American Airlines is closing 11 airport lounges and making several changes to service levels because of low passenger numbers and government regulations. These are on top of the food and beverage changes that went into effect Monday.

There are various state laws that are affecting service in Admirals Clubs. Perhaps the most extreme place you can social distance inside of an airport is in American’s Flagship First Dining. But they’ve had to close it at New York JFK because ‘restaurants’ are required to be closed. Some won’t let you take food with you, others won’t let you eat the food they give you there. And in some places alcohol cannot be served.

The JFK Admirals Club is closed and Admirals Club guests can use the Flagship lounge, reducing social distancing. Avocado toast and guacamole are suspended “as a result of government mandates” (The War On Avocados). All food will be “served as to go items” but American insists it be eaten there.

Admirals Club Avocado Toast Bar

At LaGuardia food is also served to go and cannot be served on premises. There’s no guac or avocado toast there either anymore. The ‘service center’ location is closed. (San Francisco won’t let you consume food on premises either.)

Boston, Philadelphia, Orlando, New York JFK and LaGuardia and San Francisco lounges aren’t permitted to serve alcohol by government regulation (switch to Barcardi 151 and call it hand santiizer, perhaos?).

Lounge closures:

• Miami D15 (D30 remains open)
  
• Phoenix A20 club is closed (the other two locations remain open)
  
• New York JFK (use the Flagship lounge)
  
• LAX T5 (T4 remains open)
  
• Dallas Fort Worth E (A, B, C, and D remain open)
  
• Chicago O’Hare G and L (H/K remains open)
  
• Paris
  
• Rio
  
• Sao Paulo
  
• Buenos Aires
  
• London Heathrow Flagship lounge (Admirals Club has reduced hours)

American Airlines Flagship Lounge JFK

I expect that the number of lounge closures will grow, and that more Flagship lounges will close – without many international flights it’ll be tough to justify international business class lounges.