There’s good news for travelers who will be spending time at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in the near future. American Airlines is set to open its largest Admirals Club next week after it shut down for repairs more than six months ago.
The Terminal C Admirals Club at Charlotte will reopen to members on June 24, American Airlines told TPG’s Zach Griff on Friday. This comes after it was temporarily closed, undergoing what the carrier said were minor repairs.
“Our team in Charlotte is excited to welcome customers back,” airline officials told TPG Friday.
American Airlines first shuttered the Terminal C Admirals Club on Jan. 8 for four to six months to undergo building-mandated updates which included fire safety improvements to meet the latest National Fire Protection Association requirements. The Admirals Club staff in Charlotte told me last month this included sprinkler system updates to the club.
During the closure, American planned some additional improvements but not a large-scale overhaul of the Admirals Club, which was a club American inherited from US Airways.
Related: The ultimate guide to American Airlines Admirals Club access
Since this lounge is the airport’s largest, it will not only create immediate additional capacity for travelers but also significantly remove the burden on the only other Admirals Club in Charlotte. In recent months, the other, much smaller club between gates 3 and 5 in Terminal B has gotten very crowded during peak periods.
During a visit to the Terminal B lounge in May, I was among the many travelers who had to wait in line outside the club for several minutes before getting in. Once inside, it required a bit of searching to find an empty seat.
American did bridge the gap during the closure by opening a mezzanine-level station for members in the airport’s main atrium, with customer service and grab-and-go options.
Still, there’s no doubt this club’s reopening comes at an ideal time, with summer travel season in full swing and airports across the country seeing some of their busiest days. Throw in a day like Friday, June 17, when Charlotte saw hundreds of flights canceled or delayed amid operational issues up and down the East Coast – inevitably leading to passengers spending more time in the airport – and there’s certainly a need for extra club space.
In addition to being Charlotte’s largest Admirals Club, it’s also far closer than the Terminal B lounge for many travelers moving through the airport. For instance, it will mean a much shorter walk to the club for travelers using the airport’s E gates, many of which connect in Charlotte from a regional flight. Charlotte is also American's second-largest hub, so there are a lot of flyers passing through the terminal. It's worth noting that there is a different club closer to that part of the airport – an American Express Centurion Lounge, which is an option for travelers who carry The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Related: The Club opens at CLT for Priority Pass members
Bottom line
With more travelers moving through airports than at any other time during the last couple of years, the reopening of American Airlines’ largest Admirals Club at Charlotte’s Terminal C is welcome news for members. Now that the repairs are complete, this will help flyers looking to use a lounge between flights and it will relieve congestion at the smaller Terminal B club.
Additional reporting by Zach Griff.
