Last year American made some significant improvements to their lounges for international premium passengers.
Specifically, they’ve refreshed four of their Flagship Lounges, starting with the New York Flagship Lounge last May, the Chicago Flagship Lounge last September, the Miami Flagship Lounge last November, and the Los Angeles Flagship Lounge last December.
Overall these lounges are excellent, and a huge improvement compared to the old Flagship Lounges. That doesn’t even account for the expanded access (they’re now open to oneworld business class and oneworld Sapphire passengers). More good lounges for more people is most definitely a good thing.
American Flagship Lounge JFK
When American’s Flagship Lounge JFK first opened I expressed crowding concerns, as the lounge was consistently filled to the brim in the afternoons and evenings.
The lounge isn’t that big, and there are lots of premium passengers flying through the airport. I would guess that JFK probably has among the highest percentage of passengers eligible for Flagship Lounge access, given how many international and premium transcon flights they have. So there’s some good news on that front.
As of September 1, 2018, American is expanding the Flagship Lounge New York JFK. Specifically, the adjacent Admirals Club in Concourse B will become part of the Flagship Lounge.
With this addition, the Flagship Lounge will gain approximately 7,000 square feet, and about 117 seats, which is great news.
American Flagship Lounge JFK
What does this means for those with Admirals Club access, though? As of September, American will go from having two Admirals Clubs to having one Admirals Club at JFK. The Concourse C Admirals Club will continue to be open, and that lounge has 255 seats. I suspect that’s probably sufficient for the number of Admirals Club members they have traveling through the airport.
Maybe the biggest downside here for those with Admirals Club access is that the Concourse C Admirals Club is quite out of the way if your flight departs from Concourse B, since you’ll have to walk underground to the other concourse and then return again.
Selfishly I’m also worried that this will greatly increase crowding in the Flagship Bridge, which is the best kept secret in the Flagship Lounge. It’s actually technically located in the Admirals Club, so almost no one stumbles upon this by mistake. With the Admirals Club becoming part of the Flagship Lounge, I imagine a lot more people will discover this.
American Flagship Bridge JFK
What do you make of American’s decision to convert a JFK Admirals Club into part of the Flagship Lounge?
@lucky
AMERICAN AIRLINES ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES INFLIGHTS TO ASIA, EUROPE, AND THE CARRIBEAN
http://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2018/American-Airlines-Expands-European-Footprint-and-Modifies-Asia-Service/default.aspx
The Flagship Lounge at JFK is a madhouse in the afternoon and early evening, so this is welcome news, but the loss of a second Admirals Club is a bummer.
Personally, I wish AA would figure out flight gating at JFK. My LAX and SFO A321T flights always seem to leave from the more distant Concourse C, requiring a long trek through the tunnel from the Flagship Lounge. It'd be nice if they could regularly schedule those flights to depart from B.
I really don’t get American strategy at jfk, they haven’t launched a new international route in years, instead canceling routes to fly them from phl(a fortress hub) and any domestic expansion does not qualify for the use of the flagship lounge, but even some of the newly launched routes like Denver are already being cancels only 6 months after initial operation. For me the most likely reason for this expansion is to allow more Oneworld...
I really don’t get American strategy at jfk, they haven’t launched a new international route in years, instead canceling routes to fly them from phl(a fortress hub) and any domestic expansion does not qualify for the use of the flagship lounge, but even some of the newly launched routes like Denver are already being cancels only 6 months after initial operation. For me the most likely reason for this expansion is to allow more Oneworld partners to move in such as Japan airlines along with Iberia and signals a further pull back in smaller routes to Europe such as DUB and EDI instead replying on mostly BA for flights to Europe. Anyways this is great news for premium customers and I can’t person wait to use the expanded facility
AA should have left it the way it was.
Flagship for First/Emerald, AC for Business/Sapphire.
Ummm lot's more people WILL discover this thanks to you posting about it.
It's why many of us can no longer have nice things, when its revealed to all and sundry.
@Beachfan we cc holders technically don’t foot the bill, the banks does. We just sign up for the welcome bonuses. Premium passengers especially those with corporate contracts pay well over what we normally do and AA rightfully acknowledges that.
If you don’t think cc holders don’t pay the bills you have no idea how much revenue AA gets from the banks because of their credit cards. Well over $1 billion per Gary.
Premium passengers pay the bills. Not CC holders.
Smart move by Parker & Co. They know who butters their bread.
I thought that was the only AAdmirals club at JFK with showers. Now there aren’t any outside of flagship? And this is a good thing?
Once again.... DELTA MAKE A PREMIUM LOUNGE ATLEASR IN NYC, uh!
time to cancel my AA credit card. Did AA think of that sort of response before their big move?
This makes sense. AA should devote space to passengers that pay for business class rather than to credit card holders who --- as Lucky advises --- send their 10 family members into the admirals club.
But the Flagship First Diner will now sit in between this. It may be an odd setup. What they should do is just open (space permitting) another Flagship Lounge in Concourse C. More often than not, my International flights tend to leave from C anyway, with the exception of LHR.
So no showers at JFK unless you have flagship access? Boo
I wish CX would operate their own lounge at JFK
To be honest, When I was there earlier this June, the Flagship Bridge was already significantly more crowded than before, I wonder how much longer this secret will refrain from the public......
Shame - the Concourse B Admiral's Club is really nice - probably the nicest Admirals Club of the three NYC airports. Though to be fair, the last couple times I've been in there it's been virtually empty.
I hope that LGA gets some love eventually - I know Terminal B is not long for this world with the LGA construction underway, but that club must be "80s office building lobby" themed. Just gross.
Delta needs to step up there game with lounges.
Great news for premium pax. Lucky, any news on when/whether AA will renovate the Concourse C Admirals Club? It's in dire need.