Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge London Heathrow LHR

Don't forget you can also use the CX lounge in Terminal 3 as a One World Emerald. I was there last weekend and it was completely empty. They have a decent noodle bar and Veuve on stock.

Great review as always Lucky! You writing skills are second to none! It is always a pleasure reading your posts! Thank you!

"There's....a small a la carte menu"

Really?

We've been thru there half a dozen times flying AA LHR-LAX, and no one has ever mentioned that. I'd ask how to find out about it, but we're coming home via the LH FCT next summer, so it's a moot point.

LMAO about the security questions! i had to laugh out loud in the office!
that's so funny... "ask him something"!!!
😉

I'm surprised by how you didn't comment on the interior and design of the lounge. This is plain ugly!

Ben, I second the comment about the CX lounge in T3. There's even a dedicated First Class Lounge separate and apart from the main lounge. Very nice and, most importantly, very quiet and uncrowded. Great views of the gates and main runway as well.

Ben, I have a spend a night at a Heathrow airport hotel next year. Which hotel would you recommend for best price to quality ratio?

good review. Some questions.

So first class only...not biz and not for folks w an admirals club pass? Can emerald members bring in guests?

@ Robert Hanson -- Yep, the menu was on individual tables in the lounge.

@ Abdel Rahim Abdallah -- I guess I've just been conditioned after using so many Admirals Clubs. 😉

Have you been to the new United Club in T2? Probably the nicest UC in the network, which may not sound like much when i think of some of the other UCs, but is really nice.

The interior design reminds me of College cafeterias. Ugly!!!

@ Luis -- Which terminal are you arriving at and departing from? It's such a massive airport that the answer really varies based on the terminal.

@ Mdtravel -- Emerald members can bring in one guest. Business class passengers and those with day passes can use the Admirals Club.

We arrive on British Airways from CDG and depart the next day on American back to the states.

Yikes - that is one ugly lounge! United has it's problems and the options for London don't hold a candle to BA/AA but the regular United Club in the new LHR T2 is lightyears ahead from an aesthetics standpoint. Does American have new club designs in process or rolling out soon? United's new club designs that I've seen in BOS, SEA, LHR and SFO are lightyears ahead of these Admirals clubs (though the US food selection is just as bad as always).

You asked for security questions? What a noob move. I flew BA on an AA ticket last week, used Fast Track without knowing it was special and only got asked questions when my tablet was under my bag, and the scanner thought it was still IN the bag.

Hi Ben,

I am surprised no questions where asked prior to boarding. Coming in from a BA flight from Vienna and connecting with American on the last leg towards Los Angeles I got asked tons of questions during the connecting process and then prior to boarding, though I had my security sticker on the back of my passport. Security for me at LHR is always a pain in the a## and one of the hubs I try to avoid doing connections at.

Flagship Lounge can use some good upgrading but for what it offers I believe its just fine to put in some work for a few hours. defo agree with you. As always, great work 🙂

Can't think why you'd choose AA's FL over the BA or CX lounges. The space is unattractive and the catering mediocre. While I was EXP I enjoyed Galleries First, always very peaceful in the afternoon, but now as a lowly PLT I hope to check out the Cathay lounge in a few weeks.

@ "Mdtravel — Emerald members can bring in one guest. Business class passengers and those with day passes can use the Admirals Club."

And that is a diff lounge than the flagship lounge yes ?

Ben,

Love your stuff but don't understand your chip against BA and its Lounges. The AA Flagship Lounge at LHR is a disgrace while the two BA Lounges at T3 are rock solid. I love to fly the AA 77W from London to the US but the Flagship Lounge is to be avoided.

- the dude

Also surprised you chose the AA FL when the BA F and CX F lounges are just down the hall. The AA FL looks like a doctor's office waiting room (granted, it's an improvement over its grandpa's rest home look of years ago). CX F has great food ( love their dan dan noodles) and floor-to-ceiling windows all around. BA F has the champagne bar, wine bar, and separate sit-down dining room in addition to their buffet.

@ Mdtravel -- Correct!

@ The Dude -- Don't think I said otherwise. I do prefer the BA Lounge at T3 -- totally agree.

CX is far and away my favourite OW lounge at T3. Now that the decent champagne is gone, there is little to draw me to BA. As for AA, I'd say that calling it a pit of despair is somewhat generous. There are plenty of non-lounge dining options that provide a nicer setting.

I will be flying from Madrid and leaving the next day on American for LAX. Do I keep my luggage overnight or turn it in after immigration?

@ iwantmoremiles -- You keep your luggage overnight.

Haha you asked for security questions... Being british I can just imagine the woman's face like err what? Are you saying you have something in your bags... Call the police!

Hi Lucky,

I kid you not. The last 2 times I was at the LHR Flagship Lounge in the past 6 months, I saw mice scatter from side to side. i brought this up to the reps and they did acknowled there was a rodent problem. Which is why I now spend my time in the BA lounge. So much nicer experince for my taste. Wonder if this issue has been resolved.

@ Keith -- OMG! Never going back there!

@Lucky - im flying aa first class out of T3 shortly - can i use BA's Galleries lounge (in lieu of AA's FL)?

@ tri n -- Sure can!

Can I use this lounge as an arrival lounge flying BA from AMS?

I am traveling LHR-LAX first class October 2016. I'm a platinum member. Can I use the CX or BA lounge or must I use the AA Flagship Lounge? Thanks.