To kick off my two-part birthday journey to the Golden Triangle, I had the possibility to take a look at the American Flagship Lounge Miami (MIA), previous to my Qatar Airways A350 enterprise class flight to Doha (DOH). Individually, I reviewed the British Airways Lounge Miami, which is the first lounge Qatar Airways makes use of on the airport.
Now, Miami is my residence airport, and I’ve visited the Flagship Lounge a numerous variety of occasions over time. Nonetheless, I haven’t reviewed it in round eight years, so it looks as if it’s time to revisit it, as quite a bit has modified.
Look, what can one actually say concerning the present state of Flagship Lounges? They’re considerably higher than Admirals Golf equipment (significantly in Miami, the place Admirals Membership crowding is getting uncontrolled), however they’re simply so uninspiring, and form of really feel like glorified cafeterias (and perhaps not even that glorified?).
When Flagship Lounges have been first launched practically a decade in the past, they have been fairly nice, competitively. Nonetheless, within the meantime, these lounges simply don’t evaluate to Delta One Lounges, for instance, which set the usual within the US. In equity, although, Flagship Lounges even have a lot much less strict entry necessities, in order that must be factored in.
I ought to point out that American has introduced {that a} new Flagship Lounge is coming to Miami, at which level the present Flagship Lounge will turn into a part of the Admirals Membership. That’s nice information, although there are completely no particulars about this, and no indication of the timing, so I’d assume that it is a minimal of a few years off, finest case situation.
American Flagship Lounge Miami location
The American Flagship Lounge Miami is positioned within the lounge “complicated” close to gate D30, which is true in the midst of the D Concourse. It’s sort of a deceivingly lengthy stroll to get from the safety checkpoint to gate D30, so the situation isn’t supreme when you’re originating in Miami, after which have a flight from the low numbered Concourse D gates, because you’ll must make fairly the hike. If you’re touring on a large physique, most of these go away from close to gate D30, although.
The lounge has a shared entrance for the Admirals Membership and Flagship Lounge. On the concourse degree, you’ll discover reception, the place employees will scan you in. Then you’ll be able to take both the elevators or staircase up a degree, which is the place each lounges are positioned.
As you exit the elevators, the Admirals Membership is to the left, whereas there’s a frosted glass door resulting in the Flagship Lounge.
In case you’re eligible for Flagship Lounge entry, you’ll get just a little black card on the entrance, which you’ll then give to the worker standing in entrance of the Flagship Lounge door.
For what it’s value, Concourse D and Concourse E are linked airside, so you’ll be able to simply go to this lounge when departing from any of these gates, with out having to reclear safety. This contains all flights on American, plus most flights on accomplice airways, together with British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and so forth.
American Flagship Lounge Miami hours & crowding
The American Flagship Lounge Miami is open every day from 5AM till 10:30PM. That covers most departures from the airport. Although if I have been to nitpick, I feel they actually ought to open this lounge at 4:30AM. There are a number of flights from South America that land properly earlier than 5AM, so in the event that they’re all early (as they typically are), you’ll typically discover a queue with dozens of individuals exterior the lounge at opening time.
In the case of crowding, the Flagship Lounge tends to be busiest early within the morning (when quite a lot of Latin America flights arrive), and once more within the afternoons and evenings, when flights to Europe and Latin America depart. In the meantime between 8AM and 2PM (or someplace round there), the lounge is an oasis of calm, particularly in comparison with the persistently crowded, adjoining Admirals Membership.
American Flagship Lounge Miami entry necessities
The American Flagship Lounge Miami follows the identical entry necessities as all different lounges within the community. Typically talking, the lounge is open to the next passengers:
- Lengthy haul first and enterprise class passengers on American and oneworld accomplice airways
- Concierge Key members along side a similar day oneworld flight, even when it’s home and in economic system
- If in case you have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald standing by a non-US frequent flyer program, you get entry along side a similar day oneworld flight, even when it’s home and in economic system
- If in case you have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald standing by American AAdvantage or Alaska Atmos Rewards, you get entry along side a similar day lengthy haul oneworld flight
If you need precise particulars on entry, see my information to American Flagship Lounges (since I don’t need to dedicate 1,000+ phrases on this publish to each doable situation).
American Flagship Lounge Miami structure & seating
The American Flagship Lounge Miami is roughly 29,000 sq. toes, making it the biggest Flagship Lounge within the system. As you enter the lounge, you’ll first be greeted with the choice of a glass of Bollinger champagne, because of American’s champagne collaboration. Fairly actually, it’s in all probability probably the most premium a part of the Flagship Lounge expertise.
The lounge has a little bit of an uncommon structure, within the sense that there’s a “cutout” in the midst of the lounge, as the inside portion of the lounge overlooks the inside of the terminal.
As you enter the lounge, you’ll first discover a customer support desk on the fitting, then the loos, after which a bunch of seating choices, largely consisting of particular person chairs.
Once you get to the tip of that, you’ll discover the principle eating space, which has a bunch of cafe-style tables, high-top seating, and extra.
That is additionally the place you’ll see the doorway to Flagship First Eating, which is barely open later within the day, and which is reserved for firstclass passengers (for so long as American retains round that cabin). I reviewed this expertise a few years again.
Then alongside the opposite facet of the lounge you’ll initially discover a lot of the self-serve bar space, together with extra eating tables, and extra chairs organized in clusters.
Then there’s a enterprise middle, which isn’t significantly luxurious, however I a minimum of admire having some form of workstation, given what number of lounges don’t provide that.
Then there’s a media room, with a few wall-mounted TVs.
You then’ll discover a row of high-top seating overlooking the terminal, which will get you proper again to the doorway to the lounge.
Now that we’re again on the entrance to the lounge, there’s a complete further seating space that’s fairly simple to overlook. Simply inside the doorway and to the fitting is an efficient chunk of the lounge. This has quite a lot of further seating, starting from eating tables, to extra chairs in rows, to semi-private little seats, to loungers.
In principle the lounge additionally has some daybeds of kinds, although it’s actually a fairly weak exhibiting, with no bedding, and seat backs which might be nonetheless practically vertical.
The Flagship Lounge Miami is completely tremendous, and it’s not horrible, or something. Nonetheless, at this level the lounge’s decor is simply so uninspiring and unimpressive, particularly if you see what the competitors is doing. There’s nothing about this lounge that feels luxurious, and for that matter, the overall finishes don’t actually really feel increased finish than within the Admirals Membership.
American as a model simply lacks any form of fashion or good design sense, and this completely captures that. Even when this lounge was opened just below a decade in the past, it already wasn’t innovative when it comes to design.
American Flagship Lounge Miami meals & drinks
The American Flagship Lounge Miami has meals and drinks which might be self-service, so there’s no a la carte eating or bartenders. The meals is primarily positioned at one important buffet.
Throughout a latest morning go to, chilly choices included cereal, croissants, pastries, contemporary fruit, cheese, charcuterie, smoked salmon, yogurt, inexperienced juice, and quite a lot of bread.
Sizzling choices included egg frittata, bread pudding, a tofu casserole, breakfast potatoes, bacon, oatmeal, and cream of wheat.
Then later within the day, chilly choices included an analogous cheese and charcuterie choice, bread, chips, a few salads, sandwiches, dips, and a few desserts.
Then scorching choices included hen chilindron, cafecito rub tri-rip, arroz campesino, candy plantains, agave cumin child carrots, black bean soup, and clam chowder.
The lounge additionally has a reside cooking station, which is obtainable over choose hours. For instance, within the mornings there’s an omelet bar, which is a pleasant characteristic, given the dearth of “easy” eggs on the buffet in any other case.
Subsequent to the buffet is the drink choice, together with a Coke soda fountain (typically out of order), espresso machine (typically out of order), drip espresso, tea, juice, and water.
I’m delighted to see American’s new partnership with Lavazza espresso, as I discovered this to be a lot better than the previous espresso choice.
Liquor isn’t obtainable inside a number of hours of opening time, which is why you’ll see the bar space shuttered in one of many above photos. Ultimately that’s opened up, with a big collection of drinks. This contains free flowing Bollinger champagne, a number of different wine choices, and a powerful variety of liquor choices.
American truly invests fairly properly in its lounge alcohol state of affairs, it’s only a disgrace that there’s no correct bar, so you’ll be able to’t get a professionally ready cocktail.
Past that, proper by the self-serve bar is a collection of different drinks, starting from canned and bottled water, to seltzers, to beer, to canned soda.
There are a few further refreshment stations all through the lounge, in order that friends don’t must journey too far. These stations additionally typically have additional candy and savory snacks that you simply gained’t discover on the important buffet.
There’s additionally a really small secondary buffet off within the largely hidden a part of the lounge (inside the doorway and to the fitting), which accommodates a few of the chilly choices you’ll in any other case discover on the buffet.
American Flagship Lounge Miami loos & showers
The American Flagship Lounge Miami loos are inside the doorway and to the fitting. The loos are completely useful, although the 4 stalls within the males’s room in all probability isn’t fairly ample when the lounge is full.
The Flagship Lounge additionally has six bathe suites, and people will be reserved on the reception desk contained in the lounge.
American used to have an enormous edge with regards to lounge showers, because the airline had them way more persistently than Delta and United again within the day. Within the meantime, rivals have began to catch up. What stands out to me is the poor situation the showers are all too typically in.
I’m not speaking about cleanliness, however within the bathe suite I used to be assigned, the water strain was simply terrible, and it was additionally very arduous to manage the temperature, because it in a short time went from too scorching to too chilly, and vice versa.
Merchandise in each the loos and showers have been from KLUR.
Backside line
The American Flagship Lounge Miami is… tremendous. On the plus facet, the Flagship Lounge is a lot better than the Admirals Membership, when it comes to meals, drinks, and (usually) crowding ranges. I additionally admire that Flagship Lounges have extra liberal entry necessities than Delta One Lounges and United Polaris Lounges. That comes with a tradeoff, although, when it comes to high quality.
Flagship Lounges have been fairly thrilling after they first launched near a decade in the past, however at this level, they only strike me as drab, uninspiring, and as being in want of an overhaul. The brand new Flagship Lounge Miami can’t come quickly sufficient, although I think much more endurance might be required.
American’s first “new fashion” Flagship Lounge is in Philadelphia, and whereas the decor is nicer, it’s means too small, and I nonetheless suppose the tender product is just not terribly thrilling, particularly given what the competitors is doing.
Anyway, I don’t imply to be too important. I’m finally completely happy utilizing the Flagship Lounge over the Admirals Membership, and it’s value flying American out of Miami, given the provider’s community. However visiting this lounge doesn’t actually get me excited, as US rivals have actually overtaken American in so some ways.
What’s your tackle the American Flagship Lounge Miami?
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