American Airlines has announced plans to launch a new lounge concept, with the first location expected to open in the coming weeks…
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Provisions by Admirals Club lounge coming to Charlotte
In late summer 2025, American plans to introduce a new Provisions by Admirals Club lounge concept at Charlotte Airport (CLT), which is a first-of-its-kind space for American, created for travelers on the go. The space will be located in Concourse A, near gate A1, and is designed for speed, simplicity, and convenience.
So, what can customers expect in these lounges?
- One-on-one customer support, with Admirals Club representatives available on-site, for personalized travel assistance
- Flexible food and drink options with a grab & go concept, offering a variety of sandwiches, salads, snacks, and fresh fruit
- A streamlined experience, with a clean design and high-top standing tables, and minimal furniture to create an environment that supports quick visits and high volume traffic
Here’s how American Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden describes this concept:
“We are constantly evolving our lounge strategy to meet the needs of our customers. This new concept provides a needed respite for our customers traveling through one of our biggest hubs. Whether they’re looking for a quick snack or help on their travel journey, they can find what they need at the Provisions by Admirals Club lounge.”
Access to the Provisions by Admirals Club lounge follows the same policies as traditional Admirals Club access, so you can learn all about access requirements here.
My take on American’s new grab & go lounge concept
I’m really happy to see American introducing this new concept. A few initial thoughts:
- American really is making a lot of small but material improvements in recent times, and I’m delighted to see that
- Charlotte desperately needs more Admirals Club lounge capacity or options, so this should help for those on the go, especially given the short connections that many travelers have at the airport
- The actual space looks about as elegant as an outdated gate area, but I guess who really cares, since this at least allows the facility to be opened ASAP
Once again, American is following here rather than leading. But when you’re behind, I guess that’s the way to go. 😉 This essentially seems to be American’s version of the United Club Fly concept, which is similarly a grab & go lounge that United now offers at two hubs. Even before that, United wasn’t the first to come up with the grab & go concept:
- In 2019, we saw the introduction of the Air Canada Cafe in Toronto, which is the same idea; it’s a small lounge with a selection of food & drinks that you can take with you
- More recently, in the United States we’ve seen the opening of Capital One Lounges, like the Capital One Lounge DFW, which also offer a grab & go selection, including complimentary food & drinks
While the Provisions by Admirals Club space as such looks less elegant than the United Club Fly concept, on the plus side, American will have customer service in the lounge, which could prove useful.
Bottom line
American is launching the Provisions by Admirals Club concept, with the first location expected to open in Charlotte in late summer 2025. This will essentially be a grab & go space for those with Admirals Club access, where you can grab a drink and/or snack, and get help from an Admirals Club agent for any travel needs.
While this might not be the most impressive version of a grab & go lounge facility that we’ve seen, this is still progress, especially given the abysmal Charlotte Admirals Club experience.
What do you make of the Provisions by Admirals Club lounge concept?
It perhaps works for people that are changing planes and will be "in and out" or who need a quick charge of ther devices. It may also work for those that prefer to sit in the terminal because of the overcrowded lounges.
Am I seeing that right? No espresso machine only filter coffee? Half-assing things as usual, the AA way.
I used something similar in CLT 2 years ago when I had a flight cancellation. It was up on a balcony with agents helping me, and sodas, chips & sandwiches with those standing tables. It did seem like a good idea if you wanted to grab a quick bite.
Looks like a cheap hotel's "store" around the corner from the front desk. Why bother paying for an Admirals Club Membership for this? Not even a comfortable seat to take a break in. Bottom Line - this is LOW RENT. Nothing to make you feel appreciated or pampered.
American had something like this at LGA before the renovations, in one of the fingers it operated from in the Central Terminal Building. It was a sad cart with snacks and small cans of coke and bottles of water. This new instance, at CLT, is a nice beginning and a step in the right direction, but it is far from giving its second largest hub a world class airport experience it should have and just a copy cat move from what UA does at some of its hubs already.
@Lucky this MUST be added to your list of lounges to review!
It's an Economy Bistro Bag from 25 years ago but now you have to have Admiral's Club access?
Nice for the AA people.
Regarding comparison to United Club Fly, I am not a coffee connoisseur and would gladly trade the baristas for customer service person(s) at Club Fly.
I know minimalism is in but that might be a bit extreme…
I think what surprises me most is that this is over in A (which I thought was mostly non-AA flights?) and not out in E. When I'm connecting through the E-40s, getting to the AC is Leg Day and it'd be nice to have an option that's not quite such a long walk...
Concourse A is indeed mostly for non-AA flights but this space may have opened up due to the huge amount of space that has been added to that concourse in recent years.
I agree that the need for this is much greater in Concourse E but maybe space isn't available there (yet). The last time I passed through E, there was lots of work underway.
All of the original A gates at CLT are now fully AA (gates A1-A13). You’ll often even find a widebody departing on an international flight out of the A gates now (been on several CLT-LHR flights that have left from A this summer).
There are two newer extensions/concourses that are higher numbered A gates and those are where the non-AA flights are now - but those are a bit of a walk from A1, where this “lounge” will be.
I'd love to see a breakdown of what is actually being offered at these grab and go style locations. I don't think I've seen any pics snapped of the actual food. A compare and contrast would be good content
Agreed. I feel like this could be a video idea for jeb brooks
A served grab-and-go combined with a served lounge (as Amex is doing) is the likely road to quality control and cost containment. If this is successful, the lounge providers and lounge patrons both win. Of course, the load-em-up-free-for-all types wouldn't like it.
lmao I was about to comment on the Amex Sidecar concept that the "speakeasy-inspired" design cues were getting pretty cliche but after seeing this Apple Store of a lounge I rescind any negative emotions I had about the Amex decor plans
I think Cap1 nailed it best at DCA by offering grab and go that you pay for but those with a Venture X card get at half price. That way they can maintain the quality because people won't pig out and waste too much. It's even better than grab and go at DFW bc at DFW you have to wait in a queue. Especially with a connection I'd rather pay half price and get quality food than have a long wait and maybe get mediocre fair.
Or Venture X card holders get 50% off at Pret A Manger? Don’t even need a lounge…..,
I'm not loving the "Provisions" name... It makes me think of supermarkets.
I find it rather clever given the concept. Out of curiosity what would you name it?
My issue is that when you have something so simple and catchy such as 'Air Canada Café' (how about 'Admirals Café'?) or even 'United Club Fly' and compare it to 'Provisions by Admirals Club'... I mean... The word sounds so unnecessarily big (disclaimer: I'm an ESL speaker).
But @DENDAVE has enlightened me, as I had no clue the term 'aircraft provisioning' was a thing. So, let's hope 'Provisions by Admirals Club' succeeds in providing...
My issue is that when you have something so simple and catchy such as 'Air Canada Café' (how about 'Admirals Café'?) or even 'United Club Fly' and compare it to 'Provisions by Admirals Club'... I mean... The word sounds so unnecessarily big (disclaimer: I'm an ESL speaker).
But @DENDAVE has enlightened me, as I had no clue the term 'aircraft provisioning' was a thing. So, let's hope 'Provisions by Admirals Club' succeeds in providing only the very best provisions to their customers.
I work in the railroad industry and we also refer to stocking our trains with food supplies as provisioning, so that’s probably why I didn’t give it a second thought.
I also came back to say they could call it the “Vice Admiral’s Club.” ;)
I believe the rank below the various Admiral ranks is Captain, but then people would probably pass the club by thinking it’s for pilots.
Just name it what it is - "CHEAPSKATES"
I mean, it kind of is a supermarket in that you can take food to go.
It even has a bit of an aviation angle as resupplying an aircraft with food and drink is often referred to as aircraft provisioning.
While this looks/sounds nice, I'm concerned they didn't even show any photos of the food.
It’s actually just going to be miniature snack towers of sadness that you can take with you. :P
"It’s actually just going to be miniature snack towers of sadness that you can take with you. :P"
You are quickly becoming my favorite commenter here. You've given us "Cram a ham in it," and now this. So many statements to steal! :) :) :) Keep up the great work, man, seriously.
@Willy, happy to be of service, thank you! Perhaps our paths will cross one day in the new ‘Vice Admiral’s’ club.
Perhaps a more scintillating title could be " Admirals' Club VICE " ??
The 'amenities' offered would be much more intriguing !
.... lol ..
Maybe call it the "Rear Admiral's Club"?
Wait, you can grab the whole tower to go?
But will there be a choice of architectural styles offered with the 'Towers' ?
.. lol ..
Lol, I think the lack of photos is less insulting to our intelligence !
Would one even think of the word 'quality' given the purpose of this endeavor ?