Admirals Club / Lounges: Openings, Closures, etc. 2021-2022
 

LAX is open again albeit with limited service. At 7:30am this morning, 2 AAgents downstairs checking credentials for access. No self serve anything, not even hermetically sealed packaged stuff. Surreal experience as I was personally escorted from the 2nd floor lobby to the club, given an explanation of the limited service and that no outside food is permitted. And that "masks must be worn at all times, even between bites or sips". LOL. Once in the club proper, I was asked where I'd like to sit, lounge side or bar side and then escorted again to my chosen seating area. As soon as I sat down, two servers came over, one offering and then delivering a snack bag and then bar staff inquiring about a drink order. Hands down the most attentive service in any Admirals Club anywhere.

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Hey, better than nothing... I guess.

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Thanks for the update. Hope DL, Amex et al. quickly adapt as well. The current service protocol seems pretty much like how the clubs were operating when they first re-opened.

A couple of updates:

- ATL: Stopped in for a swipe at the service center yesterday afternoon. They do keep coffee out for members. The agent at the desk said they've been told they'll reopen April. He said the word is the demand is still there and they are looking forward to reopening

- CLT: The bar sells food again in addition to the complimentary options:

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It's not an extensive menu but the prices are competitive to the terminal. I had the chicken Caesar salad which was decent and also ready in 4 minutes. If you're familiar with CLT and their long lines at the restaurants you'll know why being able to relax and not stand in line was worth it to me.

PIT Admirals Club still basically closed except for rebooking assistance. Pleasant AAngel scanned my BP ("to let AA know there is demand") and offered chocolates. :tu:

In contrast, The Club was open albeit with limited cold food selections. But excellent service and now greatly expanded from my last visit about a year ago. The Club is now now larger than the AC and head and shoulders better than pre-COVID AC. I would recommend just going there instead of the AC unless you need rebooking assistance.

Essentially the LAX AC is operating like the other ACs did when they re-opened last year. Limited food and beverage and escorting to seats. I'm at the LAX AC now and it is totally dead. Normally this place would be packed to the gills at this time of morning. Luckily I'm in J on the 773 back to Miami.

OT but I stayed at a 4 star hotel in what was a business district. What I saw in that area (went for a walk) and what I saw in the hotel, as well as chatting with the hotel manager was astounding. Happy to be going back to Florida.

A tale of two states....lol.....

Does anyone have any insight into the future of the flagship lounges? I would think by summer AA would have some plans on it's return or demise. This also applies to FFD

Very quiet this am at SFO, more staff than guests. Plates, napkins, and cutlery together with scrambled eggs (with toppings) and what looked to be oatmeal behind the bar, served on request. Usual self serve food included hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cut fruit, breads and spreads, mostly in individual sealed containers. Only coffee for me, didn't check out the alcohol selection.

I don't think the Flagship Lounges are at risk of "demise" but I can't foresee them being reopened until there is sufficient, paying demand for long haul international travel. Summer is an eternity away in "covid time."

FFD on the other hand, might very well be at high risk of demise IMHO

Regards

Probably a pretty simple equation... when INT traffic gets above XX% we open FL.
FFD, if it reopens, probably similar. When FC goes above YY% (and FL open) we open FFD.

It would be a shame if FFD closed permanently. If it does, I think it is likely AA FC goes away as well.

The other factor - later on - will be OW partners. They count on the FL as part of their "experience". I can see a partner push to open them at some point. But, again, traffic needs to go way up and COVID cases go way down.

i can't understand the speculating that Flagship Lounges, the Flagship dining, or first class is ending...It's not going to be a pandemic forever. What am I missing?

You are missing the obvious. FT is a cesspool of spekyulashens and panniks and would only have a frackshen of the post counts if rashenel thought went into some posts.

Now, more importantly, has anyone heard a peep about the HNL lounge situation?

I don't believe anyone thinks FL is going away.

FFD is a different conversation.
AA has reduced its FC footprint.
AA recently ordered A321XLR's - no FC.
AA has several 787s being delivered this year. - no FC.
Last I looked, no additional 77W's were being delivered in the next year, leaving FC the same.

So currently, ~110+ widebodies without FC, 20 with FC. More widebodies without FC (plus A321XLRs) coming online in the next few years.

What will happen? who knows. But this is FT... full of flyers... on the ground... speculation is all we have! :)

I think FL's will remain because it caters to business as well. FC was always there but globally its footprint is declining. Many airlines don't see the point in offering a separate cabin that only few people would care about/pay more for. It is however, unique. It is something that no other airline has between LA-NY and in some cases, internationally. FFD was never a thing until fairly recently so you'd think it could only work 'in the good times'. And we won't be back to 'good times' for several years. The real question is whether customers value FFD and FC to begin with. I think it was mildly impressive to get that kind of service/product in the US, add on the 'five star service' and you've got a compelling product but will they lose customers over it? I doubt it. Look at it from AA's perspective through the US Airways merger and how they've waited years to integrate everything. This was only meant to be the beginning but things have reversed to the point that AA should be the last airline offering such lavish perks

Ummm.... literally nobody said Flagship lounges are going away. The speculation was purely on when they reopen and clearly that will be demand driven. Do you agree or disagree with that assumption?

International first class has been going away before the pandemic panic every occurred, not gone, but reducing over time (this isn't an opinion, but rather a verifiable fact). Again, I did not assert FFD is going away, but certainly that I could see that as a risk. Do you disagree or disagree?

Finally, FFD physical spaces have been chronically under utilized, again prior to the pandemic, because of the above. Several AA hubs that had FFD in development ended up seeing a reduction in first class flights from said hubs. Now, does that mean they are going away, who knows but it's quite possible. It's not an inexpensive service for AA to offer. And certainly, the fact that AA has chosen to liquidate the higher end wine/champagne that is on offer in the FFD (when they could easily have continued to cellar it until reopening) is an interesting data point.

If you disagree with anything I've stated, then how about stringing together a counter argument that is a bit more substantial than "the pandemic is not forever!"

Regards

I will advance three theories on the status of Flagship dining's status.

First, lets remember that Flagship dining is effectively a full-service restaurant with an open bar. In 3 out of the 5 locations with Flagship lounges, you have some pretty onerous restrictions on restaurants and sit down service. I think that in order to offer a consistent approach, AA could argue that the limitations on dining in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago are so strict that they have opted against being open and have taken an all-or-none approach on these particular lounges.

Second, international First class travel and paid business travel is off significantly, so the usage rate on these lounges may not justify their continuing to be open.

Third, American isn't doing so well financially. Those lounges are probably not inexpensive to staff and to stock. I have no idea what they cost on a per person per day basis to run but between the labor cost, the food cost, the alcohol cost, and overhead cost, they can't be cheap. I'd bet that the average person consumes $10 worth of food and drink at a FL prior to a flight, and those who really indulge at the FL lounges probably consume $25 worth of food and drink. Multiply that by 1,000 passengers per day and you're at $25,000 in food/drink costs alone....

Since you're going with the "ummm...." technique...

Ummm....MileTrek had said what you said that nobody said...It is sitting there for all the world to read, but apparently you did not:
I literally said
I didn't say someone reported they're going away. I said the speculation that they might all be coming to an end is something I didn't understand. In other words, the discussion about them removing flagship lounges, flagship dining, or first class....is jumping the gun, sky falling, premature, etc.
I hope that's "strung together more substantially " to your satisfaction. No need for the condescending snark in your reply.
Regards yourself.

Flew into DFW on Flagship Business today and was aware that the Flagship lounge was closed, which is understandable. Proceeded to the Admiral's Club outside A23 and asked about drink vouchers but was told they are no longer giving them out. I headed to the bar to try my luck but was told I would need to pay for anything other than Miller Lite. I understand that is the policy for standard Admirals guests, but this is completely ridiculous for someone who would ordinarily have access to the Flagship lounge. Why can't AA realize that passengers spending 5k+ on a ticket should be given, at a minimum, drink vouchers to the Admirals Club?
Obviously, the $6 for a drink is nothing compared to my ticket cost so I sucked it up but none the less it leaves a taste of being cheated.

AA suspended all drink coupons for the unforeseeable future. This also includes Flagship First passengers, non-AAdvantage OW status members, and AAdvantage Platinum or higher members traveling on an international flight.

On the other hand, United is doing the right thing which is providing Polaris Lounge eligible passengers a premium snack and drink coupons.

I'd be more annoyed about spending $5K+ on an AA ticket.

Touché

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was at United lounge at IAH a couple of times traveling TK in J as Star Gold and wasn’t offered anything extra. Is this offered to Polaris passengers only? Class of service would have allowed for Polaris lounge under normal circumstances.

Yes, it's only specific to UA Polaris passengers.

What is the current lounge situation at LHR?

AA moved to T5 right? Since there is no Admirals Club anymore, have they said whether club members can use the BA lounges? I'm considering a trip in May.

Yes, Admirals Club members could use the Galleries Club in Terminal 5 solely when they are flying on American Airlines.
Obviously, AA Platinum and higher could access the Galleries Club when they are flying with another oneworld partner as well.

Good to know. Not that I'd want to pay cash for a BA flight anyway.

Today I showed up about an hour before my flight at the Admirals Club in San Francisco. The new terminal is very nice, and the new Admirals Club is beautiful. Good views of the tarmac, great places to sit, and an amazing staff. Once I got upstairs, a very friendly agent asked if I had been at the lounge before. When I said no, she gave me an overview of the layout and explained where everything was located. She was exceptionally friendly. The bartenders were also very friendly. I had a nice, long conversation with one of them about travel, and they truly made me feel welcome. There were only three other people in the lounge in San Francisco while I was there. I got some avocado toast, some other snacks, and a couple of drinks. When I ordered a tequila sunrise, bartender suggested I try it with pineapple juice. I did, and it was great. Tequila and pineapple juice might be a new go to drink. Considering the gratis tequila situation, there is still free tequila available in San Francisco.

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After a short, but very nice flight down to Los Angeles on Skybest, I decided to take a very short visit to the club in Los Angeles. Whenever I checked in, the agent explained the restricted service. I told her that was fine, and I walked upstairs. A friendly agent seated me and asked if I wanted something to drink. Apparently, Los Angeles does not to have any more complimentary tequila. I ordered a double vodka tonic instead, and I said yes when she asked if I wanted a snack bag. She brought me my snack bag and drink very quickly. I didn't have much time, so I ate some cheese and crackers and chugged my cocktail.

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My flight into Phoenix appeared to be one of the first of the flight Bank. Phoenix was very empty, and the lounge was quite empty whenever I arrived. While I was sitting in the lounge, I observed several flights coming in for the evening bank, and it became a bit more busy. The bartender was very friendly, and she made my visit quite enjoyable. Phoenix did not have any complimentary tequila. The bartender explained that tequila and Scotch would no longer be complementary. So I guess that is The New Normal. Upgraded vodka and whiskey, but if you like scotch or tequila then you can just go take a s*** in the bathroom and eat it. She served me multiple drinks, and I enjoyed the guacamole, soup, and snack options. Overall, I was very pleased with my experiences in the three Admirals clubs today. I only wish they had complimentary tequila.

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Hmmm...I think I'll just go with vodka.

Seriously, thanks for sharing the pics/update on SFO. With the "upgraded" stock running low, AA's got to be prepping an order from McCormick Distilling to restock the wells in the ACs (sans tequila, of course).

rofl 🤣

JFK AC recently......it was before 8am so that’s just tomato juice. Apparently I was able to get scrambled eggs before they officially are on offer by asking. I just saw those soup containers behind the bar and asked what was in them.

Also in MIA-D30 I see the same soup containers behind the avocado toast bar.....no signs again saying what was in there or what was available.

Its like the scrambled eggs are a well kept
secret that you have to know to look for and ask. Weird.


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I think it’s really time for AA to open MIA-D15 as D-30 really feels busy in the evenings.

MIA-D30 offerings in the afternoons are:

Guac station out at 5pm - I have never seen lines for the guacamole bar like this before

Minestrone soup (yawn) at the bar with a tiny sign about it all the way to the left

Salad cups (no ranch dressing but balsamic vinaigrette)

Then the usual crudités, hummus, dessert options all packaged up.

Nice that they’re playing top 40 music instead of Musak type stuff

Nice to see the CLT B AC open again. It's bright, airy and renovated interior makes a nice change from the C Club.

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Incidentally, the individually wrapped bagels they're serving now are really bad.

For reference, the CLT B Club was open since September or October.

Dropped into D30 to grab a coffee on Saturday morning just gone, bar looked like the good old days but the breakfast food offerings... wow, as bad as I've seen. Chobani yogurt and some sad looking package of a handful of grapes and whatever Kraft manufactured cheese they have a contract for, having been to CLT late last year and the guac bar going along with other more meaningful evening offerings it was disappointing.

Currently at the Admirals Club at DFW terminal D

quiet and tempted to get a 375 ml bottle of Krug for $65 hehehe

I flew through DCA yesterday and was met at the gate by a Premium Services Representative. I asked her if there were any plans to reopen the 25-34 Club in Concourse B and she said no. She said there are barely any people using the Club that's open in Concourse C (The Legacy US Club in the 36-45 gate pier) and they can't justify two open clubs :(

Valid. I've been the only one there on the majority of occasions that I've visited, since it reopened. (IIRC only the B club was open for a brief while, then they swapped it and only the C club was open)

DCA was a ghost town last Thursday afternoon. 12 months ago, Thursday afternoons were a zoo with business travelers leaving after the work week and leisure travelers going out on long weekends.

The C club has been an absolute ghost town every time I've been.

I've never been to the B club, but I have to assume that it's nicer than C?

Depends what you like. The B Club is the Legacy Admirals Club and it got a refresh more recently than the Legacy US Airways Club which is that mix of dreary late 90s gray seats that US must have gotten a special on and wood paneling. There are still signs for smoke free work carrels. That said, the B Club is small and now that DCA is a hub when things are normal it can be oppressively crowded.