American’s Philadelphia Flagship lounge will be located between gates A15 and 16 and should be a more elevated experience than similar lounges at Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York JFK. That’s because it’s in the new design motif that they’ve developed for Admirals Clubs at Denver, Newark and Washington National (E Concourse). And they’re adding some elements that seem more premium than at their other lounges as well.
Philadelphia Flagship And A-West Admirals Club Entrance, Credit: American Airlines
American’s new Philadelphia business class Flagship lounge that’s about to open will have made-to-order food items, something that the airline hasn’t offered since ‘Bridge Dining’ was available in the no longer open New York JFK Flagship lounge (that space is now the joint BA business class Greenwich lounge).
Similar to how food ordering is available in the New York JFK SoHo lounge, which is the oneworld emerald lounge, QR codes will be available to request:
- breakfast sandwich with pork roll and tomato jam
- Ebelskivers (Danish pancake) with maple cream and apple compote
- ribeye cheesesteak with tartufo provoleta and pickled long hots
- tofu truffle “cheesesteak” with cashew cheese and black garlic aioli
Also in addition to the buffet ‘chef action station’ options will include:
- morning omelet bar with options like Amish cheddar and Kennet Square cremini mushrooms
- build-your-own roast pork sandwich with provolone and broccoli rabe
- evening Boardwalk Water Ice and Gelati bar with Very Cherry, Rainbow Jimmies and Salted Caramel, and a choice to add a ‘boozy pour over’
As we’ve seen elsewhere there will be welcome champagne (American does a brand tie-in here) and “at the heart of the culinary program will be the cauliflower vichyssoise, a chilled, velvety soup, featuring smoked trout roe” plus food options will include “[s]alted caramel budino, whipped ricotta and blistered tomato toast and Maryland-style crab soup”; “[g]rab-and-go snacks like Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels and Alter Eco Sea Salt Truffles”; “[a] Reading Terminal-inspired Candy Bar with saltwater taffy, butterscotch candies, peppermint puffs and more”.
DFW Champagne welcome
The grab and go items are nothing like the level of what Capital One offers in its lounges, but nonetheless appreciated – especially for oneworld partner airline and American Airlines ConciergeKey passengers flying domestically and for passengers entering the lounge based on their status while flying economy.
Two ‘secret cocktails’ – the Betsy Ross Boulevardier and Seventy Philly – will be available on request. And American offers ‘premium’ wines and six local beers. I’ve asked American for a list. The lounge will have a full service bar, instead of self-pour at the other lounges. I suspect this could be related to union rules or local regulations (those could be related, as well) but haven’t spent time investigating.
Betsy Ross Boulevardier, Credit: American Airlines
I was first to report when opening this lounge was first put back on the table a couple of years ago due to a pandemic-driven hiatus. Honestly I’m glad that they waited, because we get the elevated design compared to the modern hospital look of 2017-era Admirals Clubs and Flagship lounges. Their more recent spacious are genuinely gorgeous and relaxing places to sit, to work, to eat, drink and be merry. I am looking forward to seeing it up close and will make a special effort to have a long layover in Philadelphia in order to do so.