Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge — Miami (9/10)
I recently had the opportunity to visit the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Miami as a OneWorld Sapphire Member. This is one of the…
I recently had the opportunity to visit the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Miami as a OneWorld Sapphire Member. This is one of the nicest business level lounges I have visited in the United States.
I started with a cup of coffee and a plate of Mahi Mahi, mixed vegetables and a sweet potato jalapeno mash. There were many other offerings available, but these are the ones that appealed most to my late night snack tastes. The fish was prepared perfectly and the vegetables were still crunchy. The potatoes were a perfect sweet finish to my meal with just a touch of heat. The wait staff was extremely attentive, clearing my table right after finishing my meal and even asking if they could get me desert. Since it was a little late, I respectfully turned down the offer, but it was appreciated.
After satisfying my desire for a snack, it was time for me to get some work done. I went to find a quiet place to work and found a section of seating off to the side with signs displaying “Quiet Please”. This looked promising and I wandered off to find a quiet place to work. A few minutes later, a number of other travelers speaking a different language figured this was a quiet place for a rather loud conversation. Unfortunately, no one from the staff stopped to enforce the rule, despite many walking by. I understand not wanting to confront and upset guests, but what then is the point of the signs and the section? This was disappointing.
My concentration broken, I decided to grab and beverage to relax. I found a number of cold beers available in a fridge and was delighted to find a box of water for the trip. Many lounges do not provide water to travelers that can be carried out when walking to the gate. I was very pleased to find this. By the way, many airlines are now transitioning to boxed water, including Alaska Airlines, so I did not see this as unusual.
Overall, I would give the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Miami a solid 9/10. Pros were the upscale food selection, plenty of space and responsive customer service. The con was the neglect to enforce the lounge policies for the enjoyment of guests.
By the way, I was the one at the ANA Lounge in Haneda Airport in Tokyo who was directed to the “phone booth” when my wife called in a non cell phone area. The same thing should have politely occurred at the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in Miami.
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