makes sense why there are so many lounges there.

At the second Sky Club in Concourse A, Pat grabs himself some kettle chips, crackers, and pita slices, which he paired with a Michelob Ultra. Following this, he heads on over to terminal B18, to what is one of ATL airport’s “historically busiest” members-only areas. That is, until 2024, when Delta opened up another lounge in Terminal D. This was to help further accommodate the throngs of weary travelers packing into the B18 spot.

And when Pat arrives, it’s clear his claims about foot traffic weren’t exaggerated. It’s the first lounge in his tasting tour that requires him to wait in line. This could be due to the fact that it’s the only lounge in the airport that allows folks to take food out of it.

“This course I’m gonna go with a warm appetizer option and likely a wine,” he states before heading into the massive lounge area. It features a fully staffed buffet with an assortment of dishes, including glazed carrots and a massive pan of hot rice. Pat cracks open a steel pot of soup and reveals in a jump cut that he poured himself a bowl. There are two carrots and a scoop of rice on his plate. He films himself eating the soup and taking a sip of Cabernet.

Onward To Concourse C

As he travels to yet another lounge as part of his food tour, he explains that his lounge access is attained through his Sky Miles reserve card. He does mention that the number of visits on the card is limited, however. As Pat says in his clip, folks can also purchase access to lounges through annual membership or single-use purchases, too. He says that the Sky Club in C “might be one of the smallest in the Atlanta airport” before trying its wares. Like the others, it sports a buffet. Pat opted for a “palate cleanser,” which included a few bites of fruit and sparkling water. Then he heads to the Sky Club at ATL’s F Concourse, which he manages to do in around 90 minutes—a time that Pat thought was “pretty good.”

He says that at the first few lounges, he intentionally only gobbled down smaller portions. But at this next lounge, he intended on grabbing a protein-rich meal. And his decision to do so was by design. That’s because Concourse F is an “international terminal.” He says that’s why it usually comes with better menu options. “I’m hoping they got something good today,” he says, before heading into the modern-looking lounge. Moreover, he says this Sky Club lounge actually features “outdoor seating space.” He takes advantage of this as he chows down on Peri Peri chicken and barbecue pork, which he calls “dry.” He adds broccoli and rice to the meal and enjoys that alongside a bourbon and coke.

Terminal E And Centurion Lounge

Next, he goes to the Sky Club in Terminal E, which has a large footprint because the area was previously designated for international flights. Consequently, Pat remarks that he expects the lounge to be a bit “outdated” compared to others. There, he chooses to go with a “forage course,” which includes a cucumber salad and mixed green salad with chicken tenders. He preempts his trip there by stating this lounge “tends to be really busy,” with long lines. And this proved to be the case; Pat has to put his name on a waitlist in order to enter. Upon doing so, he is greeted with a large lounge area.

Hanging down from a tall ceiling are golden-metal fixtures. It even boasts a large olive tree overlooking the seating area. Here, he opts for dessert—a cheesecake—and Bailey’s over ice.

Pat ends his video by stating that the wait for the Centurion Lounge is understandable. This is due to the slew of various food options and plenty of seating capacity and room to move around.

His final stop is at terminal D18, where he decides to get a digestif. His choice? A dirty martini. At the end of his tour, he says that the entire tasting tour took 3 hours and rules it was “probably not worth it” for anyone considering emulating his “loungemaxxing.”

What’s The Best Airport Lounge In ATL?

As highlighted by Pat toward the end of his clip, American Express’ Centurion Lounge gets high marks. Kudos writes that it “is widely considered the best lounge at the entire airport.” Additionally, the outlet praised its 26,000 square foot layout, calling its “design … genuinely impressive.” Notably, travelers can enjoy “premium spirits and espresso drinks [along with] seasonal chef-curated menu items.” It also includes “private work booths, showers, outdoor terraces, printers, and copiers” for guests, Kudos says.

Although, the website does mention wait times can be a pain. And stricter entry guidelines mandate that guests can only visit if they’ve arrived at the airport three hours before their flight. Unless, that is, if they have a connecting flight.

BroBible has reached out to Delta, American Express, and Plank via email for further comment.