American Airlines recently revealed that it will be introducing a new design template for its Admirals Club airport lounges, which will be used for all lounges going forward. The first lounge with the new design has opened today, so let’s go over all the details of this new era for Admirals Clubs. I’m really impressed.
In this post:
American Admirals Club redesign details
American Airlines is significantly altering the design of its Admirals Club lounges going forward. Obviously it will take a long time until this is rolled out to all clubs, but as clubs are renovated, you can expect that they’ll all feature this updated design.
Here’s how the new design of the lounges is described:
When customers step inside, they will be welcomed by signature brand elements and references from local landscapes and landmarks that tell the story of each city and create a sense of place. Wellness will uniquely shine through selective design elements that set a tone of calm and familiarity. Sustainability is also built into the new design in intentional ways, such as branded elements made of renewable American walnut in every lounge.
So, what should we actually expect from these lounges? Below are some real pictures of the new Admirals Club at DCA.
New-style Admirals Club DCA opens
The new Admirals Club design is debuting today (October 25, 2022), with the opening of the new Admirals Club at Washington National Airport (DCA). Specifically, the lounge in Terminal 2 Concourse E features the new design. It’s located on the Mezzanine level, near gate E46, and is open daily from 5AM until 10:30PM.
You can expect that the next airports to get redesigned Admirals Clubs will be Newark Airport (EWR), Austin Airport (AUS), and Denver Airport (DEN). However, we don’t have an exact timeline for when these lounges will open.
As always, the best way to access American Admirals Clubs is with the $595 annual fee Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (review).
My take on the new Admirals Club look
Now that we have the first real pictures of the new Admirals Club design, I have to admit that I’m really impressed and pleasantly surprised — the lounge looks cozy and high-end. I love the wood, dark tones, and fireplaces, and I also like the booths and different seating options. This looks like a massive improvement over the old Admirals Club design (as a point of comparison, below is what other Admirals Clubs look like).
Now, I do have one major concern about the new design — how well will it age? The interior looks beautiful, but as I look at almost every element, I just can’t help but wonder how it’ll look in a couple of years. From the carpet staining, to the wood chipping, to the seating fabrics getting scratched and discolored, one has to wonder…
Yes, previously Admirals Clubs looked a bit like glorified (very nice) hospital waiting rooms, but at least they aged pretty well, since there wasn’t much that could be damaged.
While the hard product is impressive, the catch is that Admirals Clubs don’t have an amazing soft product. The food & drinks generally aren’t that great — I’d love to see an investment there. While Delta Sky Clubs are a step up in terms of that, Delta’s lounges also have much bigger crowding issues, with eligible guests regularly having to wait a long time. American doesn’t have that issue nearly as often.
Bottom line
American Airlines Admirals Clubs are getting a redesign. This is debuting as of today at Washington National Airport, with the opening of a new club. We can expect that a lot more Admirals Clubs will feature these interiors over the coming years, as they undergo refreshes.
Based on the pictures so far, I’m really impressed by the design, and look forward to checking out the refreshed Admirals Club myself.
What do you make of the American Admirals Club redesign concept?
So will the other 2 AA lounges stay open, with or without upgrades, will they close, etc?
I mean, do they even need 3 lounges at DCA?
As someone that flys in and out DCA this is most welcome. The other 2 ACs were pathetic. They were designed for the business traveler of 1984. Not to mention the crowds, a small and dirty bathroom, and issues with wifi.
I guess work carrels are just a thing of the past? Will DFW-A be the last renovated club to see them?
looks like a spitting image of the AC Maple Leaf Lounges in LHR and FRA
Looks gorgeous, except for those light shades with the words in them - quite tacky.
Hopefully, the computer screens at the entrance desks can be lowered so they're not obscuring the staff's faces - that seems like an odd design.
Here now. This design is so much better than the recent remodels. With the exception of self service bars and full service restaurants this feels like an international first lounge. For those willing to walk, this will be the lounge at DCA. I suspect traffic at C & D will drop off significantly. AA did something right for a change...who would have thought!
wow...!!!! im a flight attendant for 1 of the big three...and ill admit this re-design is spectacular.....would love my employer to review this design and maybe going forward use some of the same on their facilities
All that fancy decor and the alcoholic drinks choice of the worse Priority Pass lounge. Just a crowded waiting room with rotgut.
All US airlines clubs are already over crowded, just making fancy space without proper electrical connections is a waste of time and money.
Exactly
Looks and sounds nice. Now here comes a family of five and their two dogs.
American Airlines - all is great until you get on board :()
Now they just need a better door policy to Stop the sloppy, boorish plebs whose low standards of cleanliness and hygiene wreak havoc on the furniture and around the buffet. These clubs are for more sophisticated travelers looking to escape the shuffling trash on the other side of the sliding door. Social media ‘influencers’ also need to be banned and relegated to the other side of the opaque door as tick tocking themselves lying on...
Now they just need a better door policy to Stop the sloppy, boorish plebs whose low standards of cleanliness and hygiene wreak havoc on the furniture and around the buffet. These clubs are for more sophisticated travelers looking to escape the shuffling trash on the other side of the sliding door. Social media ‘influencers’ also need to be banned and relegated to the other side of the opaque door as tick tocking themselves lying on the buffet or quaffing champagne in coffee mugs is uncouth and causing irreparable harm.
DYKWIA alert!!!!!
"more sophisticated travelers looking to escape the shuffling trash on the other side of the sliding door"
This exact phrase is probably uttered with air travel in the 60s. You probably came from the other side of the sliding door not too long ago too.
But you still get the same cheese cubes from 2006 which are set to expire in 2050.
Nah, they still use the leftovers that expired in 2005.
The cleanest it's ever going to be.
Looks ... okay? Stunning is a far reach.
Looks quite nice. Interesting to see AA go back to individualized club decor after spending the last decade working hard to standardize almost every club with the same design elements (the wood-panel screens, gray-topped service areas, red and gray furniture). You can step into almost any club - apart from the main club in Charlotte, where it's still 1998 and evidently always will be - and they almost look identical.
Twenty years ago, every...
Looks quite nice. Interesting to see AA go back to individualized club decor after spending the last decade working hard to standardize almost every club with the same design elements (the wood-panel screens, gray-topped service areas, red and gray furniture). You can step into almost any club - apart from the main club in Charlotte, where it's still 1998 and evidently always will be - and they almost look identical.
Twenty years ago, every Admirals Club was refreshingly different, and many had a lot of local touches that gave a sense of place. Interesting that just as they're almost finished homogenizing the look and feel every club, they go back in the opposite direction. But it's AA, where inconsistency is they only thing do consistently well!
Picture looks good, like a nice relaxing clubs that I can enjoy for hours.
BUT, I don't care. Those days of traveling in comfort are long gone.
Seeing how Centurion and SkyClub is now and AAdmirals Club likely heading.
Give me more seats, more tables, more outlets, more showers, and better food.
And self serve non-alcoholic stations please.
Looks great! I wish the planes were as nice.
So is AA going to only have one lounge now at DCA? Or are both lounges there getting this upgrade?
DCA is my home airport and happy with the new gates and look forward to enjoying this AC. I’m imagining the C pier club could be closed. The current club on D pier has VIP area, I believe.
Boy, Gravelly Point Guy. I’m either for him or against him. On this, I’m for him. Elected Officials get changed for the worse by their perks IMHO!
Who's the VIP area for? Haven't seen one inside of an AC
Congress!, and all those “special dignitaries “ ridiculous if you ask me!!!
I was hoping it was a mini Flagship Lounge for CK's! ;)
I love the look and feel of these new lounges Ben. I feel that we need to compare this to United and Delta domestic lounges. I'm glad these went higher end design
Also, I don’t know who decided in these staged marketing photos that it would be best to have those computer monitors raised so high. The first thing I want to see if I’m traveling (with all the stress that brings these days) is the warm smil…. err the back of a computer monitor.
Lower those damn things and allow your people to show. Hospitality is about people after all.
Covid, obviously!! Plus AA staff are NOT interested in seeing customers, nor smiling at them. ;-)
Love. I just hope AA gets more aggressive with their lounge strategy like Delta has. They should be considering more clubs in the Midwest where AA has become close to being the market leader in several key cities such as IND, CVG, MCI, MEM. and CMH.
I don't know how the materials will age, but the design is *so* trendy that it's almost already dated. (It'll be fully passe in 5-10 years, about the time they probably implement it in CLT.)
Agreed that while really nice, I thought about how they will look after wear and tear
DCA is my home airport, just flew out and the staff shared they expect to open next week. I was shocked when going to the AC this morning and every seat at the check-in desk was staffed, I asked and was told by the manager that they had anticipated opening this week but were delayed due to inspections/permit approvals.
I am very happy to see a much larger lounge however the lounge is now in...
DCA is my home airport, just flew out and the staff shared they expect to open next week. I was shocked when going to the AC this morning and every seat at the check-in desk was staffed, I asked and was told by the manager that they had anticipated opening this week but were delayed due to inspections/permit approvals.
I am very happy to see a much larger lounge however the lounge is now in the new wing/terminal where all of the regional flights depart from. Interested to know what will happen with the two existing lounges.
Surprised that they’re not addressing their Admiral’s Clubs at major hubs first. It looks great but there’s no telling in which decade these will be completed given AAs track record with Lounge construction. They closed the AC at Gate A15 at PHL in October 2019 to build a Flagship Lounge. Still waiting and never a word on progress.
A new lounge was in the plans for the new concourse at DCA from the beginning. This one, EWR, and DEN are all ones that are being constructed anew and are, thus, the first ones in this new style.
But both EWR and Den are fortress hubs for United, what’s the point in investing so much at the competitors airport. Any thoughts??
precisely because it is in someone else's fortress hub is why it makes sense to invest in upgraded product there.
As noted, it could be due to other logistical issues
LAX Terminal 4 is being entirely rebuilt, hence you can expect a revamped lounge. Not sure about terminal 5
very nice looking.... these types of interiors will age well. Congrats to AA for the upgrades - although it will take time to renovate - and, of course, clubs will be closed while renovations take place.
AA has done a good job on their premium aircraft cabins - but they do not necessarily deliver the service or have the other soft level service components that other US airlines have.
Good job, AA!
You have no ability to positive about aa, huh? What a loser
@Ben, while it looks nice, it doesn't seem very practical. Who's going to use those massive square ottoman things?
You usually talk about power port availability in lounges, and there don't seem to be many. Aside from the high-back solo sofas and the end tables at the "regular" sofas, none of the seats seem to have them. Hopefully, they're just located where you can't see them in the photos. If not, it's a massive fail.
Shouldve invested all that $ into serving edible food on par with Delta's SkyClubs
People forget that the complimentary food in ACs at one time was pretzels and that was about it. I'm fine with the current type of offerings, I just think they need to change out the offers more often. The chicken and rice has been around since early last summer when the "sliders" finally went away.
My biggest desire out of an airline lounge is spacious seating, quiet areas or at least areas in which people...
People forget that the complimentary food in ACs at one time was pretzels and that was about it. I'm fine with the current type of offerings, I just think they need to change out the offers more often. The chicken and rice has been around since early last summer when the "sliders" finally went away.
My biggest desire out of an airline lounge is spacious seating, quiet areas or at least areas in which people can get work done, the ability to get flight help and clean bathrooms. In these regards the ACs have been failing miserably because there so many more entrants. Even having toilet paper in stalls seems like a constant problem.
Looking warmer if they would ditch the blacks and greys altogether would have a really warm premium feel
Just curious how would you compare the ambiance with CX's The Pier?
There is absolutely no comparison to any of the CX lounges. Business first or otherwise. Those are amazing!
Not talking about the soft product, but rather hard product strictly like with the finishes, furniture and the like. Both seem to use a lot of wood trim and earthy tone finishes.
Gotcha!
Looks nice. Reminds of BA terraces lounge in LHR.
Agree, they need a better soft product.