Airline lounges aim to offer an escape for travelers from the stresses of flying. However, not all airlines lounges are created equal. Our goal is to visit as many as possible to keep you informed on your next trip. Today we will be reviewing the American Airlines Admirals Club at LAX Terminal 5 before going over all the ways you could find yourself enjoying this lounge on your next trip.

For a quick summary on our visit scroll to the very bottom of the post.

Automatic sliding doors to enter the LAX Terminal 5 Admirals Club

Since the Terminal 4 Admirals club was under construction during my visit, along with the soon to be Flagship Lounge, this particular Admirals club in Terminal 5 made for the easiest option. I did make sure to ask the lounge attendants for an update on when the LAX Flagship Lounge will be open and they seemed to think sometime during the first or second week of December. So unfortunately it won’t be open yet for my upcoming trip to Hong Kong but I look forward to checking it out when it is!

Location

The lounge is located on the upper level of the concourse in Terminal 5 and can be accessed by either taking the stairs or a quick elevator ride up one floor. When coming over from Terminal 4 it is very easy find with signs posted on the wall.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 headed to the runway at LAX

The lounge only has windows at the far end after walking in, but they take up the entire wall. Unfortunately it is tough to get a great view unless you are nearby and even then it’s mostly 737 and A320’s from various airlines lined up at their gate. If you’re hoping to spot Americans wide body 777-300ER Flagship aircraft pulling up to the gate from the lounge you’ll need to wait for Terminal 4 to open. Nonetheless, the location offers natural light and a view of some of the action on the tarmac, which is nothing to complain about in my book.

Seating

This brand new lounge was filled with all kinds of new and stylish seating options, given the lounge a much more modern feel than the older Admirals Clubs. Immediately upon entering there is a large atrium, which looks quite impressive, and is filled up sets of tables with chairs. I ended up sitting in one of these chairs for a little while but ended up moving so one of the other sections since sitting under the atrium provided an odd echoing sound from people who were talking but also sitting underneath. Not a big deal, but certainly could end up getting annoying. But one thing that is certainly cool about being in LA is the amount of star power that can be hanging around. On this particular trip I actually saw Micheal Phelps hanging out in the lounge waiting for his flight 😮 .

The atrium with tables and chairs near the entrance of the LAX T5 Admirals Club

A smaller seating area off to the side of the lounge near the entrance

The entire area in front of the windows is made up of one long work station with chairs

The lounge has a large sitting area with tables for eating or using as a work station

It is nice to see new furniture colors and artwork being included in the renovations

I found this to be a neat divider that provided privicy but also lets light pass through

Some California inspired artwork looks to be hanging on the walls in the new lounge

Overall I would say I am a fan of the new furniture and style. I also really like how they have some artwork up to add some local flavor and accent to the new furniture.

Food & Drink

While the real step up in the lounge food for American Airlines at LAX is going to come with the completion of the Flagship Lounge, it is nice to see they have added some additional options to the Admirals club menu as well.

Avocado Toast being prepared at the “create your own” Avocado Toast Bar

I knew American had added the freshly made chips and Guacomole in the afternoons but I was unaware of the addition that included avocado toast during certain hours of the morning. Needless to say, I was rather excited when I walked in and saw this gem waiting for me.

The finished product — I was quite happy with my Avocado Toast breakfast

I ended up having my toast topped with the Avocado, a piece of smoked salmon, some scrambled eggs, diced tomatoes, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Prosciutto was also an option in place of salmon and any of the combination of toppings could be used. But after that little surprise I decided to check out the rest of the offerings.

 

In addition to the Avocado toast the T5 Admirals club also had the typical selection of fresh fruit, bagels, breakfast cake, yogurt, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, and orange juice set out for breakfast.

The berries looked fresh and tasted delicious, an excellent addition!

The bar had three flat screen televisions showing a combination of news and sports

View from the end of the bar looking back towards the entrance

Premium drink coupon handed out to anyone flying on a qualifying international flight

While I wasn’t flying international on this particular visit I still managed to come across a premium drink coupon, which American typically hands out to anyone flying on an international flight upon check-in. The coupon made for a nice surprise and I treated myself to a premium beverage while waiting for my flight to board. I do like how they give these coupons out to anyone flying internationally but it will be a welcome addition when the new Flagship Lounge opens in Terminal 4 to give American Airlines a true premium international lounge under their management at LAX.

Amenities & Lounge Staff

Everyone I spoke with, from the check-in attendants to the bar staff, was very friendly and happy to help me with my questions. One of the bar tenders makes what he claims to be the famous LAX Airport bloody mary, and while I am not a huge fan of bloodies myself, everyone he made one for seemed to really enjoy it.

The LAX Terminal 5 Admirals club has four desks available for checking-in to the club

Since this happened to be a brand new lounge I felt the need to check out the showers during my layover. I went to the front desk to request a shower a couple of hours before boarding, which is complimentary for all guests, and as luck would have it there was one immediately available.

 

They provided me with a key for the shower suite and I was pleasantly surprised with the quality. The shampoo, body wash, and conditioner was already in the shower suite and all were the Bigelow brand. Then they also provided clean towels with a wash cloth, and for anyone who prefers using a handheld shower they had that option in addition to the fixed shower head. Overall I was very happy with it and it was a great touch to take a refreshing shower before boarding.

Conveniently located departure boards near the front of the Admirals club

The lounge also had departure boards, a fancy soda machine that allows one to select from what appears to be 100 flavors, extremely fast wi-fi, and a lot of power outlets.

How can you get in the LAX Terminal 5 Admirals Club?

Admirals Club locations offer many ways to gain entry:

1. Admirals Club yearly membership
2. Admirals Club day pass
3. Flying in either Business Class or First Class Internationally
4. Flying Internationally as a Platinum, Platinum Pro (Oneworld Sapphire), or Executive Platinum (Oneworld Emerald) Member
5. Owner of the Citi AAdvantage Executive Credit Card
6. Flying with anyone who has one of the above, unless they are flying in Business Class with no status, as they can bring in a guest free of charge

Pros

• Avocado toast in the mornings and fresh made guacamole in the afternoon
• Very modern bar area with multiple flat screens and friendly bar staff
• Plenty of seating options depending upon how you want to spend your time
• Complimentary selection of well drinks, house wines, and certain domestic draft beers

Cons

• While the atrium looks cool, it can give off a bad echo depending on location
• Premium drinks require drink tickets, but this is unfortunately normal in all Admirals clubs

Final Thoughts

This is a great addition to the Admirals club family and nice to see some of these lounge renovations being completed. While it’s not the biggest Admirals Club, and at the current time can get very crowded, I think it will work well in the long run once the additional Admirals club and Flagship lounge is complete in Terminal 4. The new food offerings are a welcome addition and its an excellent option for anyone departing out of Terminal 5. With everything I saw here, from the avocado bar to the new furnishing, it has me extremely excited to see what they have turned the Terminal 4 Admirals Club and Flagship lounge into when it finally opens. If anyone else has made a stop in here during their travels I would be curious to hear what you thought of the lounge?