After a quick flight from Tampa to Miami I had a five hour layover before my connection to Dusseldorf. Rather than hanging around the airport I headed to the W South Beach to meet a friend, which is a much more pleasant place to kill a few hours than Miami Airport.
Gin & tonic at W South Beach
American’s lounge situation in Miami is… interesting. They have two Admirals Clubs, located near gates D15 and D30. Then they used to have a Flagship International First Class Lounge, which they shut down about five years ago as they were going to “renovate it.” Given the financial situation American was in at the time, I think it just stayed in a permanent state of “renovation,” and still hasn’t been reopened. I’m not sure if they’ve admitted to scrapping the project or not, but I think it’s safe to assume that’s the case.
American also has a “Premium Lounge” in the “E” concourse, which they opened back in 2011. They share this lounge with airberlin, British Airways, and Iberia. The lounge is open daily from 1PM till 11PM, so is intended primarily for passengers traveling on longhaul flights to Europe and Latin America.
The following passengers are eligible for access to the Premium Lounge:
- International first and business class passengers
- Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (American and US Airways Sapphire and Emerald members must be traveling internationally the same day)
- Passengers traveling in first or business class from Miami to Los Angeles
- Admirals Club members departing the “E” concourse
Since I decided to leave the airport I had to clear security. I didn’t have Pre-Check since airberlin doesn’t participate in the program, so it was my first time in a while having to clear “normal” security in the US.
Airberlin check-in Miami
Gosh, what a frustrating experience. They had two lanes open (of a total of five lanes), and one person working the ID checking line. Meanwhile one “two striper” (lead TSO) and two “three stripers” (supervisory TSOs) simply paced up and down the line doing nothing. Like, they weren’t behavior detection officers and weren’t yelling at people to take their shoes off, they simply walked back and forth and looked “busy.” When someone asked if they could add another ID checker, one of the “three stripers” responded that they were understaffed.
Miami Airport terminal
Anyway, just past the checkpoint was the signage for the Premium Lounge.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport signage
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport signage
That’s also where the elevators to the Premium Lounge were located. OMG. They’re old. Old. OLD. I don’t know if they’re going for a historic look and want to make you feel like you’re visiting the Addams Family, or if they ran out of money in their renovation budget, but just wow…
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport elevator
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport elevator
The agents at the desk were friendly and promptly admitted me. They added that they don’t make boarding announcements for airberlin.
The Premium Lounge was surprisingly large, almost puzzlingly so, as I kept getting lost. It was badly in need of a design overhaul, and beyond that it just felt like all the furniture was cheap and mismatched.
On the plus side, there was plenty of seating and the lounge was fairly empty despite being around “peak” afternoon departure time.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport
There was a business center with several large cubicles, which I appreciated, since that’s usually my seating preference in lounges.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport business center
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport business center
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
There are also several types of seating options, and lots of partitions, so it does feel private.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport seating
The food spread was much better than anything in a domestic Admirals Club.
They had fresh fruit, granola, yogurt, bread, sweets, pasta, salad, meat, sandwiches, cheese, etc. Most of it didn’t look especially good, but hey, at least they have food.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet area
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
There was a small dessert selection which I think was intended to be an afternoon tea-type thing.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
Then there were the typical Admirals Club muffins.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport muffins
And two coffee machines.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport coffee machine
The lounge also had a self serve bar, where all drinks were free, including beer, wine, sparkling wine, booze, etc.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport drink selection
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport liquor selection
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport liquor selection
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport buffet
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport drinks
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport wine
At $15 per bottle at retail, their sparkling wine of choice is nothing short of impressive. I mean, that’s like China Southern’s annual sparkling wine budget.
American Premium Lounge Miami Airport sparkling wine
I had roughly an hour in the lounge before I headed to the gate for my airberlin flight to Dusseldorf.
American Airlines Premium Lounge Miami Airport bottom line
Miami Airport is one of my least favorite major airports in terms of their lounge facilities. The other international lounge is called “Club North Korea America,” which makes this place look like the Air France First Class Lounge Paris, by comparison.
So compared to the other options this is a very solid lounge. In terms of food I would say it’s on par with a Flagship Lounge. And I appreciate how big the lounge is as well. But for a lounge that just opened a few years ago, the decor is…
UPDATE: For a more updated review of American’s premium lounge at Miami, see this review for the Miami Flagship Lounge.
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