American Airlines (AA)
- Class: First
- Location: New York (JFK)
- Access:
- International and Transcontinental First Class Passengers,
- Non-American Airlines OneWorld Emerald card holders
- Date: March 2015
We asked our uber driver to pull up by the priority entrance.
Once inside we saw lines of people snaking around in all directions. It wasn’t exactly clear where the first class area was but eventually we found it. A surly woman was guarding a rope and barked “can I help you?” as we approached. We said we’d like to check in for our flight. She took a moment, looked at us and said “This is first class”. “Thanks, we’re in the right place then”, I said. She didn’t seem too happy about that. Oh well, AA staff do have a bit of a reputation, I guess it’s not entirely unwarranted.
In fairness though, the check-in AAgent that subsequently helped us was very friendly and went out of her way to explain where the priority line was and how exactly to find the Flagship lounge.
Unfortunately the fast track security situation was just as out of control in JFK as in LHR. Although in this case, the non-priority security line was way worse.
It would have been nice to have a dedicated channel for First Class passengers but then again there are airports like HKG that have no fast-track at all so I guess I can’t complain too much.
AA Flagship First Class Lounge – JFK
The AA Flagship lounge was a drab and sorry little dive. In an alliance where Cathay and JAL are constantly pushing things forward both in terms of onboard product as well as lounges; AA’s offering in its home base, its ‘Flagship’, is utterly lamentable.
A selection of mid-shelf spirits and some $10 bottles of wine.
A buffet of only cold food items
A single room, crammed with people with a bunch of sofas arranged in the style of a waiting room and a mediocre buffet at the far end. The sofa chairs felt cheap and rubbery, the carpet featured a pattern that you know was designed to hide dirt and the power sockets were garish and utilitarian.
Kamara and I sat for a while reminiscing over the time we spent at The Wing in HKG, comparing the cabanas with deep soaking tubs, restaurant and champagne bar to this lounge. Let’s be honest though, the CCR in Heathrow is leagues ahead of this too.
Kamara’s smile as she discovers we’re about to leave
One positive note: the tarmac views
Thankfully we still had our AA First Class flight to LAX to look forward to!
- Part 1:
- BA Concorde Room – Heathrow Airport
- Part 2:
- British Airways : First Class – London to New York
- Part 3:
- Andaz Wall Street, New York
- Part 4:
- AA Flagship First Lounge – New York JFK Airport
- Part 4:
- American Airlines : First Class – New York to Los Angeles
- Part 5:
- Andaz West Hollywood and L.A. sights
- Part 6:
- Qantas First Class Lounge – LAX
- Part 7:
- JAL : First Class – Los Angeles to Tokyo
- Part 8:
- Hilton Niseko
- Part 9:
- Dai Ichi Seafort Hotel
- Part 10:
- JAL First Class Lounge – Tokyo Haneda Airport
- Part 11:
- JAL : First Class – Tokyo to London
