American will build its largest Admirals Club, at more than 40,000 square feet, in Charlotte

American Airlines plans to build the biggest Admirals Club in its network at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The airline says the new club will cover more than 40,000 square feet once it is finished. It will sit in the airport's Atrium, on the mezzanine level, with views down onto the concourse.

The news came in American's announcement on Oct. 6. American says construction will start before the end of this year. It has not given an opening date.

What changes for travelers#

For now, nothing closes. American says all three of its current Charlotte spaces will stay open while the new club is built. Those are the Admirals Club in Concourse B, the Admirals Club at the C/D connector, and the small Provisions by Admirals Club near Gate A1.

Keeping them open matters at a hub this busy. CLT is American's second-largest hub. The airline says it runs more than 650 peak daily flights there, to more than 180 destinations in 27 countries.

The new club's main selling point is space. American says it will be split into zones for different needs. The list includes spa-style shower suites, bars, serveries, and areas to relax, eat, work and recharge. The design takes cues from Charlotte's tree canopy and its textile history, according to the airline.

"Designing a lounge that gives our customers more space to relax, work and recharge is our top priority," said Heather Garboden, American's chief customer officer, in the release.

American has not said how many seats the club will have. It has also not said whether any of the current clubs will close once the new one opens. It is too early to know how the hub's lounge map will look once the work is done.

Where the Flagship lounge fits#

This is the second part of a plan American first laid out in August 2025. At that time, the airline said it would open its first Flagship lounge in Charlotte and add more Admirals Club space. The Flagship lounge is the one for long-haul premium cabin travelers and top-tier elites. In 2025, American said it would offer champagne service and local menus, with shower suites, work areas and family spaces.

The new release does not add much on the Flagship lounge. It does not give a location, a size or an opening date. American says it is "doubling down" on its premium investment at the hub, so the Flagship lounge is still part of the plan. But for now, the 40,000-square-foot Admirals Club is the project with a location and a start date.

In July, American said a planned 37,000-square-foot DFW club, not yet open, would be its largest. Charlotte's club now takes that title.

Who can get in#

American's access rules do not change with this news. According to the airline, you can enter an Admirals Club with:

• a paid Admirals Club membership
• qualifying oneworld status
• the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard
• one of the four Admirals Club passes that come with the Citi AAdvantage Globe Mastercard, each good for 24 hours
• a One-Day Pass, which American sells for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles

Our listing for the Concourse B club adds a few details. Members can bring immediate family or up to two guests. Premium cabin passengers on a qualifying international trip get one guest. A day pass needs a same-day American or oneworld ticket. AAdvantage members at Platinum and above get in on international oneworld itineraries, and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members from partner airlines can use the clubs too.

The Admirals Club program page lists every club we track and the ways in.

How it compares at CLT#

Charlotte already has strong lounges outside American's network. The Centurion Lounge is open to Amex Platinum cardholders and rates 4.6 out of 5 with our readers. It has a cocktail bar and one shower. The Club CLT takes Priority Pass, LoungeKey and DragonPass. It also rates 4.6, with a full bar and one shower. Delta flyers have the Delta Sky Club, which rates 3.7. Priority Pass members can also use the two Minute Suites locations, in the Atrium and on Concourse D, though those are nap rooms rather than lounges.

American's own clubs do well too. The Concourse B club, between gates B3 and B5, seats about 250 and has two showers and a full bar. It rates 4.6, one of the best scores at the airport. The C/D connector club has a full bar but no showers and rates 4.2. The weak spot is Provisions, a grab-and-go room with no bar. It rates 1.5, far below the full clubs.

Shower access is the detail to watch. Right now, only the Concourse B club has showers on the American side. The new Atrium club promises spa-style shower suites, which would give connecting flyers a second option.

A single 40,000-square-foot club in the Atrium would put American's main lounge at the center of the airport. That is a plus for connecting flyers who do not want to guess which concourse has space. We will update our Charlotte airport page when American shares an opening date.

My take#

The central location interests me as much as the size. I'd judge this project by whether connecting passengers can find a seat without a long detour, rather than by the square-footage headline alone.

Related reading#

• American is building a new 10,000-square-foot Admirals Club at Chicago O'Hare
• How to use Admirals Club lounge access at DFW
• Admirals Club at MIA: where to go

Correction, Oct. 18: An earlier version said the DFW club had opened. It was announced July 20 and has not opened. We also fixed the Citi card's name.

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