American unveiled its new Flagship Lounge and Admiral’s Club at its Philadelphia hub this morning. They’ve teased certain portions of this lounge over the past couple of months, including dining options and amenities, and we now have our first look inside ahead of the opening on May 22.
These lounges are located in Terminal A West, between gates A15 and A16. Note that the Admiral’s Club in Terminal A East will close.
Flagship Lounge
Here are some quick facts on what to expect here:
- 13,750 square feet
- 200 guests
- 3 eGates
- 6 shower suites
- 1 full-service bar
- 1 self-serve wine bar
- 3 55 inch TVs
- 2 private phone pods
These Philly lounges are American’s first with eGates. Passengers will scan their boarding pass to enter.
Which makes me think, why can’t we trial these for boarding airplanes? I think having two of these at a gate will improve the flow of boarding, instead of the one clunky code reader at the gate agent’s desk. Purely my thoughts though, I’m sure there are other logistics to consider (Japanese boarding gates have these automatic gates but are also very well staffed, for example).
Anyways, end of tangent.
I like the soft lighting and design this lounge has to offer, which has been a trend for American over these past several years (also seen at Denver, DCA, Newark). Much of the design and artwork features local culture and character.
The full-service bar will offer premium wines, six local beers, and bartender-crafted cocktails and mocktails. Passengers can also enjoy an a la carte dining experience through a QR code, in addition to a “…specially created dishes by renowned local chef and James Beard Award Semifinalist, Chef Randy Rucker.”
The lounge will also offer sweeping views of the ramp and runway. I’m a fan.
This looks like a fantastic lounge that was also much needed. Philadelphia is a key transatlantic gateway for American with plenty of passengers daily, so this lounge should do its job in providing a more competitive premium experience for the airline.
Admiral’s Club
Have an Admiral’s Club membership? This is probably the one to visit next. Much of the design seems on par with the Flagship Lounge next door.
Here are the quick facts on this one:
- 11,000 square feet
- 181 guests
- 2 eGates
- 2 shower suites
- 1 full-service bar
- 3 55 inch TVs
- 2 private phone pods
- 1 kids room with TV
The full-service bar is a great offering, and passengers can also enjoy specialty Don Francisco coffee and other curated self-serve offerings.
This lounge is located right next door to the Flagship Lounge, and customers will enter by scanning their boarding pass at eGates as well. Overall, this should also be an improvement to the current Admiral’s Club in Terminal A East.
Concluding Thoughts
According to American, Philadelphia saw more than 19 million passengers in 2024, serving more than 120 destinations in 26 countries. This is a key market for American and an important transatlantic hub. Initial photos look great, and I hope this lives up to expectations when it opens on Thursday.
All photos by American Airlines.
