A couple of weeks ago, American Airlines announced that it’s making improvements to its Admirals Clubs, though the cost to access Admirals Clubs is increasing as a result. Suffice it to say that this is a mixed bag. I wanted to recap the changes, as they are now live.
Continue reading: American Admirals Clubs Improving, But At A Cost
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Sitting in an overcrowded club in CLT now. I am all for the increase in price if it makes the club actually something tolerable as opposed to the chaos and terminal-like atmosphere it is now. Demand far outstrips supply. Don't need to take Econ 101 to know what to do if you are AA.
If the no more AU access fixes the crowding I’m all about this. They should have just limited AUs or charge like AMEX Plat. This may not be considered a “cost” for many.
Any updates on when this can be purchased from Moroccan again foe $50? 🙂
I don't mind the increase in price if it means I get access to all products in the club at no cost, as opposed to the current model.
Often plenty room on the concourse and $850 buys a lot of third-rate buffet food.
Please get rid of the canned “Caribbean chicken” being served in MIA & JFK. The taco bar along with the pasta & meatballs @ LGA is very decent.
Too much demand, too little space leads to hefty price increases. Probably no longer worth it unless you are tied to a major hub. Most Clubs are packed at peak times anyway.
Don’t you already get free cocktails as long as it’s with well spirits? If they are saying you now get free premium booze, that would be worth something.
Honestly most of the admirals clubs are shockingly bad. Some are to the point of - I'd rather wait on the concourse. Charlotte is a great example. It is just disgusting at peak time. It's literally adverse selection for people who don't have access to the Amex lounge.
Even in the 'decent' lounges the food is just shocking. So I'm glad they're making that improvement at least.
While my budget won't like the increase for the City card, American had to do something to decrease the number of people accessing the Admiral's Clubs -- CLT is a disaster. I hope it brings better wine at no charge.
How about American makes the promised changes, then jacks up the price since people can actually see some value for what they're paying?
The changes to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard are distressing. My whole family carries companion cards so they can have Admiral's Club access, compliments of dear ol' Dad. So does my wife. The price increase may not be worth it....
Any indication as to whether this will impact pricing/access for Alaska Lounge+ members?
This is what happens when there is no international competition and limited us. Total bs. No reason to have executive and Amex platinum so bye bye exec. Card.
Especially considering that, if History is a good guide, the price increases and the ban of Authorized Users will stay but the improvements will slowly (or not so slowly) fade away.
Between this, the collapse of the Jetblue Northeast Alliance and American' decreasing presence in New ork, the time may have come to look at Delta with new eyes.
Don't complain, this is what Chinese mainland airlines serve on board in First Class.
How about US Carriers just give lounge access to their top tier members like everywhere else in the first, second and third world?
I've seen some significant abuse (20+ people from the same school trip) for that AU benefit. I can't say I'll miss that.
This seems to be a OW common move in the US - Alaska is making lounges harder to get into, AA is doing the same.
im tired of AAdmirals lounges. They are horrible. Looks like you are in 2003. There is no food, stale cheese cubes and horrible coffee machines that are never cleaned.
Paying $895 a year is the same as paying $75 a month. If you fly once or twice a month you are better off spending that money in a good coffee, drink and snack.
Good news. I would pay $79 for a day pass on a long layover. This looks like nicer lounges. Still thinking about picking up the Citi Aadvantage executive card soon.
The only potential downside is having access to both flagship lounge and admirals club on a trip. Kind of a waste. Now they will need to limit access more in flagship lounge. And waterfalls. We want rocks and waterfalls.
Yeah I was at the AC in DFW late at night around 9pm on July 2nd. That place was trashed. I was leaving on one of the last flights out of terminal D. I think 100 Chileans had just left for their flight to Santiago.
Re: overcrowding, Amex tried to solve that issue in its Centurion Lounges, and it didn’t work. Delta tried to solve that issue in its Sky Clubs, and it didn’t work. You really think it’ll work here?
So for my wife and me the cost to renew our cards will go from $450 to $780? That’s a pretty big increase regardless of their promised improvements. Is there a difference between an authorized user and a guest?
They just priced me out of my annual renewal. No amount of improvements can justify a 38% increase.
It will be made worse and exceptionally mediocre because it is run by American Airlines.
@frank - I feel the same way. Lounge food and drink offerings are so bad that, unless you travel weekly, you get better food and value in the terminal.
@Globalist - “and you can add up to ten Authorized Users” to your AA Exec World Elite card. The elimination of AU free access alone is huge.
My former employer (big legacy tech company) has a perk where all VP+ employees can charge in one airline club membership on the company’s dime.
For these folks, and those that get access via credit card, these changes are fine. But the poor shlep that hands over their own cash? Ugh…
US Airlines and there wannabe VIP Lounges! 😉
It starts with "FIRST Class that other REAL airlines would not even market as Premium Economy and cont. when US Travelers talk of "improvements", because they're offered complimentary Sparkling wine instead of Champagne and pay a huge amount for Scotch or Tequila instead of Champagne or Single Malt Scotch.
Let's just hope, that 1 day, flying will be meaningful in any way to REAL Frequent Travelers, as it used to be MANY years ago.
Even Leberkaes & Pretzels with fresh Potato salad at a Bavarian Lufthansa Lounge is better then that! (talking of sparklingwine & draft beer, as a BASIC, even in the cheapest Lounge, WITHOUT paying a "Premium", to be a "Member")
I can NOT think of ANY US Airline Lounge, that would be worth even 1$ per visit EXTRA.
Did you not see improvements are being made to the lounges ? What difference is $200 more for an annual membership or $20 for a day pass ? Am I the only person here who doesn’t get nor demand things for free and then go and complain about the quality.
“I got a complimentary upgrade to first class and my meal was terrible. “ “The admirals club is horrible. I paid $550 annual fee for this “
Well the lounges are being upgraded. This is great.
I assume you will continue to be able to bring in up to two guests as the primary card holder?
Higher fee - but we still don't know what the additional benefits will be - there has been speculation based on the private survey that many did.
Good. Every lounge is too crowded and it's not getting better. These lounges need to be exclusive, because part of what you're paying for is a quiet respite. I'm glad at least they are trying to give a little benefit to go along with the fee raise.
You can fly AF La Premiere in F, but you will pay a fortune over US airlines F. InterEuropean business class is a joke, just economy with a middle seat blocked. US airlines have determined the price businesses will pay and match the service accordingly. Unless you are a state airline and are subsidized, airlines deliver what customers are willing to pay.
The vast majority of premium cabins in the US are equal to economy. Some airlines don’t even offer IFE. You’re only referring to trunk routes eg LAX NYC.
If you travel in a premium cabin you also expect lounge access, however in the US you generally have to pay.
Of course you will need pay more for AF La Premiere as there are 4 seats and it hands down beats down any inferior US product.
Intra European flights do have NOT only blocked middle seats, look at Turkish Airlines, plus Lounge Access to an amazing Lounge in IST and general much better contract Lounges all over, compared to ANY US Airline and there paid Lounges!
Air France or other F Class product sill around on Interconti Flights are still what i would call FIRST, but N E V E R to be met by ANY US Carrier again, also incl. Lounge access.
So there is NOTHING anywhere in the US market and there "culture" (if such a thing exists, starting with serving FIRST Class drinks in plastic 😉 on the ground) that could compete with ANY airline in Business or even First Class anywhere else, not to forget a C Class flight, get's you Lounge access too, and NO co-pay. HUGE difference.
I can not think of ANY worse Business Lounge in Europe, compared to any US Lounge that you have to pay for, plus not even get Liquor, Sparkling wine and REAL food, other then Sandwiches, Nuts, dry salad and Chips or hotdogs. The Admirals Lounges i've been to, a joke as well as the Polaris Lounge compared to any regular Business Lounge of the bigger airlines in Europe, Asia, Middle East. . . . and those all don't charge extra, to get good GOOD or Premium Service. Pre-Departure flights on TK even give you real glass with fresh garnishing. Hard to beat!
Alaska lounge+ membership offers access to Admirals Clubs and it costs $550 for elite members, and $650 for non-elite members.
I've been using AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard, but if the annual fee's raised to $595, there's no reason for me to keep this card and loyalty to AAdvantage program.
AS offers better award redemption opportunities and lower cost of lounge membership.
Because then every Joe salesman who flies domestic OPM to present powerpoints in Idaho will have access?
Im glade and it about time i am glade i bought a life time membership in 1976 for 300 dollars.
I think AA is trying to reduce crowds but keep the same level of revenue by increasing the membership fee. I think mine will go up by $200 a year. Luckily I just renewed for another year last week.
I don't mind paying for improvements if they're real improvements. But paying for overly crowded clubs with long lines for dirty bathrooms is not an "improvement."
Since the admission was changed to Oneworld flights, only, the Admiral's Club is useless for me as a European. Haven't used my lifetime membership since then.
Amex tried and it didn’t work?
I’ve only been to the SFO Centurion lounge a half dozen times since Feb, but it seemed to work very well there.
I was genuinely shocked at how bad DCA lounge was … walked away thinking “I can’t believe I’m paying for THAT” (and that anybody would spend time there).
That AA would put this announcement into the world leading with the “improvements” spin is insulting … made worse by people passing it along that way.
“I've seen some significant abuse (20+ people from the same school trip) for that AU benefit.”
Please explain how the authorized user benefit allowed 20 people on a school trip into the lounge.
It looks like the AA club improvements will be rolled out gradually while changes in fees will be in two weeks for the new members. My current membership is valid through next May and I will be curious to see the advertised improvements in the coming months.
So you have to pay more than the Delta Lounges, to get Delta level food. Great thinking AA. Moves like this, is why I am now off the AA hamster wheel, and a free agent now!
As I understand it, a guest is free as long as they are with the paying member. An authorized user could, in the past, go in by themselves. No longer. This is getting ridiculous.
So authorized users, that you pay $175.00 for, do not get lounge access?.. why would you even do that with so many fee free credit cards available?
Is the primary card member able to bring any guests in?
Yes, this is quite a change. Especially since the current staff even has a hard time keeping the cubes of cheese refilled and the “buffet” kept clean.
What's the rational for it to take up to 6 months or more to upgrade their food offerings?
Ben DID NOT state authorized users will not receive Admirals Club access. Ben DID state authorized users will not receive FREE Admirals Club access. It is going to cost $175 for the first three authorized users and then $175 per authorized user after that. Perhaps Ben can clarify the language in the article.
The primary cardholder receives Admirals Club access AND partner lounge access. Authorized users DO receive Admirals Club access but do not receive partner lounge access. The primary cardholder AND authorized users can bring in a) two guests OR b) immediate family (significant other plus kids - no limit specified regarding kids).
Irrespective of what happens with over-crowding, AA understands it needs to up its game given what Delta is doing with its new/updated lounges. Ben has reported AA's newest lounges are an improvement. So, rather than offer snide comments, let's see what happens and then decide.
Could it be that the existing lounge is being remodeled or a newer lounge will replace it?
Lounges are *supposed* to be a premium experience. Over the years, as a means of attracting customers, all of the airlines made it easier and easier to gain access . . . cheap access. $59 day pass. And, they were no longer a premier experience. Indeed, many lounges became grazing pastures for the ill-mannered, inconsiderate, and unbathed Golden Horde. (This is not a reference to wealth or social class but conduct.) The airlines have learned the hard way that lounge access has led to dissatisfaction . . . in particular, among their premium customers. And, while the process will take a few years, the pendulum has just begun to swing the other way. Certainly, those who want lounge access on the cheap will be disaffected. But, if one wants to enjoy the view, one must climb the mountain.
Remarkable. It's rare that someone can effectively convey that they're an entitled, argumentative dotard in as few words as you have. Congrats!
A note for you: just because airline employees are polite to you when you're traveling in a premium cabin doesn't mean that they want to be. If you travel like you type, there's definitely some staff eye rolling and maybe even a little something "extra" in the food and beverages they serve you.
My wife just cancelled her Citibank card for two weeks main reasons. The cost of the card increasing and the loss of other privileges that were associated with it. Simply not worth the money!
Many years ago I was in the AA club and they were charging for food and drink like in a restaurant. I was put off by this. No lounge in the US will compare to some in the Middle East or Asia.
I have to sound off
American Airlines has proven they just cant do premium lounges to save their lives
American Express has at least done a somewhat fair job
But 79 dollars for a day pass to an AA club?WHat?
With their horrible product and lack luster nasty offerings laughable
Why on earth would I pay more than 200 bucks a year when they have no club in San Diego nobody in the lounge that works for the airline to assist etc
And the pathetic 3rd party that runs the lounge in San Diego is one cut above a homeless shelter with a view. Priority Pass insures that the club keeps a line out the door with all the free loaders as far as the eye can see loading up on rabbit food once inside as if it were the last supper
Chase is in the process of building an upscale club in San Diego so I will likely happily use that and find my annual fee for Reserve likely worth it.American has proven it cant do premium food and beverage offerings on the ground or in the air but rarely.Yet they charge like they are Singapore Airlines or Emirates.Truly sad
End of rant lol
I SWEAR so many comments would be not needed if PEOPLE ACTUALLY READ THE POSTS FIRST! EWR is 1 of 3 airports getting a completely refreshed AA Admirals Club, DCA-DEN-EWR.
I was in the DCA Term E (new) lounge last week. The serving counter space was designed - pre-enhanced food. Even in this lounge - not sure where they are going to put the new, additional food offerings. Current space is used up by the limited food offerings now.
I suspect they may need to remodel the counter in the new DCA Term E lounge.
AA had a lounge in SAN - but they closed it and use a third party lounge. Lounge at IAD was completely closed some years back. BA expanded to use the vacated space.
I'm all for raising lounge prices. I'd pay double for United Club if they could get it back to 2017 levels crowding. (Pathetic, I know, but there you go.)