First look: American’s new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Club in Philly shine in big debut

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia location

The Flagship Lounge is located near Gate A15 in the connector between the A-West and A-East concourses at PHL. This puts the lounge right near American’s wide-body gates, making it just a short walk for flyers heading to places like London and Paris.

You’ll find the lounge located one floor above the terminal in a space that used to be reserved for US Airways’ Envoy Club. American gut-renovated the space and also built a new Admirals Club next door to the Flagship Lounge.

All terminals at PHL are connected airside, meaning that you won’t need to reclear security to access this lounge. That said, just be sure to leave enough time to walk to your gate if you’re leaving from the B or C gates.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia access

American’s Flagship Lounges are intended to be a cut above the standard membership-based Admirals Club, and with that comes a separate set of access rules.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia design

Once inside, you’ll quickly notice that you’ve entered an elevated space. The wood-lined entrance area gives way two entryways: the Flagship Lounge and the Admirals Club.

Turning left will bring you into the 13,750-square-foot Flagship Lounge. The space is partitioned into multiple different lounge areas for the 200 flyers it can comfortably seat.

The first area you’ll enter is the fireplace and lounging space, which is designed to promote relaxation. These faux fireplaces have become a staple of American’s new lounge design concept, and they do a good job of helping me unwind.

There is a mix of seating options in this space, but my personal favorite is the high-top seats lining the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer prime views of the apron and primary runways in the distance.

The windows help flood the space with natural light, which is always a nice touch in an airport lounge.

Beyond the living area is another small relaxation space accented by a self-serve wine bar on one side and a small guest service center for last-minute travel help.

The central focal area of the space is the dining room, which is split into two main seating spaces. The first is designed to be a bit more of an on-the-go experience, with a variety of tables and seating areas for diners. Lining this space is the lounge’s buffet and beverage station — but more on that below.

Finally, there’s a proper dining area accented by beautiful Philadelphia-inspired artwork on one wall.

The artwork comprises the words of the Declaration of Independence, but different shades of text are also used to create murals of iconic Philadelphia points of interest, such as the Love Statue and the Liberty Bell.

All in all, the lounge is a stunning upgrade for travelers used to the existing Flagship Lounge spaces. Out with harsh whites and bright reds, and in with far more pleasing tones that exude far more of a luxurious touch than the five other existing business-class-only lounges.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia dining

The new Flagship Lounge in Philly debuts an all-new dining experience for the airline.

That starts with a signature full-service bar, something that’s missing from the rest of the airline’s Flagship Lounges. The carrier will offer wines, six beers and bartender-crafted cocktails and mocktails at the bar. (Other Flagship Lounges only have self-service bars.)

And in a bit of a fun twist, the airline will whip up two secret cocktails by request only. Those are the Betsy Ross Boulevardier (inspired by all the trailblazing women across the U.S.) and the Seventy Philly — a Pennsylvania-inspired twist on the classic French 75 with hints of maple and a touch of cognac.

Furthermore, American will offer both a buffet — or “action stations,” as the airline calls them — and a la carte food options. The full-service dining room has QR code placards at each table from which you can order from an a la carte menu that includes cheesesteaks, Philly pretzels, Caesar salads and more.

As it does at all its Flagship Lounges, American has partnered with a popular local chef. In Philly’s case, that’s with Chef Randy Rucker, famed for his River Twice and Little Water restaurants in the city.

The menu, American says, will rotate seasonally, and it currently includes items such as roast pork sandwiches, whipped ricotta and blistered tomato toasts.

Aside from the alcoholic drinks, there is a beverage station with a variety of soft beverages on tap — a first for American. (Goodbye, fountain machines.)

You’ll also find canned aluminum water bottles, a coffee machine and a water bottle refill station here.

Those with a sweet tooth will certainly enjoy the new Flagship Lounge.

Not only is there an artisanal water ice bar complete with a selection of toppings, but there’s also a small self-serve candy buffet by the exit, designed to resemble sampling the treats of Philly’s Reading Terminal Market.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia amenities

In terms of amenities, Flagship Lounges might not be up to the level of Delta One Lounges or United Polaris Lounges, but the space still offers all the basics.

The space has two phone booths, one of which is oversized for travelers with disabilities. There’s also a small business center with an (outdated) iMac and a wireless printer.

Furthermore, the lounge’s restrooms are far nicer than basically any other in the airport. The wood-lined stalls with soft mood lighting really help give the toilets a luxe vibe.

There are also six shower suites located near the restrooms, available on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re stocked with Klur amenities, as well as Dyson hair dryers and plush towels.

Furthermore, there’s fast and free Wi-Fi available across the lounge, and most seats should be within an arm’s reach of a power outlet, USB-A and USB-C ports.

American Airlines Admirals Club Philadelphia Overview

In addition to the new Flagship Lounge, American is opening a new Admirals Club as part of the broader A-West lounge redevelopment project.

And while the Flagship Lounge is a serious upgrade, the Admirals Club might just be the show-stopper. That’s because the existing Admirals Clubs in Philly leave a lot to be desired, and this one is so much nicer. In fact, if you accidentally ended up in the Admirals Club instead of the Flagship Lounge, you might not be too disappointed since the design of the two spaces is similar (in a good way).

It’s outfitted with the new design motifs that’ve popped up in Denver and Newark, complete with a faux fireplace and more luxurious seating options.

The space measures 11,000 square feet with seating for 181 guests. Inside you’ll find two shower suites, as well as gender-specific restrooms.

There’s also a full-service bar and buffet with a more limited food menu than what you’ll find in the Flagship Lounge.

Some other highlights include a kids’ play area, two phone booths and a small business center.

There’s even a custom art piece outlining the city’s topography that’s designed to give travelers a view of the city from 30,000 feet.

Perhaps the best part of the new space is that American has build a flexible relaxation area behind the lounge’s entryway. This is designed to help with overflow capacity during peak departure banks, and it will rotate between serving the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge depending on demand.

Nice work on American’s part to do whatever it can to reduce overcrowding.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge Philadelphia bottom line

American’s new Flagship Lounge in Philadelphia is a major upgrade for the airport.