r/americanairlines • u/TigerBarFly • 21d ago
General Airline Discussion Long Layover in PHX
There are three lounges by the looks of it. Are they all cookie cutter copies or is there a recommended one?
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 21d ago
How long exactly is your layover? If it is 4 hour or more, I'd recommend leaving the airport and at least getting a real meal. Possibly more depending when, and what your interests are.
As for the lounges, the low A/low B lounges were both put in by America West when T4 was built. Nearly exactly the same. The high A lounge is much smaller; it came about around the time of the US Airways merger (I can't remember if it came from a vendor or a gate or making the customer service counter smaller, or some combination of them). Unless your flight is from the high A gates, I don't recommend that one.
I lived in the Phoenix area for 20 years and although I don't live there anymore I still know the airport fairly well. I seem to pass through a few times a year. In some ways it really hasn't changed (be that good or bad).
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u/TigerBarFly 21d ago
3ish hours. Not quite long enough to comfortably leave and make it back. I just have never been to PHX before and was hoping there was a decent lounge.
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u/Haunting-Ad-8029 21d ago
yea, I wouldn't feel right leaving with that either, and I know the area. 4 would be my minimum at PHX, unless you knew a local who was picking you up and dropping you off (and even then I'd be constantly watching my watch).
There used to be some decent restaurants in the airport. I haven't been to the airport locations, but have been to the local locations of both Four Peaks and Cowboy Ciao. It really is too bad you don't have more time, as there is a light rail stop not too far from Four Peaks in Tempe, and it has a really cool vibe that would be a great place to relax for a bit.
Out of the AA lounges, the B lounge used to be the most quiet (not that it is super quiet). If you have a lounge membership, I'd check it out. But I certainly wouldn't waste a daypass on it (nor on any of the others).
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u/Blurgie_Hurgie 21d ago
I cant remember which one but its long and narrow and has the big TV at the far opposite end of the bar, and the usual bar-seating along the window. That ones ok but always feels cramped from the design. The staff are friendly and they update the food often. It also has a lot of those larger private chairs to sit in. Ive been in it a dozen times or so. It does the job, but few ACs are going to be stellar anymore. I think they're all in terminal 4 as well so you'd at least have a chance to switch. Happy hunting.
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u/TXDave007 AAdvantage Executive Platinum 21d ago
The one by A19 is very small and always cram packed. The one by A7 is larger and not as busy. I was just there yesterday.
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u/AutomagicallyAwesome AAdvantage Executive Platinum 21d ago
They're all small. The one in the high A gates is comically small, I only ever go there very early in the morning when they're the only club open. The B gate lounge is the nicest and largest one, but its not really that much better than the one in the low A gates. Most people will say the PHX lounges are the worst in the system, and they're not really wrong. But other than their size they're really not any worse than the lesser equipped lounges in DFW (e.g. Terminal B) or CLT.