The Admirals Club network is entering a new era with the opening of its newest outpost.
The first of its kind to feature American's newest design motifs, the Admirals Club will open later this month at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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Recliners and artwork are gone. You will find stylish touches, crisp lines and modern finishes that will convince you to book a longer connection.
The redesign of American's DCA flyers is the biggest news, but the new design concept is only just beginning to take off. When they open, the new clubs in Austin, Denver and Newark will have upgraded designs.
The new club can't come soon enough in Washington, D.C. If you want an inside look, read on.
Two clubs at DCA are operated by American, one in the C pier and the other in the D pier.
The lounge on the upper level overlooking the E pier was confirmed by American when DCA opened the Gate 35X replacement.
The new club is ready for its debut.
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There is a stone-lined entrance between the Capitol File News and P.F. Changs.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
For long time American flyers, the entrance might be a bit shocking. It's more welcoming and regal than anything we've seen before in an admirals club
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The other DCA lounges are hidden away and accessible only via a fire stairwell or slow elevators.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
There is a staircase and an elevator in this new entrance. The Texas-based airline pays homage to the famous blooms that line the Tidal Basin each year.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The entrance is inspired by D.C.'s famous monuments and museums.
When you arrive on the upper level, you may notice a new reception area with American's logo on it.
This is a big upgrade in the design of the club.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The food and beverage area is called the servery by the airline.
There are plenty of seating areas, from standard two-top dining tables to high-top counters to private nooks.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The new design will make you want to look at it. There are tiles in the bar. The ceiling is upscale. There is a subtle gray fabric on the bench.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The American flight symbol can be seen on the walls of the dining room.
This attention to detail is very similar to something you would find in one of Delta's newer Sky Clubs.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
We don't know if American will bring its famous cheese cubes, crackers and hummus bowls to the lounge, but the rendering makes it seem like we should be in for a big upgrade.
To the left of the entrance is the other side of the lounge. Most of the club's seating and relaxation areas can be found at this location.
The centerpiece of the main relaxation area is a fireplace that makes it feel like home.
There is a lot of seating around the fireplace. The lounge at the airport has couches and recliners in the interior area, as well as individual chairs along the perimeter that give travelers a great view of the airport's northern operations.
The lounge has seating for over 200 people.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
You'll find AC outlets at almost every seat, but you'll have to dig a little deeper to find aUSB-C port. During our tour, I only saw a few newer ports.
The TV area has been updated. The rows of chairs lined up like a movie theater are gone.
There are two TVs built into the floor level. The screens blend into the lounge aesthetic without feeling like a waiting room.
American invested in high quality furniture in this seating area. The carrier took into account the details of the carpet.
The carpeting is thicker than what you'd find in the airline's lounges, which should help to absorb noise.
The design is unique because it is based on an abstract map of D.C. The blue colors are a nod to the carrier's color scheme.
There are no spa suites or nap rooms in the new club, but there is a quiet area with dome-shaped chairs that look like the Capitol Building.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The light fixture in this area are lined with sentence fragments from important speeches. The phrases are spelled in a different way. The game idea is to see how many you can identify.
The lounge design would have knocked it out of the park even if American hadn't stopped there. The various amenities in the space are encompassed by the carrier's latest motifs.
Near the servery area, there is a set of restrooms. There are a number of stalls with green and red indicators to show whether they are occupied or not.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
The dark colors of the toilets are complemented by stylish lighting and mirrors that make the space feel luxurious.
There are three private phone booths in the lounge, each with accent lighting and wood panelling. American wanted to make sure that no one would turn the lounge into a personal office and so they didn't have seating here.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
In addition to the phone booths, there are other areas in the hallway. Standing room only, these nooks are great places to take a quick call or focus on something else. Those who use wheelchairs will find one of the nooks large.
The Points Guy is Zak Firth.
There will be no showers in this space. Since DCA is a domestic hub for the airline, showers are not essential lounge amenities. The airline added two showers to its expanded lounge in New York's LaGuardia Airport, a hub for domestic flights.
There is a private nursing mother's room located near the entrance.
Courtesy American Airlines.
To the right of the reception desk there is an exclusiveVIP room. There is a conference table in this room. Being Concierge Key alone won't cut it, as this area is only for the most important travelers and officials.
American has made it clear that it can deliver a hard product with the new DCA lounge.
The physical space is modern and inviting, and it's a big leap forward in the airline's admirals club design. If you're looking for a club that's nice in the country, this may be it.
The question is whether American can deliver on the softer elements of the lounge experience.
If you're lucky, you'll be able to get a piece ofavocado toast in the new admirals club.
American may have just hit a home run if the answer is no.
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