While we’ll have to be patient, it sounds like American Airlines is resuming its plans to open a Flagship Lounge in Philadelphia.
In this post:
American Flagship Lounge Philadelphia plans
Flagship Lounges are American Airlines’ premium international lounges. In line with oneworld lounge access policies, they’re open to both oneworld first and business class passengers on select itineraries, plus oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members on select itineraries.
Currently American has Flagship Lounges in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York (well, the one in New York is technically branded as the Greenwich Lounge, but for all practical purposes, it’s a Flagship Lounge).
As you can tell, there are some major gaps in American’s Flagship Lounge network, in particular in Philadelphia. Initially American’s plan was to open a Flagship Lounge in Philadelphia back in 2020, though the pandemic caused that project to be put on hold.
Even as things improved, American seemingly wasn’t committed to the Flagship Lounge Philadelphia, as the airline largely focused its international operations in the Northeast out of New York instead. However, with the American and JetBlue Northeast Alliance having ended, American is once again shifting its focus to Philadelphia, and has even announced a transatlantic expansion there for 2024.
On that front, there’s an exciting update when it comes to the passenger experience in Philadelphia. While I can’t personally vouch for this, View from the Wing reports that American is once again starting construction on its Flagship Lounge Philadelphia, though it’ll take some time. The lounge likely won’t open in time for the summer 2024 season, though could open later in 2024.
So while nothing is changing in the immediate future, it’s at least great news that this is back on the agenda. This isn’t just good for those who have access to the Flagship Lounge, but is also valuable for those with Admirals Club access, since it should help with crowding.
What about Charlotte and Phoenix?
People often wonder why American doesn’t have Flagship Lounges in Charlotte and Phoenix. After all, these are two huge American hubs, and there are no plans to have Flagship Lounges there. Why? Well, it probably comes down to a couple of factors:
- Charlotte and Phoenix are heavily focused on domestic and short haul international connectivity, so they don’t have all that many long haul flights
- Often airlines feel they don’t have to compete in fortress hubs that aren’t major international gateways; for example, United also doesn’t have a Polaris Lounge in Denver, while Delta has no plans to open a Delta One Lounge in Atlanta, Detroit, or Minneapolis
So as nice as it would be, expect that once the Flagship Lounge Philadelphia opens, that’ll be the extent of the network. Well, at least for now, until American shifts its strategy yet again.
Bottom line
American is once again starting its Flagship Lounge Philadelphia project, so hopefully we can expect the lounge to open in late 2024. American desperately needs to improve its lounge situation in Philadelphia, especially as this is becoming a more significant international connecting hub.
What do you make of the American Flagship Lounge Philadelphia?
I will not select a long haul flight out of Philly until they open the Flagship lounge. No way am I going to pay for a business class fare to not have use of a proper business class lounge. The Admirals Club is fine but doesn't cut it for a long haul pre-departure. All of the Flagship lounges are great only one I have not been to is LAX.
A frequent AA customer and PHL is my home airport. I don’t know how AA can market Flagship Business without a Flagship lounge, makes no sense but neither does it customer service standard which apparently doesn’t exist any longer.
This is really sad, I moved to Delta because they provide all the services expected when traveling
The B/C lounge is tired and at best mediocre with food worse than a public school cafeteria. And they charge for drinks! The whole experience is at best mediocre, particularly if paying thousands of dollars for a flagship seat.
This announcement seems exciting but I have little hope after they posted “coming soon” signs for the A flagship lounge years ago. AA treats Philly like an unwanted stepchild.
I just had a conversation with a gate agent who said that Summer 2025 is more likely. Permits expired, the space was re-designed and the club is in two counties.
Last time I was in Phl at the B/C lounge, they told me, in a very Philly way, the flagship lounge was coming. The B/C lounge is a complete dump. AA does not invest at all at PHL. When I lived in Philly, I loved PHL, because the security situation is so easy. But to transit there, is bad, because of the lack of AA investment in clubs.
I’m elated that American is recognizing the potential of Philadelphia. US Airways did previously and just for the simple fact that there are 6 million people in our region and PHL isn’t bound to slot issues like in NY. Qatar Airlines flies out of PHL and has for some time. Now American does as well. When I checked the stats the Doha flight is the 3rd busiest! I think it was London, Cancun then Doha. Ahead of Toronto!
Um, Qatar just dropped its PHL flight.
Um, Qatar was dropped because American Airlines wanted it and now flies the same schedule Qatar did from PHL -QATAR/QATAR -PHL.
I have been flying internationally from PHL since 1998. The US Air Club at A15 was wonderful with great food and wine and a ton of seating. Then, after US Air became American, the Club's food and drink slowly deteriorated. When it closed for remodeling as a Flagship Lounge, the Lounge between B/C became very crowded (although NEVER as bad as CLT). I cannot wait until the A15 lounge is back in service. I was hoping it would be sooner than 2024.
VFTW doesn't cite any sources, so I am assuming their source is the FlyerTalk post where one poster said he had it on authority from a VP level person at AA.
So, not much real reporting happening over at VFTW.
I'll believe it when I'm in it.
PHL - 4 ACs, an importan International Hub, but not a shower to be found in any of them!
Quite frustrating!
CLT & PHX will most likely never get these lounges. They will eventually get the updated Admirals Clubs. The new AA AC at CLT that is being planned on the second level may have showers, but that's it. CLT is a DOMESTIC HUB with a few International Flights under 10hrs. Big deal.
So 10+ hour long AA international flights are what's needed to get a Flagship lounge? Lets look at PHL, there's the new DOH flight and ....? I guess all it takes is a single 10+ hour long routing.
At least it should be easy to build a Flagship lounge at PHL if the old Envoy lounge location is still available.
If AA was interested, the planned second level addition at CLT you mentioned...
So 10+ hour long AA international flights are what's needed to get a Flagship lounge? Lets look at PHL, there's the new DOH flight and ....? I guess all it takes is a single 10+ hour long routing.
At least it should be easy to build a Flagship lounge at PHL if the old Envoy lounge location is still available.
If AA was interested, the planned second level addition at CLT you mentioned would be a terrific location. The renderings if this addition show plenty of space that could be used.
WAAAAAHHHHH-WAhhhhhh. Y'all continue to overestimate CLT's importance. That's all. PHL had (past tense) and has (present tense) many more long haul flights than CLT. Not to mention it draws from a larger regional population. Keep whining, THAT might get You a Flagship Lounge. Because facts aren't getting through.
I don't think CLT was ever destined to have a FL but I do remember there was talk about having showers installed. CLT desperately needs another club, not sure if there's room in the D Concourse.
It would be a start if the admirals clubs at CLT didn’t close three hours before the last scheduled flight. That’s an issue all over the network. They go home at 8:30 or 9pm regardless of the flight schedule.
According to my sources (employees of the PHL B/C Admirals Club) before the recent announcement of the TATL expansion, the target date for the A15 Flagship Lounge was December 2024. They also mentioned they had lost 14 flights per day since 2019. I don’t have much confidence in the date.
Back in the US Airways days PHL has a Envoy lounge near the high A gates and a US airways club next to it
I wish they'd do more out of CLT. Especially with the Southeast growing as much as it is, there could be more international flights out of CLT (to DOH for example).