JDiver

2RETIREDTRAVELERS

We have a long layover in MIA in route to UIO with AA (flying awards tickets coach) next month. We have a couple of Admirals Club passes or we can use our free Lounge club visits (the free ones with ink bold). Which lounge would you AA travel experts recommend? Thanks for you time!

mvoight

The quieter one..
.........please let me know when you find it, I keep hitting the ones with the whining kids and loud cell phone users.

HNL

If you have a long layover visit both.

Or just visit the one closest to your departure gate.

DataPlumber

I prefer the D37 AC by far.

That club does have a quiet area in the back by the bubble over the concourse, and Yuengling on tap!

gegarrenton

D30 .

JJeffrey

If your layover is that long, then yea, as HNL mentioned above, just check out both and see which looks better.

boerne

This is now my favorite (in E) but I suspect from your post your awards tickets might not get you in. And generally speaking I would rather poke my eye out than fly thru MIA. But sometimes I have to do both.

http://m.oneworld.com/airportlounges...mi&airport=MIA

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

AC members can use the E Lounge if their flight is departing from E. One day passes and entry from flying J I'm not sure about.

boerne

flying J to and from Lima in April, not from the E concourse, four of us were able to use this lounge (2 EXP, 2 No status). It is a hike from D, but exercise is good for you. As I recall, our friends got in on their BPs, not by hitching a ride with us.

Seat 1F

+1.
I prefer this lounge to the one at D15....which always seems over-crowded.

DanMiami

D30 is the larger of the two lounges and will have more places for you to hide away from the louder folks... "The Quiet Way" seems to be my favorite area as it tends to be kind of hidden away and overlooks the terminal main drag, so people watching is a plus. People are not supposed to use cell phones in that zone, but there's always a character that messes this up.

Also, if you are going to be traveling out of a gate far from D30, check with the upstairs desk and see if they will help you out and reserve a golf cart to get you there when you are ready to go. They are sometimes reluctant since they installed the train in that terminal and often say that it is only for disabled customers. However, if you flag one down in the terminal and ask them to take you to the AC, they oblige 99% of the time.

Seat 1F

I agree. My favourite area is the business center. I always find an empty cubicle to set up my laptop. Half the time, there are only 2-3 people in the area so it is normally pretty quiet and private......and there is the added bonus that there is a small coffee station set-up in the area. Great location especially in the AM. Main downside is that it is on the totally opposite end of the lounge from the bar.....so if one plans to drink alcoholic libations, it is a bit of a walk.

pricesquire

I've made a concerted effort to switch from DL (DL captive here--JAX) to AA.

This is my first experience flying AA in over 10 years. Definitely first Admiral Club experience, maybe ever.

I have all sorts of AA credit cards, except the one that comps Admiral access.

Which leads me to my first observation: (1) A tad surprised AA doesn't discount the standard $50/day pass rate to $25 like DL does for those who hold a Citi AA card.

I walked in and asked for a tour, being that I'd need to shell $50 to see the place. The woman at the front refused, citing "it's the busiest time of day, come back in an hour or two" (meanwhile, there wasn't a single person checking in for the 8 minutes I stood by)...after talking to another desk agent, I ended up giving them $99 for a 30-day pass and hoping for the best (going to use the Iberia lounge in MAD on Monday and another Admiral Club in MIA on Monday night)

(2) The lounge is crowded, but on par with a DL lounge. Not enough seats, as many people were standing around/walking around looking for a place to sit.

(3) Decent selection of comped beer and wine. Didn't inquire about liquor. I know DL gives complementary shelf liquor with an option to buy higher end items.

As for the food....

(4) I'm the first to call out DL on their options. I'd die happy if I knew I'd never need to see Biscoff cookies and dried out celery/carrots again. But...common AA! The only option I can see in this place is an assortment of cookies, some pretzels, and 2 apples.

I do like that this place doesn't feel like a madhouse. DL clubs are so intense inside, I'd rather pay to be outside! I do feel like I'm in a calm, far removed from the madness of MIA.

Lastly, (5): the WiFi here is amazing. That being said, the desk agent (multiple, actually) kept telling me "use the free ATT wifi!"...anyways, it was slow to the point of not working, and I finally got good WiFi on the "Admiral Club" network.

Is this place worth $50? No.

Am I happy I'm in here? Yes.

I guess AA banks on that sentiment with anyone not traveling elite/anyone without comp access.

EDIT: I'm at the Admiral Club near gate D39.

stheller

You would probably find it to be worth $50 if you ran into problems with your flight, as the AAngels can do pretty much anything that the highest-level customer service people at AA can do.