JFK has changed terminal 4. Apparently it was the only terminal that had the huge duty free area before security. They felt this was not smart security wise. Of course it means that there is no place to sit and visit with people who are connecting at JFK--or to hang out if you want to see someone off! ( they will lose revenue on the ridiculously expensive short term parking)

When I was there, enroute to Israel in December they were working on this. Anyone who knows the terminal knows the floor that you check in on has first the check-in counters and then the area where the lounges are. This area has lounges on the perimeter and a rather narrow walk that overlooks the duty free area below. The open area over duty free is/was huge. What they were doing is filling in that area so that there is no open air section and in essence making two complete floors--the check-in security floor and below it the duty free/departure floor. The new TSA security check is on the newly built floor. As I just returned to the US from Israel and won't be going back for a few months--I haven't seen it--but I hope that give a better idea.