Over the summer American Airlines opened its first ‘grab ‘n go’ lounge space in Charlotte by gate A1 called “Provisions by Admirals Club.”

It’s a small area with coffee, packaged snacks and refrigerators with fresh snacks for takeaway, and reservations assistance. Access is the same as for a standard Admiral’s Club.

I usually avoid Charlotte when I can. I prefer Dallas connections, because it’s drivable home to Austin in a pinch. Chicago O’Hare at least gets me a Tortas Frontera sandwich. Even Philadelphia now has a decent Admirals Club and a great Chase lounge. Charlotte has rocking chairs, and the main Admirals Club looks the ‘90s called wanting Tempe’s furniture liquidators back.

But I was really keen to see the new space in person. And as it happened this week I was both arriving and departing from low A gates.

The space is not as nice as United’s Club Fly. But it is staffed with an agent and you can get a complimentary (can of) water which is a leg up on the Admirals Club.

Design of the small space is nice, though. And everyone was super-friendly explaining the concept, since for most people it was their first visit – there was a lot of expectations-setting.

There’s no wifi (you use the airport wifi), no power outlets (they don’t expect you to stay long and power drops are expensive), and there’s no restrooms. That’s down the hall in the terminal.

There are a few long tables. At one end of the space is packaged snacks, and at the opposite end coffee and tea. They could use a barista bar – that would elevate the experience.

In the middle of the space they have the fridges, and they’re staffed. There’s a menu and you’re given what you ask for. While they have to pay for staff, that solves for both hygiene (people taking things and putting them back after handling) and for gluttony. You have to ask for what you want, so you don’t ask for as much as you’d take if nobody was watching.

So.. I didn’t eat anything here. Not even for science (sharing with y’all). The fresh items looked good enough. I’m sure you could eat them. They weren’t anything I’d ever crave. In a pinch, it’s food, and it’ll do the trick… better than you’d get at, like, the Gas ‘n Sip. You don’t have to go hungry and that’s great! But I was planning to eat when I landed and it was food I was actually looking forward to.

What I learned talking to staff is that there’s going to be another Provisions on the E concourse. (Update: while staff reported plans for an E Concourse provisions, American tells me this is not in their plans which is too bad.) American desperately needs something down in E, where passengers on regional jets are generally banished. There’s not really a space for much more there, and this concept fits perfectly (although I always wanted something like the old Eagle’s Nest club at LAX).