Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Chicago

As a frequent user of the ORD FL, I'd quibble with the phrase "plenty of seating". 🙂

Ben..why do you like those yogurt covered pretzels so much? hehe...I think they're kinda strange.

I was equally excited to see those yogurt covered pretzels in the admirals club in JFK last week!

Whoever decided to call those things "yogurt" covered pretzels instead of frosting-covered pretzels is a marketing genius. I just looked up a recipe for making them at home, and the coating calls for 2 cups of vanilla (i.e., already-sweetened) yogurt and 5 cups of confectioners' sugar!

"While the Flagship Lounge is technically an international first class lounge"

Technically is right. You've posted pictures of business class lounges overseas which are just as nice (some nicer, too).

Am I correct in assuming that if you don't have status, the Amex Platinum won't get you in and you can't pay for daily access?

Flagship Lounge(R)

International Travel Lounges

Get away from the busy terminal and enjoy a little peace and quiet before your flight in an American Airlines Flagship Lounge. Complimentary access to the Flagship Lounge is extended to you and one guest if you meet one of the following criteria:

First Class on an American Airlines marketed and operated international* flight. Lounge access is also valid on a same-day itinerary that includes a qualifying international segment.
First Class cabin on an American Airlines marketed and operated three-class nonstop transcontinental flight. Lounge access is also valid on a same-day itinerary that includes a qualifying transcontinental segment.
American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum® customers when departing on or connecting to an international* flight, operated and marketed by a oneworld® airline, regardless of cabin flown
oneworld First Class international* customers when departing on or connecting to a oneworld marketed and operated flight
oneworld Emerald customers** when departing on or connecting to any oneworld marketed and operated flight, regardless of cabin flown. Access is valid on a same day itinerary.

@ benji -- That's correct, the American Express Platinum card gets you into the Admirals Club and not Flagship Lounge.

@ wwk5d -- Definitely right, lounges outside the US are almost always nicer than lounges in the US. That being said, I find the lounges of foreign carriers in the US don't match up to American's Flagship Lounges for the most part (for example, the British Airways and Cathay Pacific lounges in the US).

Awww yis, yogurt covered pretzels. I have to agree, wish I saw them more often out there.

I first noticed the yogurt pretzels a couple of months ago in the Boston AC. They're weirdly addicting, aren't they?

@ Lucky are you sure you didn't mean "with the exception of" British Airways and Cathay Pacific? Admittedly I've never been to the new CX lounge at SFO but the pics look very nice and it's like the HKG lounges on a smaller scale. BA at JFK, while very large and crowded is far ahead of the FL IMO especially with the Elemis Spa and dining area. YMMV

@ Josh G -- Aside from the dining area and spa at the JFK BA lounge, and the pre-flight supper area at some other BA lounges, I do think the Flagship Lounge is nicer.

The BA lounges in the US (for example in SEA, SFO, ORD, and IAD) are all pretty crappy), and while the Cathay lounge at SFO is in theory more nicely furnished, it's so small that it's almost impossible to find a seat before a Cathay flight.

I like ORD FL because it is small and quick easy access, same level as gates and close to gates for international flights, you can also exit through back door. Reasonable amount of food and drink choices.

We are flying BA first class from ORD to LHR in July. Would you rec this lounge or the BA lounge?