American plans Flagship Lounge, badly needed Admirals Club expansion at busiest East Coast hub

American Airlines is planning to significantly up its lounge game at its second-busiest hub.

The carrier on Thursday announced plans to bring the Flagship Lounge, its nicest lounge concept, to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). American also said it would increase the footprint of its existing Admirals Clubs at the airport.

Together, these should be much-welcomed changes for American flyers who frequently pass through CLT.

The airport is the carrier's only international hub without a higher-end club for business-class passengers and AAdvantage elite members.

Already, the carrier's two standard Charlotte lounges regularly fill to capacity.

American did not reveal exact timing or construction plans for the new outpost — those will be shared at a later date, the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline said Thursday.

Read more: How to access American Airlines Admirals Club lounges

However, the carrier said these collective lounge investments at its North Carolina hub should "significantly increase the lounge space" at the airport, which is among the busiest in its network — trailing only its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) home base.

"As an airline, we're committed to meeting the needs of our customers, and we're excited to continue to invest in our lounges at CLT," American's chief customer officer, Heather Garboden, said in a statement announcing the news. "These improvements will introduce a premium experience for our Flagship® customers and provide more space in our Admirals Club® lounges."

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American did not specify whether it plans to build an entirely new Admirals Club, or renovate and expand either of its existing outposts.

The Flagship Lounge is American's nicest lounge concept, and is not accessible through a standard Admirals Club membership — paid or earned via a cobranded credit card.

To access these clubs, you have to either be flying in a high-end cabin marketed as Flagship or be at least an AAdvantage Platinum (or Oneworld Sapphire) member traveling on an eligible long-haul trip.

American flies plenty of long-haul flights out of Charlotte; its peak summer 2025 schedule included flights to eight different European destinations from the airport.

Today, American operates two standard Admirals Club outposts in Charlotte, and customers frequently battle overcrowding at those facilities. Earlier this month, the carrier unveiled a new grab-and-go concept at the airport called Provisions by Admirals Club.

First impression: American's luxe Flagship Suite Preferred completes inaugural flight

American currently operates a Flagship Lounge (or Flagship Lounge equivalent) at each of its other domestic hubs that offer long-haul international flights. That includes its newest Flagship outpost that debuted earlier this year at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

Related reading:

• The best credit cards for airport lounge access
• The ultimate guide to American Airlines Admirals Club access
• The do's and don'ts in an airport lounge
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for
• Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers