I traveled so many times out of Terminal 2 in San Francisco but was never able to use the Admirals Club as I don’t have a membership with them. So far, I have only been flying domestically from SFO. Thanks to my recent trip to Hong Kong, I was able to visit the Admirals Club here. My ticket was on a separate reservation but because I was flying with Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to San Francisco and from there to Seattle on the same day, I was able to use the Admirals Club. The Cathay Pacific flight added the international leg I needed to enter the lounge as Cathay Pacific is also a Oneworld Alliance member.
Location
Access
- First and Business Class passengers traveling to Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, Mexico City (MEX), New Zealand, South America (First Class Passengers are allowed one guest) marketed and operated by American Airlines or a oneworld® airline.
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum elites traveling to Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, Mexico City (MEX), New Zealand, South America (one guest permitted) marketed and operated by American Airlines or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin).
- ConciergeKey members departing on or connecting to any flight marketed and operated by American Airlines or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). Immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or up to 2 guests.
- oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire elites departing on or connecting to any flight marketed and operated by American Airlines or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). One guest permitted.
- Admirals Club Membership: Requires same day departing or arriving flight marketed or operated by American Airlines, marketed and operated by any oneworld® partner carrier, or marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines. A membership can be bought with money or miles and discounts are available depending on your Frequent Flier Status with American Airlines. Check the Admirals Club website.
- Admirals Club Day Pass: A day pass can be purchased directly on-site.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Card Holders
- Military: U.S. military personnel traveling in uniform traveling on a same-day flight operated by American.
Hours of Operation
daily from 5:00 a.m. to 12:15 a.m.
Lounge Review
Checking into the lounge was easy and quick. I walked in and presented my ID and boarding passes to the agents. After scanning my boarding pass and checking my ID I was welcomed into the lounge and received a voucher for a premium drink from the bar inside the lounge.
Once you check in and walk into the lounge area, you will see three trees planted in the lounge. One in the middle and two on either side on your way down to the big windows. The trees are placed underneath a skylight and form a circular shaped seating area. This takes away the feeling of being stuck in a concrete airport building. The windows stretch along the entire length of the lounge and give you some good views of the apron.
To your right, you will find the bar and snack bar. There is also a soda dispenser and a magazine rack. The club bar serves complimentary beers and wines, and you can upgrade to premium spirits if you want. The snacks are the usual bites you find in domestic airline clubs. Like pretzels, cheese, carrots, and celery with different dips. Seating around the bar is primarily highchairs with tables and there are plenty of them.
There are also some loungers around a small round table toward the windows. Close by is the “business center” which consists of a few workstations and a printer right along with the window.
To the left is the main seating area with plenty of different seating options. Towards the window you find a set of loungers, perfect if you travel with a companion and good to get some tarmac views. In the center are single U-shaped chairs and toward the wall, you will find tables with chairs. Perfect to spread out and set up your laptop to get some work done.
There are plenty of power outlets. The set of loungers features two outlets in the middle, one for each seat. But you shouldn’t have a problem finding a power outlet.
Adjacent to the main seating area is the restroom. I am surprised that this lounge even has shower suites. Very uncommon but a nice welcome and if you want to freshen up, there is nothing better than that.
Conclusion
Overall, this American Airlines Admirals Club is a fairly good lounge. Don’t expect much if you are hungry as they only have some snacks. For a delicious meal, I would recommend the American Express Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3. Unfortunately, you will have to leave and re-enter the secured area to get to the lounge, and on your way back to Terminal 2 the same thing. I would only do that if you had enough time and hopefully expedited screening like TSA Pre. Other than that, the lounge was pretty empty during my visit on a Monday evening. The shower suites are a great amenity if you have enough time to use them. The big advantage of this lounge is, that it is close to the gates of American Airlines otherwise you would always leave the secured area and re-enter. That’s the biggest downside at the San Francisco airport and I hope they will change that in the future.
Peter has a passion for Traveling, Photography, and Geocaching. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. “Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker.” Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com
Some of Peter’s photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more.
