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American Airlines Admirals Clubs can be found in most airports serving large cities in the United States. However, American Airlines also has an even more premium type of lounge called the Flagship Lounge. In this article, we'll learn more about American Airlines Flagship Lounges and how to access them.
What are American Airlines Flagship Lounges?
American Airlines Flagship Lounges are premium lounges tailored to first and business class passengers flying on American Airlines Flagship routes — which are typically international widebody routes and domestic transcontinental flights that offer lie-flat first and business class seats.
Unlike Admirals Clubs — which essentially act as an oasis from the busy airport concourse for travelers to have a snack or do work — Flagship Lounges emphasize luxury before boarding a long-haul flight to an exotic destination, making these lounges better than American Airlines Admirals Clubs.
Flagship Lounges offer a wide range of hot and cold chef-inspired meals at their buffets, a cocktail bar, and a wine table (with the input of the James Beard Foundation for an overall better culinary experience).
Additionally, Flagship Lounges offer a wide variety of seat options — sometimes including napping areas — and even individual shower suites.
Flagship First Dining
Furthermore, if you are flying Flagship First (or bought a Flagship Business Plus ticket), you also have access to the Flagship Lounge's Flagship First Dining room. Flagship First Dining is an exclusive dining experience tucked away in a separate area of Flagship Lounges.
Flagship First Dining offers sit-down dining rather than a buffet, as well as more premium food and drink offerings than both the Flagship Lounge itself and the Admirals Clubs.
American Airlines is currently only operating Flagship First Dining in its Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami Flagship Lounge locations. Additionally, the American Airlines JFK Chelsea Lounge offers a dining room.
American Airlines Flagship Lounge Locations
While Admirals Clubs can be found in more than forty airports mainly in the United States, American Airlines Flagship Lounges are only found in just four hub airports:
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Location: Terminal 3 in the Concourse H/K connector
- Hours: Open daily from 5 am to 9 pm
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
- Location: Terminal D between gates D21 and D22
- Hours: Open daily from 5 am to 10:15 pm
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Location: Terminal 4 at gate 40
- Hours: Open daily from 4:30 am to 1 am
- Miami (MIA)
- Location: Terminal D at gate D30
- Hours: Open daily from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm
New York (JFK): In addition, American Airlines co-operates the Greenwich Lounge in JFK. This lounge was formerly branded as a Flagship Lounge but has been renamed due to a partnership with British Airways. However, this lounge offers similar amenities and has a similar access policy to a Flagship Lounge. This lounge is located in Terminal 8 at Gate 12.
Philadelphia (PHL): American Airlines notes that the Philadelphia Flagship Lounge is “coming soon.” However, the creation of the lounge has been in progress for years. There is no set timeline as to when the Philadelphia Flagship Lounge will open.
Planning your connection to access Flagship Lounges
When planning an American Airlines/Oneworld long-haul international route, prioritize connecting through one of these five airports to have a luxury lounge experience during your layover.
Essentially, this means avoiding Charlotte, Phoenix, and — at least for the time being — Philadelphia if you can take a direct international flight from another American hub and enjoy their Flagship Lounge at the same time.
How to Access the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
Simply flying first class through one of the five airports listed above is not enough to gain access to the Flagship Lounge. You will also need to have purchased a qualifying ticket, have eligible elite status, or purchase a day pass. Here are the full details.
Via qualifying ticket
The following premium cabin passengers can access to Flagship Lounges:
- American Airlines Flagship-branded business or first-class tickets — including those on the following routes:
- international routes between the United States and Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, and southern South America.
- premium domestic routes between Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK), Miami, and Boston, or between JFK and San Francisco (SFO) or Orange County (SNA).
- premium Hawaiian routes between Dallas and Honolulu (HNL), Kona (KOA), and Maui (OGG). Technically, routes between Chicago (ORD) or Charlotte (CLT) and Honolulu (HNL) also qualify, but American Airlines isn't currently operating these routes.
- Oneworld partner business or first-class tickets on long-haul international routes (excluding North America and northern South America)
Passengers flying first class on an international route can also guest one other passenger into the lounge. No other travelers get guesting privileges.
Via elite status
Even if you are not traveling in first or business class on the above routes, you may be able to access the Flagship Lounge via elite status.
If you have one of the following elite status levels, you'll be able to access the Flagship Lounge when flying on qualifying long-haul international routes (e.g. outside North America and northern South America):
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro
- AAdvantage Platinum
- Alaska MVP Gold 100k
- Alaska MVP Gold 75k
- Alaska MVP Gold
Even better, AAdvantage ConciergeKey and non-American/Alaska Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire elite status holders can access the Flagship Lounge regardless of flight or seating class. These passengers only need to hold a same-day ticket on a Oneworld airline to access the Flagship Lounge.
Via payment
If you still want access to the Flagship Lounge but do not qualify based on the criteria above, you can also buy a single visit same-day pass at the lounge entrance for $150 (or 15,000 AAdvantage miles) when flying on any flight marketed or operated by a Oneworld airline.
Can you access the Flagship Lounge on arrival?
Eligible travelers can access the American Airlines Flagship Lounge on arrival. Say you're flying from London to Dallas on a qualifying ticket before connecting to a domestic destination. You'll have access to the Flagship Lounge before your connecting flight.
You can even access the Flagship Lounge on arrival to your final destination. That means you can enter the Los Angeles Flagship Lounge location for a bite to eat and/or a shower after a qualifying flight from New York to Los Angeles.
However, you'll still need to be airside to access the lounge. So, you won't be able to visit the Dallas Flagship Lounge after a nonstop flight from London to Dallas since you'll be landside after exiting immigration and customs.
Bottom Line
The American Airlines Flagship Lounge offers a more premium and luxurious lounge experience for qualifying passengers.
Flagship Lounge access can be tough to understand. But it's worth reviewing the criteria above carefully to make sure you'll qualify when planning your time. If you're already in the airport, it might be easier to simply head to the Flagship Lounge to speak with an agent to see if you qualify.
Keep in mind that Flagship Lounge locations are only available in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Miami — in addition to the similarly-accessible Greenwich Lounge in New York JFK. So, plan your international trips accordingly through these airports if you want to utilize an American Airlines Flagship Lounge over an Admirals Club.
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