American Airlines appears to have big plans for its lounge network.
So far, the airline has opened two new lounges in Philadelphia in 2025 and a grab-and-go concept in Charlotte. The airline also unveiled plans for major lounge investments at its North Carolina hub.
The source of the flyer can expect more.
At an industry conference in Fort Worth on Wednesday, a U.S. executive appeared to hint at an expansion and perhaps some kind of upgrade to its lounge portfolio. “We are expanding lounge capacity at many of our hub airports. We are updating and expanding our flagship lounges,” said Heather Garboden, chief customer officer at American Airlines. “This is only going to continue.”
American Airlines Lounge Program
American Airlines currently has approximately 50 Admirals Clubs in its global network.
The company also operates more than six premium outposts, including a new flagship lounge that opened at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in June.
As for the future, the airline has confirmed plans to build a new flagship facility at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), currently the only international gateway at the airport without high-end facilities. It also announced much-needed plans to expand its Admirals Club footprint at airports.
What’s next?
“I think you’re going to continue to see a steady stream of exciting lounge announcements from us — I would say, over the next year,” Gaboden said Wednesday at the Skift Aviation Forum in Fort Worth.
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Does this mean more brand new Admirals Clubs? Upgrading its lounge facilities, or refreshing its flagship lounge concept?
American Airlines didn’t provide any clues Wednesday, so only time will tell.
Competitive lounge landscape
The changes come at a time of increasing competition for airport lounges – including those operated by airlines and credit card issuers.
Just this week, Chase Bank cut the ribbon on its newest Sapphire Lounge outpost in Las Vegas.
American Express unveiled its newest Centurion lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in late October, a week after Delta Air Lines opened a massive new Sky Club at the same hub.
JetBlue is expected to open its first club by the end of 2025, and even Southwest Airlines appears to be getting involved in lounges.
Meanwhile, Delta has significantly upped its game in business class outposts.
American was once the first U.S. airline to launch a business class lounge suite as well as its flagship lounge suite, while Delta has made a splash over the past 18 months with its lineup of Delta One lounge facilities at four hubs.
American Airlines’ future lounge plans
As for American’s future plans, Gaboden did note that the airline wants to increasingly focus on partnering with regional chefs and restaurants in an effort to improve the dining game at its facilities, including an expansion of the restaurant-style menu it launched earlier this year at its new Philadelphia flagship lounge.
“If you look at ten years ago, a break room was where you would go to get a cup of coffee and a snack. So it’s definitely changed,” Gaboden said. “I think now you walk into a lounge and the expectation is that you can order an a la carte menu.”
It will be interesting to see whether American Airlines updates any of its spaces with the new Admirals Club design it has unveiled – which can be seen in new (or new) clubs at Denver International Airport (DEN) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
The expansion of the Admirals Club Supply concept, which debuted at Charlotte Center late this summer, also comes as no surprise.
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