American finally reopens its fanciest London lounge with 1 big upgrade
In a sign that travel demand has most certainly recovered from the pandemic-era lows, American Airlines is finally reopening its fanciest lounge in London.
The doors to American's one-and-only International First Class Lounge at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) opened once again Monday. The facility, which closed at the outset of the pandemic, has been shuttered since 2020, but will now be open daily going forward from 5 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
The lounge is located on the departures level of Heathrow's Terminal 3 beyond passport control in lounge area H. You'll find the space colocated with the airline's standard Admirals Club on the ground floor just below the entrance to the top-notch Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse upstairs.
During the downtime, American gave the space a light refresh, presumably including some new furniture and finishes, but it also gave the space a big back-of-house upgrade in the form of a brand-new kitchen.
The overhauled catering space will allow the carrier to offer both an extensive buffet and an a la carte dining menu in the lounge.
While new menus and pictures weren't immediately available, I'd expect that the selection has been upgraded to take advantage of the new kitchen space. Before the pandemic, American teamed up with Rhubarb Hospitality Collection to provide catering services for this London outpost, and flyers were generally pleased with the offerings.
Other amenities in the lounge include seating for 120 passengers, restrooms (but not showers), a Champagne bar and high-speed internet access.
“At American, we want to continue reinvesting in our products and services to best meet the needs of all our passengers, especially at a time when seamless travel is key," Rhett Workman, American's managing director of strategic performance and United Kingdom operations, said in a statement.
Access is reserved for those traveling in first class on a same-day international flight marketed and operated by American or a Oneworld alliance member airline.
Alternatively, Oneworld Emerald members can access the lounge when they're departing, arriving or connecting in any class of service on a same-day international flight operated by American or a Oneworld alliance member airline. Note that this includes American's Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum and Concierge Key elite members.
The International First Class Lounge is a unique outpost in American's lounge portfolio. It's the only one of its kind, as American's other premium facilities are called either Flagship Lounges or Flagship First Dining facilities.
(This space in London used to be marketed as a Flagship Lounge, but that branding was dropped in the 2010s in favor of the International First Class Lounge moniker. American had planned to renovate and rebrand the club as a Flagship Lounge as early as 2020, but that never happened.)
Flagship Lounges are designed as business-class-only spaces, while the exclusive Flagship First Dining facilities are located within the Flagship Lounge and offer an elevated sit-down dining experience.
American operates Flagship Lounges in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Miami, and it has Flagship First Dining outposts in all but the Los Angeles outpost.
Meanwhile, in New York, American and British Airways recently teamed up to open three lounges (Chelsea, Soho and Greenwich) at their new joint home in Terminal 8 of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
During the pandemic, American also colocated with British Airways at LHR's Terminal 5, and during that time, eligible flyers could use BA's lounges there.
Now that American is back in Terminal 3, the airline's International First Class Lounge will be a good option for those traveling in first class on transatlantic journeys.
That said, LHR's Terminal 3 features perhaps the best assortment of lounges of any airport terminal worldwide, and those who are eligible to use American's International First Class Lounge can also visit (among others) the Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge and the Qantas Lounge if they're open before your flight.
Personally, I'd prefer a cooked-to-order plate of dan dan noodles in the Cathay lounge instead of a visit to American's Heathrow club, but more options are certainly better than fewer.
Related reading:
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- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- What is American Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.