Summary
- American Airlines offers Flagship Lounges at four hub airports for premium passengers on long-haul flights, with exclusive Flagship Dining experiences in some locations.
- Access to lounges is available through various methods, including qualifying AAdvantage and Mileage Plan Concierge Key, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire, and single visit passes.
- The first Flagship Lounge opened at JFK in 2017, with plans for a new lounge at Philadelphia International Airport in 2025 and updated Terminal 8 at JFK with three new lounge spaces named after London neighborhoods.
All three major airlines in the United States have exclusive lounge offerings for their premium passengers flying long-haul flights. For American Airlines, these are the Flagship Lounges, available at four hub airports: Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and Dallas. Additionally, American has a Flagship Dining experience available in some of the flagship lounges.
The first location was opened at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 2017 and American became the first United States airline to offer a restaurant-style dining experience on the ground. This was the beginning of a $200 million investment in the premium travel experience.
Today, passengers flying on international flights, select transcontinental and domestic routes are able to access the Flagship lounges through a number of ways, including:
- Qualifying First and Business
- Qualifying AAdvantage and Mileage Plan
- Concierge Key
- Other oneworld Emerald and Sapphire
- Single visit pass ($150 or 15,000 AAdvantage miles)
Read the Simple Flying guide to accessing the American Airlines Flagship Lounges HERE
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Home to American Airlines’ headquarters
American Airlines 2023 @ DFW |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
32,199,729 |
Number of flights |
271,916 |
Average number of daily flights |
745 |
American’s Flagship Lounge in Dallas is located in Terminal D, between gates D21 and D22 and is open daily from 05:00 to 22:15. Located adjacent to the Capital One Lounge, AA’s space offers floor to ceiling views of the tarmac, facing runway 36L/18R. The lounge offers plenty of seating options, including lounge chairs and work stations.
Several self-service buffet stations offer hot and cold options, from finger foods to salads and more entrees. Beverage stations and a self-service bar are also available. Several shower suites are available.
Los Angeles International Airport
American Airlines’ only California hub after San Francisco was closed
American Airlines 2023 @ LAX |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
5,578,164 |
Number of flights |
42,616 |
Average number of daily flights |
116.8 |
In Los Angeles, American Airlines operates out of Terminal 4 and the lounge is located near gate 40. The airline opens the lounge daily at 04:30 and closes at 01:00, a few hours after its last late-night international departure to Sydney. The LAX lounge is split into two zones, with one overlooking the terminal area, and the other overlooking the ramp, with views of Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
At LAX, American also offers the exclusive Flagship Dining experience, accessible through the lounge.
Photo: American Airlines
Miami International Airport
The most crucial hub for Latin America and Caribbean operations.
American Airlines 2023 @ MIA |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
15,051,384 |
Number of flights |
110,625 |
Average number of daily flights |
303.1 |
Miami is a city completely dominated by American Airlines, with more than 64% of July operations operated by the Fort Worth-based carrier. The city is crucial to American’s operations to Latin America and the Caribbean, offering more than 80 uncontested routes. On a daily basis, more than 650 flights in Miami are operated by American, also reaching destinations in Europe.
Photo: American Airlines
In Miami, the Flagship First Lounge is located in Concourse D near gate D30. The lounge opens at 05:30, perfect timing for some of the long-haul international arrivals like São Paulo, and closes at 22:30, shortly before the late-night flights to São Paulo and Buenos Aires. The Miami space is the largest of the Flagship lounges, at nearly 30,000 square feet. Flagship Dining is available from 13:00 until close.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
An important hub in the Midwest.
American Airlines 2023 @ ORD |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
10,353,993 |
Number of flights |
110,381 |
Average number of daily flights |
302.4 |
Chicago serves as a hub airport for American and United Airlines, which is headquartered in the city. With more than 66,000 flights scheduled at ORD this month, United has nearly half of the market share (about 30,000 flights) and American also has a sizable chunk (nearly 24,000). From Chicago, American offers a few long-haul international routes, including its newly-launched flight to Venice.
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
In Chicago, the Flagship Lounge space is located in Concourse H/K and is open daily from 05:00 to 22:00. The lounge offers beautiful views of American’s operations in Terminal 3, and dining options similar to the other lounges. But unlike the other three locations listed above, Chicago does not have a Flagship Dining space.
Philadelphia International Airport
Former US Airways hub.
American Airlines 2023 @ PHL |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
8,312,271 |
Number of flights |
81,664 |
Average number of daily flights |
223.7 |
Philadelphia is American’s second-most important transatlantic gateway, just behind New York City. American was supposed to open its Flagship Lounge at PHL in 2020 but those plans were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A few weeks ago, reports surfaced that the lounge is set to open in 2025.
Photo: American Airlines
Along with the new Flagship Lounge, American is set to open a new Admirals Club space at PHL. Almost no details regarding the new lounge have been revealed, except for the fact that it will be located in Terminal A West, where the airline already has an Admirals Club.
An updated offering at John F. Kennedy International Airport
Offers the most connections to Europe of any AA hub on the East Coast.
American Airlines 2023 @ PHL |
|
---|---|
Passengers handled |
3,954,508 |
Number of flights |
33,723 |
Average number of daily flights |
92.4 |
Photo: American Airlines
As mentioned above, the very first location to be opened was at JFK in 2017. In late November 2022, American Airlines and British Airways revealed the first look of the new Terminal 8. Terminal 8 is home to oneworld carriers at JFK. It started with AA and BA and eventually expanded to include other airlines. BA and AA partnered to open three new lounge spaces in T8, with one of them occupying the space where the previous Flagship Lounge was.

Related
A Look At The Newly Renovated JFK Terminal 8
Passengers will transit through the new Terminal 8 on Thursday, December 1.
The three lounges in T8 are named after three London neighborhoods: Chelsea, Greenwich, and Soho. The previous Flagship Lounge was in the Greenwich Lounge, which now includes the Bridge Bar and Tasting Room. Passengers can access the Greenwich Lounge from 04:15 to 01:15 daily.

Related
British Airways & American Airlines Reveal Bridge Bar At New York JFK’s Greenwich Lounge
The two carriers have teamed up to give lounge users a classy pre-flight experience with carefully selected beverage options.
The Flagship First experience begins from the moment passengers arrive at the airport and need to check-in. In Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, New York, and London, American has an exclusive check-in area for eligible passengers and expedited security lanes.