The re-opening of the Dallas – Fort Worth American Airlines international business class Flagship Lounge keeps getting delayed. Officially there’s no announced re-opening date, though it looked ready to re-open in late fall and there was a push to staff up for it.
In fact, though, the space is open and being used for some passengers. A Concierge Key member shared with me that he was taken into the space this past week and he waited for his flight there along with five other passengers. The space isn’t being catered beyond “coffee, soda and cookies.” But, he says, the lounge “was nice and quiet.”
This passenger was escorted into the Flagship lounge by going “through the [Admirals Club] lobbyvia the back door” rather than entering through the ground floor lobby shared with the Capital One lounge.
Unlike the Flagship Lounge in Los Angeles, where it was simply opened up for anyone with Admirals Club access to use on equal footing, this one requires you to be told about it or ‘in the know.’
An American Airlines spokesperson tells me “It’s being used as an overflow Admirals Club Lounge until it reopens as Flagship.” And, they add, “It’s open to anyone for overflow.” In other words, if you’d in the D concourse Admirals Club, just make use of the Flagship Lounge seating area where it’s generally far less busy.
MIA did this same exact practice in April 2021 and beyond. They opened-up Flagship for Admirals Club overflow. The club was even catered with Admirals Club food, however if you wanted any beverage you needed to walk through the lobby to the main Admirals Club. It was nice and quit (almost empty) while the Admirals Club was packed!
Been open for overflow for a couple months much like the old First Class Lounge area in the A club. It’s a nice respite
The failure of AA to reopen all of the Flagship First Dining locations seems to be more about cost savings rather than local restrictions. COVID local restrictions in Dallas? And, in LA, restaurants are open and packed. The FF flights from LAX to JFK are full / near full. Disappointing.
Soft opening?
Was in there last week. Was a great quiet spot and great for plane spotting.
I haven’t been impressed with any of the AA lounges. It’s an overrated from my perspective.