American Airlines has had a miserable lounge experience in Charlotte, despite it being their second largest hub. There have been two lounges:
- The main club at the intersection of the C and D concourses which is overcrowded and it’s tough to find a seat. It’s still in the old US Airways style. There’s nothing premium about the experience.
- A smaller satellite club on the B concourse in the 2017-era ‘modern hospital’ design that’s too small and overcrowded, tough to find a seat.
They recently added a grab ‘n go marketplace for lounge members. While the space itself doesn’t look nearly as nice as United’s Club Fly, the packaged food does look decent.
American Airlines has announced plans to:
- Build a Flagship business class lounge in Charlotte
- “[E]xpand its Admirals Club® lounge footprint at” the airport.
They do not provide any additional details, however I reported two and a half years ago that discussions were going on with the airport to open a 40,000 square foot club on the upper level of the D-E connector and repurpose the current main club as retail. So presumably this announcement involves the D-E connector space and current main lounge space.
It’s highly likely that this will be an improvement, though one we won’t see for awhile. The overall Charlotte experience today – with concourses crowded body to body and inferior lounges and food and beverage options – is bad enough that I avoid it as a connecting airport when possible.
I’m looking forward to seeing the new grab ‘n go though my upcoming business trip that did force me through Charlotte cancelled yesterday. But I’m really looking forward to seeing the new Admirals Club and Flagship lounge when they open because American’s new lounge template is just gorgeous.
Indeed, the nicest Admirals Clubs are the new ones, and they’ll almost certainly design the Charlotte Admirals Club in similar style.
- Philadelphia A West
- Denver
- Newark
Credit: American Airlines - Washington National E
Meanwhile, though plans for a Charlotte Flagship lounge are a long time in coming, the delay may ultimately be worthwhile because the new design template now seen in Philadelphia is so much nicer than the existing business class lounges (Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and the shared Greenwich lounge at New York JFK).
We’re currently expecting a new-style Admirals Club in Austin, announced in November 2021, but the location of that lounge in the airport has changed and construction has not yet started. And word on the street is that there are plans to close and renovate the Admirals Club on the D concourse at Washington National airport (the old US Airways club with ratty furniture, likely to take a year, while eventually freshening up but not renovating the legacy American Airlines lounge on the C concourse).
I’ve been looking for American to make more capital investments in its product, which includes more, bigger, and refreshed lounges – so it’s great to see that happening at their second largest hub. Hopefully their plans include something – even a grab ‘n go – on the E concourse it’s desperately needed.
still can’t do anything about the very short connecting times and overstuffed hallways but at least some people will be able to escape the madness that is CLT
Is American finally realizing it needs to spend money in order to make money? This is great news. The experience at CLT overall isn’t good. This will help make it better.
Enjoyed going to Kardea Brown Southern Kitchen.
While certainly good news why do I expect to see an active thread about it on Flyertalk circa 2028 or 2029 of when the FL might open.
After they finish CLT they need to return to PHL and upgrade the main B-C lounge that suffers from the same issues as the CLT C-D lounge
Great to see this is happening. Perhaps then, they can turn their attention to the sorry state of their group of “mini Admiral’s Club” lounges at PHX. Truly a third world experience and IMO, the absolute WORST in the system.
@Gary – You’re spending too much time with LLM’s if they’re impacting your writing style. You haven’t usually used em dashes historically.
Happy to hear of this. The rocking chairs were not enough; these upgrades are long-overdue.
@shoeguy — Where’ve you been?! There were so many recent ‘feet on planes’ stories here, and we needed your feedback!
@ fatetta Unfortunately with PHX having very limited International (outside of Mexico) I’m not sure PHX will ever get decent lounges. Even though the current lounges are pathetic. Not to mention the lounges embodies the America West attitude.
On our recent MIA-GSO adventure it included a stopover in The Queen City only this time with 2 hrs to burn. Once in the terminal we got swept up in the morning rush hour and our part was a trek from gate B14 to E43. It felt like 5 miles? This required a stop in the AC at the D and E concourse connector. All I can say is they had the best Avacado toast, otherwise in the future I hope we have shorter connection times.
@George Romey I’m OK with not having a Flagship Lounge…I just wish the Admiral’s Clubs could be updated from their miserable 2002 setup. Truly hideous
in all respects.
Wow. Pigs are flying. Can’t believe they are investing in CLT. Who woke up at AA?
The CLT has not been the happy place it should be and now changes are underway.