Updated Airline Lounge Offerings at MIA, SEA Reflect Growing Focus on Premium Hospitality
Originally published on APEX
Photo via Delta Air Lines
Major US carriers continue to invest in upscale lounges in a bid to meet rising passenger expectations. Last week, American Airlines (AA) and Delta Air Lines (Delta) each unveiled significant developments focused on their lounge offerings at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) respectively.
AA Invests in Comfort & Capacity at Miami Hub
This week, American Airlines announced that it will nearly double its lounge footprint at Miami International Airport by expanding its Admirals Club in Terminal D and building a new Flagship lounge. Both spaces will feature a Miami-inspired design and will prioritize comfort and privacy.
AA currently has three lounges in Miami, including an Admirals Club at gate D15 and a Flagship lounge and Admirals Club at gate D30. The Flagship lounge near gate D30, which opened in 2017, will be converted into an expanded Admirals Club. Then, the carrier will build a new Flagship lounge, which offers perks such as à la carte dining with locally inspired menus and a champagne greeting upon entry.
American Airlines Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden explained, “We’re excited to expand and elevate the premium experience for our Flagship customers and also provide a more spacious and calming environment in our Admirals Club lounges. Our strong partnership with airport leaders and county officials has allowed us to identify solutions that will make our customers’ experience even better, and we’re eager to work with them in building out this enhanced space.”
Photo via American Airlines
In May, AA debuted its 25,000-square-foot Flagship and Admirals Club loungesat its Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) hub. That Flagship Lounge became the airline’s fifth across the network, joining others located at New York–JFK, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Miami.
The Philadelphia lounge introduced new spatial concepts that will influence the redesigns at MIA: The new lounges in Miami will adopt a zoned layout, or “neighborhood” approach, which includes a lounge area for rest, a bar and dining space for social interaction, and private villas with spa-style shower suites and workstations or kid-friendly rooms.
Like at PHL, the Miami lounge will soon offer bath products from clean, ethical and inclusive beauty brand Klur in a fragrance named ‘Balance in Bloom,’ which was specially developed in partnership with AA.
American Airlines VP Miami Operations Juan Carlos Liscano explained, “The lounge experience plays a key role in enhancing [the] travel journey, offering a quiet and comfortable respite from the busy terminal, which is why we are so eager to give our Miami customers – including those connecting through our hub – new and improved spaces to relax, work and play.”
Delta Opens Delta One Lounge and Sky Club at SEA
Photo via Delta Air Lines
Similarly, on June 24, Delta Airlines opened two new lounges at Seattle–Tacoma Airport. The airline debuted a Delta One lounge and a Delta Sky Club, both located in a single 24,000-square-foot space inspired by the Emerald City. The broader premium push coincides with Delta’s launch of new nonstop service from Seattle to Rome and Barcelona. With these two new lounges, Delta now boasts a total of 57 lounges and clubs across its network.
Delta Air Lines President Glen Hauenstein explained, “Delta’s commitment runs deep in Seattle, from our people on the ground to our global ambitions in the skies. With new international service and the opening of our Delta One lounge, we’re investing in what matters most to our customers – exceptional, premium experiences – and reinforcing our role as Seattle’s largest global carrier.”
The facility, located across from Gate A11, will feature a Delta One lounge on the upper level and a redesigned Delta Sky Club on the lower level. Seattle becomes the fourth city to feature a Delta One lounge, joining New York–JFK, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Delta One passengers will enjoy access to an exclusive check-in area and concierge-style service. The lounge features 149 indoor seats and a 72-seat wrap-around terrace with sweeping views of the runway and Mount Rainier. A full-service open kitchen enables guests to interact with chefs while dining on regionally inspired cuisine, including Dungeness crab cannelloni and wood-fired teriyaki steelhead. Specialty cocktails and a curated wine list round out the beverage program.
Directly below, the redesigned Delta Sky Club accommodates 183 guests and offers similar design cues rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of nearby forests and mountain ranges, while the updated food and beverage stations offer elevated options for frequent flyers and business travelers.
Delta VP Sky Clubs and Lounge Experience Claude Roussel explained, “These sophisticated-yet-comfortable spaces reflect Delta’s commitment to delivering experiences customers can look forward to through every step of their journey.”
Why Lounges Matter More Now than Ever
Photo via Delta Air Lines
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are making sure their new lounge facilities serve as strategic extensions of their respective brands and loyalty propositions. Lounge access has become a meaningful differentiator for high-value customers, which view these premium spaces as essential, not optional.
The aforementioned investments also solve one of the most persistent industry challenges, overcrowding. American’s expansion at MIA adds significant capacity to one of its busiest hubs. Delta’s multi-level lounge model in Seattle separates its Delta One guests from general Sky Club members, improving flow and preserving the premium experience for each group.
Both carriers recognize that the airport experience doesn’t start at boarding; it starts the moment a traveler enters the airport.
