American Airlines To Restart Philadelphia Flagship Lounge Project – View from the Wing
American Airlines To Restart Philadelphia Flagship Lounge Project
Before the pandemic American Airlines was about to start construction on a dedicated business class lounge in Philadelphia.
The airline has “Flagship lounges” in Miami, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles and has turned its New York JFK Flagship lounge into its business class Greenwich lounge shared with British Airways. London Heathrow, which was originally planned, was shelved. And Philadelphia has remained sidelined.
With American’s returning focus to Philadelphia, after having lost its partnership with JetBlue and vision for growth in New York, they’ve re-engaged on a Philadelphia Flagship lounge. However I do not currently expect the lounge to be complete for summer 2024.
In December 2019 American released renderings of its Philadelphia Flagship Lounge.
Credit: American Airlines
Credit: American Airlines
Credit: American Airlines
Flagship lounges are open to oneworld international business (and first) class passengers, to American’s Platinum elites and higher flying internationally, and to oneworld partner airline mid-tier elites — even when they’re just flying American domestically.
American closed its A-West Admirals Club on September 30, 2019. That’s left remaining clubs overburdened. Once Flagship opens, that will benefit not just passengers with access to it, but passengers who access Admirals Clubs as well. However with four years having passed, starting the process over is cumbersome. The airport itself exists across more than one jurisdiction. This space is in Delaware County and not even Philadelphia.
The airline, for its part, only offers that “We continue our commitment to offer customers a premium experience in the Philadelphia International Airport and will share more updates on the Flagship Lounge as they become available. Customers can continue to access the Admirals Club lounges in terminal’s A, B/C, and F.”
There are no Flagship lounge planned for American’s hubs at Charlotte, Phoenix, or Washington National.
