Miami International Airport MIA offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other American airport. We review the best airport lounge at Miami airport if you are flying out on American Airlines.
We have already reviewed the best executive or club lounges in Miami.
Free Airport Lounge Access
If you have not paid for Business Class or First Class, you can access airport lounges for free if you have an unlimited Priority Pass or an Amex Platinum card. To get bonus referral points and advice on the Platinum American Express and other free lounge access credit cards, have a read of our best credit cards for luxury travel.
1. American Airlines Flagship Lounge, North Terminal
The best American Airlines lounge in Miami airport is the Flagship Lounge in the North Terminal, and we think this is the joint best airport lounge in Miami. You can access this American Airlines lounge if you are:
- Traveling on qualifying Oneworld long-haul international first and business class flight on the same day
- An American Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum members traveling on a qualifying Oneworld international flight, regardless of the class of travel
- A Non-American AAdvantage Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire member traveling on any Oneworld flight (even domestic)
- A Concierge Key member traveling on any American flight
If you’re flying on British Airways to London Heathrow from Concourse E, you can also use this lounge instead of the Oneworld premium lounge on Concourse E, although you will have quite a walk to the gate.
American Airlines offers First Class travelers extra exclusivity with this lounge with its Flagship First Dining. To get access to the Flagship First lounge, you must be traveling in First Class on American’s three-class international flights between the US and Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America. You can bring one guest.
This lounge is located next to the Admirals Club across from Gate D30. Once you go up in the lift, you turn left for the Admirals Club or right for the Flagship lounge.
The lounge is enormous at 29,000 square feet. It has plenty of navy and cream seats, mainly in the form of armchairs (most seats in the lounge have power outlets), as well as a cafe area with cafe tables and chairs next to the buffet. There are lots of pine partitions separating one area from the next.
Food-wise, there is an extensive hot and cold buffet. There’s a hot egg dish for breakfast, and there’s a cold buffet with bread, bagels, smoked salmon, salad, cold cuts, cheeses, cut fruit, etc. During the rest of the day, there are numerous plates of salads and meats. Best of all, there is a live chef station where you can order custom prepared dishes at mealtimes.
There is a drinks area within the main dining area with a vast range of self-service drinks, including spirits, wines, beers (Blue Room, Budweiser, Samuel Adams, and Stella Artois), etc. The available Champagne is Bollinger Brut, and there is also a cocktail-making area. The bar area also offers excellent views of the planes.
For soft drinks, there’s a coke fountain, juices, and water. The lounge also features large shower suites and some daybeds for relaxing and freshening up.
2. American Airlines Admirals Club, Central Terminal
American Airlines has two Admirals Clubs in Miami. One near gate D15 and one near gate D30. The lounge near gate D30 actually has an Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge, and Flagship First Dining, which we have reviewed above.
Because many American Airline’s premium passengers use the Flagship Lounge, this Admirals Club lounge tends to be lovely and quiet. Within the lounge, there are lots of red and grey armchairs. Pick one by the window, and you will have a beautiful view of the planes. Regardless of the position of your chair, you will find plenty of power outlets and useful tables that you can move into a convenient spot for working. There are wooden partitions, and there is bright artwork on the walls.
The buffet area has high tables and stools, as well as cafe-style tables and seats. There’s a coke soda machine, juices, ordinary water, and flavored water, as well as tea and coffee. Unusually, the breakfast buffet has a taco bar with cheese, salsa, rice, and beans. There are cold buffet items too, including fruit salad, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, and some toast and pastries.
This lounge also offers soft and alcoholic house drinks for free, a children’s room, and a relaxation area featuring day beds.
3. Turkish Airlines Lounge, Central Terminal
If you have a Priority Pass and are not traveling in Business Class on American Airlines, or perhaps you are flying in Business Class but are not keen on the Admirals Club lounges, why not give the Turkish Airlines Lounge a go?
The Turkish Airlines Lounge is located in the Miami FL International Central Terminal, Concourse E. The lounge is located on Level 2, past the escalator on the left-hand side. You can also access it from Concourse D. You simply need to pass through the connector to the Central Terminal. This lounge is open 24/7 and is a Priority Pass lounge. It is also the only Priority Pass lounge location in American’s terminal. Oddly, Turkish Airlines doesn’t leave from this concourse.
This Turkish Airlines Lounge isn’t particularly large but has smart wooden flooring and is nice-looking. There are various seating options, including cafe seating by the buffet, a high table with stools with backs on, situated by the window looking out at the planes, as well as armchairs by the windows.
The Turkish Lounge has a very decent food and drinks selection for a Priority Pass lounge with a self-serve soft and alcoholic drink selection. Alcohol includes four types of wine (two whites and two reds), tea, a coffee machine, spirits, beer.
Snacks include a massive jar of peanuts, and the main buffet offers sandwiches, croissants, toast, cereal, cake, fruit, salad, yogurt, cheese, brownies, and veggies. There are three hot dishes, including scrambled eggs, french toast, and sausages. A nice spread for a Priority Pass lounge.
While this is one of the smallest airport lounges at Miami Airport, I like its style, and the food offering is great. My favorite seats are the high tables and stools by the window. The lounge also has four shower suites, which are at the far back of the lounge. Best of all, it is the only convenient Priority Pass option for those leaving Miami airport on American Airlines.
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