American Airlines to Build Its Largest-Ever Admirals Club at Charlotte Douglas

American Airlines is bringing its largest-ever Admirals Club to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), its second-largest hub.

The lounge will span more than 40,000 square feet on the mezzanine level of Charlotte’s central atrium. At that size, the facility will surpass American’s current largest standard Admirals Clubs in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA).

Construction begins this year, with an expected opening in early 2028. In the meantime, American’s existing lounges at Charlotte-including the Provisions by Admirals location near Gate A1 and the lounges in Concourses B and C/D-will remain fully operational throughout construction.

The Charlotte location will feature spa-style shower suites, dedicated bars and serveries, and distinct functional zones for relaxing, dining, and working. The design draws inspiration from the region, incorporating elements that nod to Charlotte’s tree canopy, textile heritage, and modern Southern style.

It’s been a big couple of weeks for American, including two announcements. The first was that it would start allowing AAdvantage members to use both miles and cash for flight redemptions. The second was that it would end voluntary denied boarding, no longer bumping passengers without their permission from flights.

And last week, the airline rolled out a new feature inside its mobile app designed to eliminate the need for passengers to manually refresh seat maps in search of a better spot.

American has really started to gear up for a battle for the premium market with its U.S. rivals. CEO Robert Isom and other senior executives, including Chief Commercial Officer Neil Geurin and CFO Devon May, who took over for Vasu Raja, have all previously said that the goal is to win more of the premium market from the likes of Delta and United and that ongoing customer experience investments are explicitly “tuned to that premium traveler.”