What I Liked
- Champagne on tap
- Premium Alcohol. Including Grey Goose Vodka
- Hot buffet
- Runway views
- Lots of natural light
- Lounge wasn’t busy
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This review is for the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport.
These airlines are American Airlines' most premium lounges. Your Admirals Club membership won’t get you in.
The American Airlines Lounge LAX sits in Terminal 4. It’s also really good! They had champagne on tap. Full free bar. Hot food from the buffet. Great runway views. Lots of natural light.
It's a definite upgrade from the Admirals lounge next door. It's also more difficult to get into. I got access as I was flying American Airlines Business Class — worth a read if you're weighing up the seat that unlocks this lounge. In the article, I provide all the ways to get access.
I had 3 hours in the lounge and really enjoyed it. I suggest arriving early and spend a few hours here.
This review is for the American Airlines Flagship Lounge at LAX — and if you've been hunting for the American Airlines lounge at LAX near Tom Bradley, this is the premium one you're actually looking for. It sits on level 2 of Terminal 4, next to the Admirals Club. Just a five minute walk after security.
Here's the honest catch. There's no simple day pass to buy your way in like there is downstairs at the Admirals Club. I got in travelling International Business Class with American, and I lay out every other route inside. So it's harder to reach. But that's rather the point.
Was it worth it? They handed me a glass of Piper Heidsieck on the way in — the stuff that retails for about $45 a bottle — and there was Grey Goose on the self-pour bar. Runway views, showers, sunshine pouring through the windows at 1pm. The food, though? Let's just say the chocolate cake and I did not become friends. More on all of that below.
If lounges like this are your idea of a good airport, you'll want a way into the rest of them too — Priority Pass with 30% off membership gets you into over 1,700 lounges worldwide from around $26 a visit, which is how I keep the hot food and free drinks coming even when I'm not flying in business class.
The American Airlines Flagship Lounge is in LAX Terminal 4. It is on level 2. Next to the Admirals Lounge.
The lounge is just a 5 minute walk after security in Terminal 4.
Terminal 4 is American Airlines' home at LAX. It's the terminal your American flights depart from, and it sits right next door to the Tom Bradley International Terminal. That's handy, given this is the lounge people hunting for the "American Airlines Lounge LAX Tom Bradley" are actually after.
Head up to level 2 once you're through, follow the signs, and keep the Admirals Club on your right — the Flagship entrance is just past it. Straightforward. I was inside within a few minutes of clearing the checkpoint.
One thing worth knowing. If you're travelling International Business or First with American, the same ticket also gets you into the Oneworld Business Lounge over in Terminal B — about a 10 minute walk away. So if you've got the time, there are two premium lounges to play with on a single boarding pass. Not a bad problem to have.
If you can't get into the Flagship, you're not stranded at LAX. My LAX Centurion Lounge review covers the best alternative in the same airport, so you can still find somewhere lovely to wait.
Sleep Near The Airport
I'm a big believer in arriving early for a lounge this good, and the easiest way to do that is to stay the night before and roll in relaxed. A park, sleep and fly hotel bundle gets you a room, a parking spot for the whole trip, and an airport shuttle in one booking near LAX — so you skip the pre-dawn drive and the airport parking bill.
I'd rather clear security calm and spend those extra hours with the champagne on tap than sprint through Terminal 4. You can sort the room, parking and shuttle in one go right here.
People often ask: does American Airlines have a first class lounge at LAX? In practice, the Flagship Lounge is it. This is the spot American Airlines Lounge LAX Tom Bradley searchers keep circling back to — the premium-cabin room in Terminal 4, a short walk from the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
There's no separate standalone "first class" sign to hunt for. The Flagship is the top tier here, and if you're in a premium cabin, this is your room.
Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign view
You don't need to spend a penny to get one of the best views in Los Angeles. Head up to Griffith Observatory. The whole city sprawls out below you, the Hollywood Sign sits across the hillside, and the sunsets are absurd. Go at dusk. Bring a jacket, because it gets breezy up there.
Hollywood Sign Hike
If the view from the observatory leaves you wanting to get closer, you can book here for $29. It's the cheapest thing on this list and rated 4.9* from over 1,500 reviews, so people clearly love it. An expert guide takes you to the front and behind the sign. Honest catch — it's a proper hike, so wear something other than your travel loafers.
Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA
If you've only got one day and want to see the lot — Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the beaches — book your ticket here for $99. It's rated 4.8* from over 6,000 reviews, which is a serious number of happy people. You'll cover the iconic stuff in one hit. It's a full day, though, so it's a tiring one — pace yourself.
Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour
For something a little more premium and a lot more delicious, you can book here for $89. Rated 4.7* from over 500 reviews. You'll be walked round downtown LA tasting your way through the best of it with a local guide. Come hungry — and unlike the chocolate cake in the lounge, this food actually delivers.
American Airlines' Flagship lounges are their most premium lounges. You won’t be able to get access with an Admirals Club membership.
To access the lounge, you typically need to be travelling on International First Class or International Business Class with American. This was how I got access.
If you travel in International Business or First with American. You can also use the Oneworld Lounge in Terminal B. Which is 10 minutes walk from the American Airlines Lounge.
My review of that lounge is here. It was terrific. A beautiful space with fabulous food and fabulous drinks.
You can also get access if you have Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire Status.
AAdvantage Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and Platinum members can access American Airlines' Flagship Lounges.
The idea behind this lounge is to provide a premium offering to people travelling in International Business Class. Rather than sending people to the Admirals Lounges. Which are often busy and uninspiring. Check out my review of the Admirals Airlines Lounge in Denver. Which was a nice space, but has barely any food.
If you have an American Express Platinum or Premium Delta card, you can use the American Express Lounge in LAX. My review of that lounge is here. That lounge is excellent too with terrific food and drinks.
No premium ticket? There's another way into great lounges entirely. My Amex Centurion Lounges guide shows how the right card gets you in, which might be an easier door than a Flagship boarding pass.
A quick word on day passes, because it's the question I get more than any other. Can you buy an American Airlines Lounge LAX day pass and walk straight into the Flagship? For this lounge, no. The Flagship is premium-cabin and eligible-elite access only — there's no walk-up ticket on sale at the door.
The Lounge Access with Priority Pass
Here's the catch. If you're not flying in business or first class, the Flagship doors stay shut. There's no membership to buy your way in.
Priority Pass is how I keep the hot food and free drinks coming even when I'm not in business class. Signup here and get a 30% discount. Unlimited access costs $422 and unlocks over 1,800 lounges worldwide.
Standard Plus is $263 for 10 visits. So each visit costs $26.30. For food, alcohol, showers and your own quiet corner. The cheapest membership is $69.
For me, a lounge is far better value than buying food in the terminal. A sit-down breakfast at LAX runs about $18, and a coffee is $5. Add a drink or two before a long flight and you're easily at $80 for a meal you'll forget by the gate.
Priority Pass isn't perfect. Lounges get busy, and they can turn you away when they're full. I paid $7 to pre-book a timeslot, which guaranteed me a spot.
There are several other Priority Pass lounges dotted around LAX too, so a membership unlocks a lot more of the airport than just the one lounge.
The lounge wasn’t busy at all when I was there. This is probably by intention. It’s a lot more difficult to get into the Flagship Lounge. Rather than the Admiral Lounge. Which is the more accessible of the two American Airlines Lounge LAX options in Terminal 4. Where you just need to pay for an annual membership.
The lounge had the following facilities
The lounge is basically 3 rooms. Two smaller rooms. And one large rectangular room, with the buffet.
The lounge was super bright. With windows on one side. Facing the runway. I was there at 1pm, and the warm Californian sunshine was bathing the lounge in natural light.
I also got some lovely shots of the runway outside. Including a giant American Airlines jet.
The seating was mainly low style leather seats with tables. There were also some restaurant style tables and chairs next to the buffet. Everything was in excellent condition.
The Flagship Lounge here is a relatively recent addition. American opened it in May 2019, as part of the big overhaul of its Terminal 4 space at LAX. So while the Admirals Club next door has been around for years, the Flagship is the newer, shinier sibling. Which explains why everything felt so crisp and modern when I was there.
I enjoyed my meal at the American Flagship Lounge.
You serve yourself from the self service buffet counter. I was there during the lunch service. The following was on offer:
It was an excellent spread with lots of choice.
I had veg biryani and cauliflower. It was pretty good. And filled me up before my flight.
I also tried the chocolate cake and lemon mousse. They weren’t great.
The drinks were the best feature of the American Airlines Lounge at LAX.
It started off well. I walked into the lounge was offered a glass of champagne. I said yes. They served Piper Heidsieck and it was lovely. It retails for about $45.
The lounge also has self pour alcohol in the buffet. The offering was really good. They had beer, wine and premium liquor. Including Grey Goose vodka.
They also had drip coffee. And a separate coffee machine.
There was a luxury selection of teas. I had a lemon and ginger tea. My daughter had organic chamomile. Both were good.
There was also water, and the usual array of soft drinks.
Well that was really good.
Champagne on tap, hot food, runway views and glorious sunshine. What a great way to spend a few hours, before flying away!
If you're weighing up the American Airlines lounge at LAX near Tom Bradley, the Flagship is the one I'd steer you towards — but only if you can actually get in. There's no day pass here. I was travelling International Business with American, and that's really the point of the place. Harder to reach, and all the better for it once you are.
So who's it for? Anyone turning left on the plane, or holding the right Oneworld status, who wants a proper lunch and a glass of Piper Heidsieck before a long flight. The self-pour Grey Goose, the runway views, the Californian sun coming through the windows at 1pm — that's what you're paying for with your fare, and it delivers. Just don't come for the chocolate cake. The lemon mousse and I have made our peace, but that's about it on the sweet front.
Bottom line. I had three hours here and I'd happily do it again. Arrive early, grab the champagne, take the window seats, and let the food be a nice bonus rather than the main event.
One last thing before you fly out of LAX — you'll need a bed at some point. I rounded up 33 cheap hotels in Los Angeles so you don't overpay for the night either side of your flight.