American Airlines opens new lounge at San Francisco T2

American Airlines has opened its latest Admirals Club Lounge within San Francisco’s newly-opened Terminal 2, with facilities including “spa-like showers”, free wifi and a conference room. The airport’s new terminal opened last week (see online news April 13), serving American Airlines and Virgin America domestic flights. The Admirals Club facility will be the only executive lounge within the terminal, and replaces AA’s previous lounge within T3. Located by boarding area D just past security, the new facility is nearly twice the size of its predecessor, and features seating for 165 travellers, two “private spa-like showers”, a business centre with a laptop “plug and play” counter, three work stations with HP dc7900 Compaq computers, and fax and photocopier services. Guests can print from anywhere in the lounge via the PrinterOn wireless global printing solution, and there are further HP TouchSmart PCs in the lounge’s cyber cafe. Free wifi internet access is available throughout the lounge, and around two thirds of seats have power sockets. There is also a conference room available for hire (at a charge), which can accommodate up to nine people. Non-alcoholic and certain alcoholic beverages are complimentary, while premium liquors and wines, and Amora fresh food items are available for purchase. The lounge has been designed “to reflect the unique charm of the San Francisco Bay Area”, with scenery of Northern California, and decor including reconstituted zebra wood and natural coloured walls accented by recessed panels of bamboo wood – “a subtle reference to the influence of the Asian culture in the Bay Area”. Other design elements include three “life-like” Monterrey Pine trees “paired with polished cobblestone floors in cocoa and cream hues”, and a faux skylight which “shines light” on the trees. AA is also highlighting the eco-friendly nature of the lounge, which “is anticipated to receive the prestigious LEED Silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s Commercial Interiors classification”. Among the sustainable features include waste water reduction through low-flow water fixtures, a zero use of CFC-based refrigerants, and a “aggressive” waste management programme to reduce landfill waste. The lounge is open from 0500-0015 daily – for more information visit aa.com/admiralsclub. Report by Mark Caswell