Concourse D, Main Terminal, Charlotte Douglass International Airport, North Carolina

Introduction

This is my review of the American Airlines Admirals Club in Charlotte’s Douglas International Airport.

I’ve also reviewed the Admirals Club in Concourse B, which is smaller, quieter and more airy.

Opening Hours

The lounge is open daily between 05:15 and 22:30,

Opening Hours

The lounge is open daily between 05:15 and 22:30,

Entry Conditions

The lounge is open to OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members.

This lounge may is also open to international flyers, flying in First or Business.

I am not entirely sure if this lounge is open to anyone flying First Domestic – possibly not – but I stand to be correct on that!

Alternatively, I believe it is possible to pay around $75 on the door for entry. I presume that this is restricted to OneWorld/American Airlines fliers, but can’t be sure.

How to Get There

Once heading down Concourse D, you’ll find the entrance on your right. Alternatively, there is also an entrance on Concourse C.

Layout

Compared to the Concourse B lounge, this has rather a different look. This is very and old wood – much like the old Chicago lounge, and a lot like the United Club in Washington!

Like pretty much all Admirals Clubs, the is a large amount of casual seating. Because there is no real ‘dining’, there is no dining are as such – although there are low-tables.

There is a working area, which I’ve spent quite a bit of time in! On the day I visited, it was quiet and nobody was using the space – but during weekdays its full of people shouting over eachother on Zoom calls!

Food and Drink

Drinks

Soft drinks are self-served from the soda fountain, or the tea/coffee machines. For anything stronger, there is a bar – which is quite hidden in almost a side room.

There is bar, and like most Admirals Clubs, there is a small amount of ‘included’ alcoholic drinks – but most premium drinks are paid for.

Food

Generally speaking the ‘included’ food is ‘Admirals Club standard’, by this I mean soups, cheese cubes, cookies and brownies .This lounge is slightly unique in that it has two areas of self-serve food, and there are a few small hot dishes.

Alternatively, it is possible to order food from the menu above – which at $10 to $14 for a main seems to be very reasonable!

On the day I visited, the legendary Admirals Club Nacho Cart was also in full swing!

Wifi

The wifi was extremely fast and reliable – was getting about 35mps up and down.

Showers

American Airlines do not offer showers in Charlotte, in either of their Admirals Cubs.

Whilst I can see why they wouldn’t offer them in the much smaller Concourse B lounge, it’s a shame not to offer them in this much larger lounge. Having asked the agents in the lounge about showers, the explanation was that most of Charlotte’s routes are domestic and long-haul flights to Europe tend to be seasonal. I can see the logic in that – but many people who are traveling over night do like to have a pre-flight shower.

The only showers available (apart from any Delta/United lounges) are in the Centurion Lounge, or the The Club which I’ve reviewed here.

Conclusion

Admirals Clubs have always been fairly ‘no frills’ , and this is no exception. This has old US Airways written all over it, and although American are rejuvenating their Admirals Clubs (such as the new San Francisco Admirals Club), it seems Charlotte is yet to reach the top of the list!

It is surprising that Flagship Lounges haven’t come to Charlotte, given it’s a major hub for American. so, if you don’t mind cheese cubes or paying to eat/drink – then this lounge is probably acceptable.