American Airlines to Debut a Flagship Lounge in Philadelphia

Starting this summer, travelers passing through Philadelphia International Airport will have a new reason to check in early. American Airlines is slated to open its Flagship Lounge at the East Coast hub, with a menu curated by hometown chef Randy Rucker.

Rucker helms River Twice and Little Water, two acclaimed Philadelphia restaurants known for seasonal cuisine that draws on ingredients sourced from the surrounding Delaware River Valley. The James Beard Award semi-finalist, who originally hails from Texas, has taken the same considered approach to creating the menu at the new Flagship Lounge.

“First and foremost, I wanted to make sure we represented ourselves, our flavors, and our sense of hospitality,” the chef tells Food & Wine. “There’s still that Southern accent, there’s still a connection to Texas, and a connection to my roots.”

The specific dishes are still under wraps for now, but Rucker shares that the menu is vegetable-forward, and includes seafood and plenty of local flavor.

“I definitely wanted to bring coastal flavors, and kind of the dirt and the soil of our area here — but really just trying to cook seasonally and cook things that can be done on a high level, at a high volume,” he says.

Rucker, who runs his restaurants alongside his wife, Amanda, also shares that some of the classics he’s developed for his restaurants may make an appearance. At River Twice, the modern American restaurant in South Philadelphia, popular dishes include an in-season caviar-topped tomato sandwich and a cult-status burger (beyond the frequently changing four-course set menu). Little Water, which opened last October in the city’s Rittenhouse neighborhood, is home to a seafood-centric menu with dishes like shaved horseradish-coated shrimp cocktail, a hash brown with crab and uni, and a caviar service with hushpuppies. 

American Airlines has been the official airline partner of the James Beard Foundation since 2019, incorporating JBF Awards-recognized chefs and culinary pros into the airline’s food and beverage programs in lounges and in-flight.

Lounge guests can expect self-serve food, spirits, and wine bars, and one new unique-to-Philly element — a full-service bar. A first of its kind for any of the airline’s Flagship Lounges, the bar will be stocked with signature cocktails, premium Champagne, and top-shelf spirits.

The Philadelphia Flagship Lounge marks an expansion of American’s premium offerings on the East Coast, joining existing locations in Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. For Rucker, the partnership is both a homecoming of sorts and an exciting new endeavor.

“American [Airlines] is based in Texas, and I'm from Texas, so we have that similarity,” the chef says. “It’s a huge honor, and I’m really fired up about being a part of it.”

When flights qualify, American Airlines lounges are available to Flagship® First and Flagship® Business passengers; AAdvantage® Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and ConciergeKey® members; and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members flying internationally.