Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is a primary hub for American Airlines. When flying out of PHL on American Airlines there are four Admirals Clubs sprawled throughout the various concourses. While PHL may not be the most eye catching airport, the Admirals club Terminal B/C offers a full sized lounge with amenities found at other American Airlines Admirals clubs. The PHL Terminal B/C Admirals Club was visited back in April 2023.
Who Can Access The Lounge
Accessing American Airlines Admirals Clubs can be accessed through various means including:
- Annual and lifetime club members.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® primary cardholders.
- ConciergeKey® members and AirPass℠ members with Admirals Club® privileges.
- First or Business class tickets on qualifying daparting / arriving international, transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, or a Oneworld airline.
- Qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Platinum members.
- One day pass ($75).
- Active Duty Military.
First Impressions
The Admirals Club Located on the second level post security between terminal Band C. It can be accessed via escalators or elevators. There is a large desk area where agents check in passengers. After presenting boarding pass and lounge access credentials, access was granted. The check in process was brisk along with friendly customer service from the agent at the desk. Past the desk is the main lounge area configured in a long rectangular setup. Near either end of the lounge are restrooms and an abundance of seating. The furniture has a dated appearance yet majority of furniture was in good condition. Some furnishings are showing signs of wear and tear. There are different seating options geared towards solo travelers and those traveling in a group. Seating by the windows offers unobstructed views of the ramp area. During the night time however, there isn’t much to see outside. Staff were constantly moving throughout the lounge were checking on the few guests ensuring dirty plates were removed.
Buffet Options
Given the late time of the day during this visit foods were limited based on remaining availability. Buffet options during the visit included pasta and meatballs. There is a small salad area featuring lettuce and assorted toppings. There is a small snack area featuring rice crispy treats and brownies. Drinks include sodas, tea, coffee and water. Near the middle of the lounge is a small bar area. While the food was sitting there for a while, it had a pleasant taste Albright a bit on the cold side.
Lounge Seating
This particular lounge features a full sized business center located towards the rear of the lounge. Six desks line the wall as well as a full office grade printer. Around the rest of the lounge space there is an abundance of seating however during crowded times seating may be limited. Seats by the window were plush and featured a small table that swings outward accommodating a small laptop or snacks.
Final Boarding Call
Sure there are better airline lounges out there. The American Airlines Admirals Club Terminal B/C at Philadelphia isn’t as flashy as the new DCA Admirals Club, yet it makes up for it in many ways. Lounge overcrowding is huge issue across the board, unlike the neighboring Centurion Lounge, it seemed as if the Admirals Club was purposefully designed with extra seating capacity. There is an abundance of seats to choose from depending on the number of passengers traveling together. During busier times this will come in handy. During this night visit there was no issue finding seats. All the staff were professional yet friendly addressing us by last name during the check in process. A nice gesture that did not go unnoticed. Some parts of the lounge are really starting to show their age such as tables and carpeting. In all, the lounge does serve its purpose well, providing providing basic amenities for the everyday traveler and an escape from the commotion of the airport terminal.