After my British Airways flight from London to Chicago O’Hare, I stopped for a few moments at the American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal 3, Concourse H/K. While the club was serviceable and ticked off many boxes that an airline lounge should, I felt it had no character.
American Airlines Admirals Club Chicago (ORD) Review – Terminal 3, Concourse H/K
Let’s first focus on the subjective, then I’ll focus on the objective. There’s just something about the current generation of AA lounges that rubs me the wrong way. It’s not the staff or the food selection, but the decor. It’s a very modern decor indeed, but it feels like a flipped home – the sort of banal style that will not age well (and I would say the same about United Clubs). I look at the walls and the colors and the furniture and think it feels tacky. Am I alone in that feeling? On the other hand, AA’s beautiful new lounge at Washington National (DCA) strikes me as the total opposite, a more timeless beauty that will age well and that actually shows a lot of thought.
Just thinking out loud…
Access + Hours + Location
The lounge is located in Terminal 3 of ORD Airport, just past security in the crosswalk between gates H6 and K6. It is open daily from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm. Take the elevator up to the third floor.
Access is reserved for:
- Admirals Club members
- Qualifying first and business class passengers, including those traveling same-day on American or another oneworld member to:
- Asia
- Australia
- Canada
- Caribbean
- Central America
- Europe
- Mexico
- Middle East
- New Zealand
- South America
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Platinum members traveling internationally in any cabin of service
- oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members from other oneworld carriers (on any oneworld itinerary in any cabin of service)
- Admirals Club day pass holders
- Citi / AAdvantage Executive Card authorized users
- Active-duty military traveling in uniform with military ID
International first class and oneworld elite customers are allowed one guest (a child over two counts as a guest). Admirals Club members or members of the military may bring in their “immediate family” (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or two guests.
Seating
Upstairs, I found a large and airy lounge, which was moderately crowded. I had no trouble finding a seat and the lounge seemed to empty out a bit during my stay (during the 6:00 pm hour).
Thankfully, there seemed to be electrical outlets within reach of wherever you find a seat. The internet also worked well.
If you are tired, there are also a quartet of easy chairs that you can use for resting in a specially-designated quiet area of the lounge.
Food + Drink
Unlike Delta SkyClubs and United Clubs, American Airlines offers a complimentary selection of food and drink items, but also sells food. The menu was posted in the buffet area:
Additionally, there was free food available, including build-your-own BBQ sliders, soups, salads, raw vegetables with hummus or ranch dip, cheese cubes, cookies, brownies, whole fruit (apples and oranges), and candy.
Non-alcoholic beverages included coffee from La Colombe, a nice selection of tea from TEALEAVES, and a Coke Freestyle machine. I made myself a cappuccino using an automatic espresso machine.
The bar area included beer, wine, and a limited selection of liquor for free, plus other drinks for purchase.
Restrooms + Showers
Shower facilities and large restrooms were available. There was a wait for the showers, so I have not included any pictures of the shower suites.
Printer/Copier
I appreciate that Admirals Clubs still offer copy machines and wireless printing. While I find printing increasingly irrelevant in our digital world, sometimes it comes in very handy.
CONCLUSION
My personal distaste for the design elements of this lounge aside, this is a serviceable Admirals Clubs. You can easily find plugs, fast internet, and enough food to make a meal out of it. While the general state of domestic US lounges may be somewhat depressing, I have to remember that compared to a decade ago these lounges have actually come a long way.
“I have to remember that compared to a decade ago these lounges have actually come a long way.”
I think you have Stockholm Syndrome
In this case, I have pictures to prove it. You don’t remember the days of cheese cubes and carrot sticks and granola bars being the extent of food in the lounges?
Cheese cubes and carrot sticks, a decade ago? That sounds pretty luxurious. I recall taking my then middle-school-aged daughter into an airport lounge for the first time, 12 years ago, and us munching on stale pretzels and cookies. However, she still mentions that experience as the best time she ever had at an airport. It’s great to be a kid.
Must have been an outstation! 😉
Matthew, you must visit the new United Club near Gate C10 at ORD. Just opened today and I was one of the first visitors. Upgraded breakfast options, 2x more space, updated modern feel. Almost as good as the Polaris lounge!
I’ve got pictures coming in my next post!
I had my final visit to the old one in C Concourse on Sunday. I really can’t wait to try it out. After the new Club at EWR, I feel a bit deprived at my home airport.
I look forward to your thoughts on it.
Next time you’re in ORD try the new Delta sky club in T5. Very modern , great design. Could be an upscale restaurant if it wasn’t in an airport.
Like to hear your comments.
I’ve heard good things about it. Wish I was still an AMEX customer.
oh wow did you get rid of amex plat?
Not by choice. Long story. And no, it wasn’t for churning.
Thanks for the review. I’m a frequent visitor of Admirals Club lounges and I find them just passable compared to Delta lounges with the exception of Admirals club LHR lounge where they have to compete with European lounges where the experience is way better. However most US consumer have no idea about the quality of lounges around the World specially in the Middle and Far East.
Agreed that Delta Sky Clubs > AA Admirals Clubs (and I’d put the United Clubs and Alaska Lounges somewhere in between). Have you been to the new AA/BA lounges at JFK? Those are quite a step up, IMO.
G/H Lounge – Very little comfortable seating. Half of it is tables with uncomfortable chairs. Good selection, very limited, nothing substantial. Cheese, salami, choice of two soups (beef barley was decent), VERY dry, unseasoned white chicken breast chunks that has nothing to service it with (sauce, pasta). The Mediterranean Mac and Cheese was decent but not anything more than a side dish to nothing. Some vegetables and hummus… That’s it. No glasses for soda. Had to use a coffee cup (which was dirty). When asked how long it would be for a plastic cup (the only option… no glasses) they said 3 times over a 30 min period, that they are “probably” working on it?!? The facilities were reasonably clean.
L Lounge – Very small lounge w/limited seating. What they had was very uncomfortable table seating and some lounging chairs. Very limited selection of food, nothing substantial. Cheese, salami, choice of two soups (beef barley was decent), VERY dry, unseasoned white chicken breast chunks that has nothing to service it with (sauce, pasta). The Mediterranean Mac and Cheese was decent but not anything more than a side dish to nothing. Never did find the beverage selections so I choose a glass of wine. Came in a sorry glass. It was reasonable clean, though I did have to ask to have my table cleaned as it was dirty.
I travel extensively (I’m am executive platinum) and usually use the Flagship lounge which I have been happy with. Can’t believe people actually pay money for an Admirals Club membership.
O’Hare Terminal 3 is an old, decrepit and unkempt building which was designed with no thought about convenience of passengers. Similarly, the Admirals Clubs here are substandard, with indifferent staff, horrible food, and little thought given to comfort or convenience of passengers. As to convenience, it’s remarkable that American operates early morning flights from Concourse L, yet the Club serving that concourse doesn’t open until 6:15 am. This forces early-arriving passengers to use the Admirals Club at Concourse K, a full 15 minute walk from Concourse L. As an Aadvantage Million Miler, I find this total indifference to passenger service and convenience is unacceptable, and I will avoid Ohare in the future unless I have absolutely no other choice. Terrible terminal, terrible service.