A Review of the American Admirals Club in San Francisco
by Krish Patel
A recent flight from San Francisco to New York in American Airlines Flagship Business Class was the perfect opportunity for me to visit the Admirals Club in SFO. It’s a slightly smaller Admirals Club Lounge, but still offers several amenities and feels cozy compared to the United Club in Terminal 3. If you have access to the club and are passing through Harvey Milk Terminal 1, where the lounge is located, then it might be worth stopping by to relax.
How to Access Admirals Clubs
Access to an Admirals Club can always be gained by flying in a premium cabin on a qualifying transcontinental or long haul international flight with American or a OneWorld Alliance partner. Even if your origin is San Francisco and your Flagship itinerary involves connecting onto an international flight (Ex. San Francisco SFO - Charlotte CLT - London LHR), you’ll be able to access the club in SFO.
OneWorld Emerald and Sapphire status holders with American AAdvantage or a partner program can enter the lounge when traveling on a same-day ticket marketed by a OneWorld airline. In addition, those with the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard receive a complimentary Admirals Club membership and can bring immediate family or up to two guests.
Related Reading: What is the BEST Way to Access the American Airlines Admirals Club?
SFO Admirals Club Seating, Layout, Amenities, and Ambiance
The layout of the San Francisco Admirals Club Lounge is quite straightforward. Upon entering, there’s a front desk area, as well as a set of elevators or stairs to reach the lounge area. The front desk is backed by a white wall with the American Airlines logo and a sconce LED light installation hangs above the desk.
Immediately after reaching the main lounge level, you’ll notice the focal point to the left, which is an artificial tree. Across from the tree were three service desks. The lounge space splits off from the customer service area, with seating to the right and the dining area to the left. When I was there, the dining area seemed to be the most crowded part of the lounge, with many restaurant-style seats taken.
The seating area includes many variants of furniture, including chairs that swivel, long couches, and comfortable armchairs. Some of the seating areas are separated by the signature wooden divider that can be found in many Flagship Lounges and Admirals Clubs. You’ll find side table space and charging ports adjacent to many of the seats in the lounge, making it convenient to get some work done. Best of all, the seats lining the windows overlook the tarmac and offer incredible views.
Much of the furniture adopts a red or brown color scheme, which pairs nicely with the gray flooring. There are also various works of local art found throughout the seating area, which is always nice to see.
What I really like about the Admirals Club at SFO is that it offers something for every type of traveler. There are relaxation pods that feature a curtain for additional privacy and come with lounge chairs for sleeping.
You’ll also find a workspace that includes computers, free Wi-Fi, phone rooms, and a printer. During my visit, I didn’t see anyone using the workstation, but quite a few people were taking advantage of the relaxation area.
If you’re traveling with young children, there’s a family room that features various toys and games for younger kids. The room is not very big and can be found in a corner of the seating area.
At the far left end of the lounge are the bathrooms and shower suites. Both come stocked with various D.S. & Durga skincare items and feel quite spacious. The showers also include a hair dryer and are easily wheelchair-accessible.
SFO Admirals Club Food and Drink
The Admirals Club features a buffet, drink station, and full-service bar. Compared to many other airport lounges, the buffet spread isn’t very extensive and only includes soup, chicken, and rice as far as hot options. There’s also a selection of cheese, bread, salads, cold vegetables, and small desserts to choose from.
American offers food for purchase in the club, which has a more broad selection of hot options. Still, the food available on the menu didn’t look very intriguing and I passed on eating in the lounge.
At the bar, spirits are available for purchase, but the red and white wines, as well as some of the beers, are complimentary. Most Admirals Clubs also offer seasonal cocktails and mocktails, which is great to see on the drink menu.
If you're looking for coffee, tea, soda, or water, there’s a self-serve drink station in the lounge. There’s an Everseys coffee machine, Coke-branded soda fountain, and dispensers with water and iced tea. A second self-serve counter features various fruits, snacks, and mint-flavored water.
Overall Thoughts
The Admirals Club in San Francisco is a quiet and cozy lounge, with plenty of amenities and comfortable seating options. Despite United having a major hub in SFO, their United Clubs in Terminal 3 have less to offer in terms of amenities and feel older, making this a more preferable lounge. If you have free access to the American Admirals Club, then it might be worth paying a visit. However, other lounges such as The Club SFO and American Express Centurion Lounge have much better offerings when it comes to the seating, ambiance, and food and drink. It’s best to explore your lounge options by doing research and see which spaces you have access to before your flight.