Review: American Admirals Club Miami Airport

So ugly. All of the new AA lounges look like something a cliche millennial vomited up.

@John Gray Ok boomer.

I believe that chart of membership costs is out of date. It's not hundreds of dollars more at nearly every tier. For example, the new household rate for a non-elite member is now $1250, not $925. Or, best case scenario, renewing individual at ExecPlat status is now $500, not $400.

The new food selections are ... gross. Nationally. Rusted lettuce, lukewarm or frozen chicken, picked over toppings, and Mac and cheese that’s never made correctly. #bringbackthecheesecubesandolives

*now hundreds

Last I remember, 2015-ish, the lounge was crowded, noisy and pretty messy. Old food plates around, stuff on the floor, etc...

I dont really remember showers either. I guess I would still prefer the Flagship lounge, if given a choice...

@John Gray A cliche millennial in Dallas.

I am an AA EXP and I have yet to spring for an Admirals Club membership. Either Centurion or no lounge for me. All the designs are so ugly, including and especially the Flagship Lounges. These "new" lounges are opening and are 10 years behind, design-wise.

Last time at MIA, as we were entering the club we were practically knocked down by some AA employee escorting a super VIP. It was noteworthy that although there was strong physical contact to my wife and she was obviously using a sling, no apology was offered by the employee, even when I called for security. The VIP, a foreigner, offered his unnecessary apology when it happened.
I do understand priority treatment especially based on class of travel BUT it should never endanger anybody else.
By the way,family and I were in Israel, at a western Hotel and the elevator door opened with a major government persona inside. Security tried to close the door but this Government bigwig recognized us as being in the hotel for days and chose to let us in.

I'm a pretty frequent guest. The bathrooms and seating are about as you described. The food, however, is generally not so great. The salads are an improvement recently, no question. The mac and cheese is, well, basically inedible. Watery and whatever they call cheese is not cheese. I would suggest American find a way, for the prices that they charge, to offer good food. It feels as though someone at America West went to the discount grocery and made cheap stuff.

Also, go in the evening...it's much more crowded.

One last thing about American - the "you don't have to show your picture" is less convenient AFTER a flight than prior to a flight. After the flight, the boarding pass no longer works for scanning into the clubs.

I had a lounge membership for years but gave it up even though it'd be covered by my company. I very rarely get to the airport early enough to utilize it, either in my home airport (CLT) or current weekly destination (FLL/MIA). It was nice when I connected a decent amount, but once I realized I hadn't been to a lounge in almost a year I didn't bother renewing a couple years ago.

@Ben - I'm surprised you regularly get to the airport early enough in your home airport to use the lounge. I get if you're reviewing the lounges like today or if you're travelling as sometimes you don't have another place to go with your stuff but the airport, but you have control over when you get to your home airport.

I remember 20years ago the kids area was substantially more fun looking

@Andrew - Bizarre statement. "Centurion or nothing." Not sure if you're going for street cred or trying to sound cool, but there just aren't very many Centurion lounges unless you're going to the same couple airports and that's it. Also they're horrendously overcrowded. They honestly are no longer better than the airlines lounges; often, they are worse.

Thanks, your articles are always so timely.

I'll soon be flying on AA domestic from Miami to Phoenix in "first" class. Will that grant me access to the club? If not, which clubs can I access and which is the best (I also have platinum AMEX for the centurion access)? thanks

Ben, thanks for the review but out of curiosity why would you ever choose to use the admirals club over the flagship lounge?

If you have OneWorld emerald through BA or most of the other programs, you can access the flagship lounges even for domestic flights, which is a substantial benefit to getting to emerald via an international carrier rather than AA itself...

I personally love what they have done with both the D15 and D30 lounges. I tend to visit the D30 more, but have a slight preference for the D15 one. Regardless, they are, as you said, quiet, relaxed, peaceful, and a good place to be. Even with the expanded Centurion I still visit the Admiral Club more often as it's quiet and comfortable. AA has really done a great job with these lounges and it's a pleasure to visit them. I wish the planes were as nice as these lounges 🙂

One note of the staff - Recently we were on a delayed flight. At the normal closing time, they asked us what flight we were on. Knowing the flight was delayed until after midnight, they kept the lounge open for just a few people on different delayed flights. In all it was probably 10 or 12 people total, but for them to keep the place open with bar open is really nice. They offered at least another half hour, but was not rushed at all to close. We didn't abuse that and thanked everyone in there upon leaving about half hour after normal closing time. I haven't seen that kind of service in a long time.

I like the new renovations as a whole. Always plenty of power outlets and good quality seating. My criticisms would be that there aren't enough work stations in general, though some lounges are better than others, and the food situation. I like that they have tried some new things, but I think it's best to do that in ADDITION to the classic cheese cubes, veggies, etc. The way it is now, if you don't want a salad, you're SOL in some cases. I also really like the new Coke machines. I always felt bad going up to a busy bar just to ask for a soda or something non-alcoholic.

This is a premium lounge and they charge for drinks and food?

There actually three Admirals Clubs at MIA. There is one in Concourse E (which uses to be the “OneWorld Premium Lounge”) currently closed for a redesign.

I was on an evening BA flight and there were several other long haul flights around the same time. The only way to exit the lounge was via a small elevator. Consequently a huge line developed for the elevator and tempers started to fray. The lounge staff mostly hid rather than reassure passengers that their flights would not depart without them.

I love this lounge. HUGE. The AMEX lounge is super cluster """" ed . Too many people.
How did you get the photos, though, without people?

"Whenever Ben isn't there." I support that wholeheartedly

Hey there, thanks for the informative review. Could you clarify if there are basic alcoholic drinks availble without extra charges? Thank you.

Are the showers open in the Admirals Club?

I purchased a day pass and this was the best decision ever. Having a business travel, with a conection of 12 hours. I was there at 5am (openning) and everythinf was more than expected, beautiful and clean showers; great food. Thanks American Airlines!