American Airlines Flagship lounge is among the airlines’ top lounges. The Miami Flagship lounge is open daily and welcomes guests flying international long haul business class. Oneworld elites flying economy and those flying on flagship routes to the West Coast and Hawaii also have access to the lounge. Unlike the Admiral club, the Flagship lounge offers an elevated experience. The flagship lounge is an enhanced premium experience meant to showcase American Airlines best attributes.
The Miami Flagship lounge is open daily from 5:30am to 11pm daily. Near gate D30.
Flagship Premium Food and Beverage
The highlight to the American Airlines Flagship lounge is the food and beverage selection. The oversize dining area offers a very large buffet. Offering everything from sushi to made to order omelets in the morning. Around 11am, the selection switches from breakfast to lunch.
The flagship lounge also offers a premium alcohol selection as well. Unlike the American Express lounges, this is all self serve. Make your own cocktail or grab a beer from the fridge. Practice your bar tending skills, just don’t overserve yourself!
Looking beyond Alcohol options there is a coke free style machine. The lounge also has several other non-alcoholic options. Such as boxed water, juices, waterloo soda water and more. The lounge also has a decent beer selection along with seltzers.
The only drink service is upon entering the lounge. A lounge attendant eagerly will offer guests a glass of champagne or a mimosa in the morning. Otherwise enjoy mid to top shelf drinks at your own leisure.
Flagship seating
The flagship lounge has plenty of seating and tarmac views. There is the main area of the lounge, but several smaller areas which continue to flow from the main “square”.
The dining room would not be completed without several tables. These are great if you’re hungry or sharing a meal with a friend. It’s also one of a few places that is actually to work on a laptop at. Other places would require that you place the computer on your lap. So the dining room tends to double as a work space for many travelers.
Near the entrance to the lounge is a large media room playing the news and other programs across several TVs. During out visit it was mostly empty. There are no remotes, but you can turn up or down the volume directly on the TV.
Seats are laid out with tables and power and a side table between them. Nearly every seat has a standard three prong US style 120v outlet.
In one corner of the lounge is a quiet zone. This is just past the shower area. Here you’ll find plenty more seats, but also some day beds. There’s not much privacy, but if you need a nap you could make due. I did not notice any pillows or blankets available. United does a better job of sleeping rooms in their Polaris lounge than American Airlines does.
Near the quiet area, there is also a secondary beverage and snack station. If you don’t want to make the trek to the dining room you’re in luck to fill your glass closer to your seat.
Back in the main square, near the windows with the best views of the tarmac, there is also a small office space. This area is great for those who need to work from a laptop. However, if you’re looking to make a call, I did not see any private phone booths. The Miami Flagship lounge is not ideal if you have a private meeting or an important private call that you need to make. Printing services are available. Basic, but it works.
Bottom Line
The American Airlines Flagship lounge offers a large space to stretch out between flights. The elevated food and beverage program is steps above the Admiral’s club. Yet, Flagship lounges are not as nice as United Polaris lounges. Flagship lounges feel crowded and basic. I also think the Miami AA flagship lounge feels larger than the JFK Flagship lounge. Like other American Airlines Flagship lounges, the flagship first dining room is located within the Flagship lounge. Yet, access is restricted to those flying first class and Concierge key members. This is the only part of the lounge with full al la carte dining and is the area of the lounge which is truly world class.
