I visited a just-reopened American Airlines lounge and found it impeccably clean but stripped of most of its luxuries – see inside

Thomas PalliniOct 20, 2020, 23:14 IST

Inside the American Airlines Admirals Club at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

American Airlines just reopened its Admirals Club at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as local restrictions ease and more premium flyers return to the skies.
Lounging during the pandemic has largely moved away from extravagances and more towards providing a quiet, clean place to wait before a flight.
Most of the food options are small bites but some luxuries do remain, however, including complimentary avocado toast and the lounge's fan-favorite soups.

American Airlines is reopening more of its Admirals Club lounges at airports across the country as localities ease indoor dining restrictions and more flyers return to the skies following a disappointing summer for the industry.

Locations at 16 US airports have opened their doors and more are ready to welcome passengers again as demand dictates. But flyers returning the premium lounges can expect a different experience than when they last visited.

New safety features have been implemented across the lounge from the check-in desk to the restroom door. These lounges are most often frequent by the airline's top customers – including business travelers – and American is desperate to get them back in the sky safely and with confidence.

The focus isn't so much on extravagances but giving visitors a quiet, serene place to relax before their flights, especially as tensions still run high among the traveling public. There's still a variety of complimentary snacks and beverages but not enough to draw people to the airport hours before their flight just to enjoy all that the lounge has to offer.

In New York, American is also doing the most it can while abiding with local restrictions that only just permitted indoor dining within city limits and allowed for the reopening of its Terminal 8 lounge.

Take a look inside the newly-reopened Admirals Club at JFK Airport.

American's top flyers – including certain elite status holders or those flying first class from New York to California or international destinations — can use the private Flagship First check-in area at Terminal 8.

Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

American's top flyers – including certain elite status holders or those flying first class from New York to California or international destinations — can use the private Flagship First check-in area at Terminal 8.

The walled-off check-in area offers privacy to the high-profile clientele that frequently utilizes the airline's ultra-premium cabin.

American Airlines' first class check-in at JFK Airport. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Plexiglass partitions help keep American employees separated from passengers when checking in and everybody is required to wear a mask.

American Airlines' first class check-in at JFK Airport. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

After the security checkpoint, it's a short walk and elevator ride up to American's premium lounge, known as the Admirals Club, where plexiglass partitions have similarly been installed and agents are spaced across the row of five podiums.

Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

After the security checkpoint, it's a short walk and elevator ride up to American's premium lounge, known as the Admirals Club, where plexiglass partitions have similarly been installed and agents are spaced across the row of five podiums.