American Airlines Lounges Could Be The Best In The U.S. – But They Choose Not To [Roundup]

by Gary Leff

News and notes from around the interweb:

  • American’s new lounges at Newark, Denver and Washington National E concourse really are beautiful, my favorite U.S. airline spaces (though upgraded food is laughable compared to Delta’s un-upgraded offerings).

    The sad thing is that there’s no announced renovations in the pipeline, and even the new Austin club announced 27 months ago remains on hold without comment by the airline. American could be the best if their priority wasn’t being the low cost leader (which they’ll never achieve as a high cost airline).

  • With Iberia back in Tel Aviv, and British Airways returning, American Airlines will no longer rebook passengers who had booked their flight (that has been suspended through late October) onto El Al.

  • Airlines really need to find a way to educate people about Speed Tape. This is one of the more common concerns/misconceptions shared to social media about airlines.

  • American Airlines is suing Advanced Air over its AA logo:

  • Etihad is updating its Armani amenities

  • Upcoming changes to Cathay Pacific business and first class


    Credit: Yellow Window

  • I usually give Amex lounges a miss. Even when there aren’t lines to get in, they’re packed inside and not relaxing spaces. I think I’ve only been inside of Las Vegas and Charlotte in the past six months. I do not consider the value of Centurion lounges when calculating the worth of keeping my Platinum card. Instead, I do (jump through the hoops to) get statement credits for money I would spend anyway in excess of the card’s fee, and earn 5x on airfare.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. @Gary “I usually give Amex lounges a miss. Even when there aren’t lines to get in, they’re packed inside and not relaxing spaces. ”
    #metoo
    And, a rather odd clientele, too, IMHO. Unlike most/all other airline lounges.

    I will be giving up my Amex Plat in a month or so, when it expires. It just doesn’t have value for the OTT fees.

  2. What is “odd” about the Amex Centurion Lounge clientele?

    I do agree that it is hard to rely on a Centurion Lounge as your “main” club, but it does work at some airports. JFK Centurion Lounge is generally accessible as the other lounges in the airport. LGA doesn’t seem super over crowded. MIA was good when I visited. ATL E looks cool (haven’t checked it out yet).

    Overall, the heavy lifting in terms of Amex Platinum club access is SkyClubs – Centurion Lounge are more supplements

  4. I think the doors are absurd unless perhaps with proper space in an A380 or other wide body aircraft
    It’s going to make the cabin feel cramped and likely a nuisance to go to the toilet
    A bad monkey see monkey do fad
    Suggestion make the seat super comfortable and roomy/functional etc
    Make food quality excellent and stop the fake bells and whistles

  5. I cut my Amex membership rewards card up years ago
    Best day ever! Outrageous fees packed clubs and overseas agents with beeps in your ears as you hold and hold for an agent
    Never again.They were great years ago but they suck now!
    Crap! Did I say their earnings are poor too?

  6. I believe AA lounge between C & D in Charlotte is getting a partial re-do. Also AA announced some time back that a new lounge will be placed in E concourse. Still, for all the AA international flights at CLT the lounges and offerings therein are woefully lacking. Nothing approaching Flagship services/benefits. Flying International 1st or biz through CLT has no special perks.

  7. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen a guacamole station in an AA lounge in a while. It had seemed they were trying to kick things up a notch.

    It has seemed the Centurions have been less crowded since they imposed the guest limit if you spend less than 75K.

  8. I didn’t know that engine cowlings were an approved place for speed tape. What if it comes off and is ingested into the engine?

  9. And yet still no Flagship at PHL. Needing permits from two jurisdictions due to Terminal A being in Delco holding everything up.

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