As access to Admirals Club lounges and Flagship Lounges were included with my business class itinerary with American Airlines between Atlanta and Bogotá with a stopover in Miami each way, I visited the Admirals Club in Atlanta and the Flagship Lounge in Miami…
My Second Visit to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at Miami International Airport — and The Verdict Is…
…but although nothing was wrong with the experience of my first visit to the Flagship Lounge at Miami International Airport back in September of 2019, I was underwhelmed primarily because of the food which was offered for breakfast — so I wondered if the food would be any better during my second visit on my way back to Atlanta several days later.
Easily the most colorful part of the main counter of food was where the trays of sliced melon and cottage cheese, Cuban salad, Garbanzo bean salad, and roasted cauliflower salad were located.
Also on the menu for that evening were Asian Glazed Chicken Wings and Roasted Boniato, which is a type of sweet potato.
Pernil — which is basically pork shoulder that is marinated and slow roasted — was adjacent to the tray of Champigñones Españolas, which are roasted Spanish mushrooms with cherry tomatoes and a sherry garlic confit.
This tray of Bulgogi Corn looks like it had seen better days…
…or years.
Tostones with chicken sofritas — or fried plantains with chopped tofu braised with chicken — were prepared to order for each guest at a designated station by a chef.
A choice of tomatillo soup or shrimp and corn bisque — complete with assorted garnishes — were available in heated pots.
Final Boarding Call
The choices of food were few and far between; and I did not like any of the selection. In fact, the food was so unappetizing to me that I wondered how they earned being served in a place called a Flagship Lounge. In my opinion, the food was significantly worse than what was offered for breakfast during my first visit.
I ate very little in the Flagship Lounge that evening. I actually entertained the thought of going next door to the Admirals Club lounge to see if it was any better; but I thought better of it mainly due to the limited time I had prior to boarding an airplane to my final destination.
Apparently, I was not alone: guests in the Flagship Lounge — which was significantly more crowded than the first time I was there — infrequently helped themselves to the food, which resulted in it not being replenished in a timely manner. Instead, many of them had snacks and drinks while seated in various parts of the lounge.
Although I did like many aspects of the Flagship Lounge at Miami International Airport and would certainly return again if or when the opportunity presents itself, I was generally not impressed with the offerings — but perhaps the overall experience of the Flagship Lounge will improve once it reopens on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
Both the Flagship Lounge and the Admirals Club are located in Concourse D at Miami International Airport.
All photographs ©2019 by Brian Cohen.
