American Express Membership Rewards - AAdmirals Club has Free WiFi...but not for AMEX Platinum/Centurion

A new benefit in the AAdmirals Clubs is the free WiFi. But the access page requires you enter your AAdvantage number (which is also a paying AAdmiral's Club membership number). As AMEX members, we don't have an actual membership, so there is no way to get the free WiFi through this process.

There is also an option to enter a PIN as a day pass holder because the club agents have a stack of cards with PINs that are good for one day. But the agent at the reception desk said that they cannot give PINs to anyone except day pass holders. She said that several AMEX members have asked for the free WiFi, but they aren't permitted to give it.

I realize the free WiFi is a new perk that began after AMEX added AA to the airline club list, but it'd be nice if the AMEX and AA would work this out. I see no reason that a process couldn't be put in place to allow the club agents to give out these cards to enable guests to use the WiFi.

I see no reason that a process couldn't be put in place to allow the club agents to give out these cards to enable guests to use the WiFi.

This is an incentive to encourage people to buy an Admirals Club membership or daypass. American Express does not pay the full cost of a daypass for cardholders who use the lounge.

Who in their right mind would buy an AAdmirals Club membership when they get in for free with AMEX? I don't see how the lack of a free WiFi connection would be enough to push someone over the edge. Aside from that and the access policy that allows use of the club even when not traveling on AA, I can't see any other benefit to being a full member.

Well and just what city was this in?? I don"t beleave this is policy but maybe someone else can give an answer. I don't know much about stateside clubs in in NRT everyone gets free wi-fi the paswords are sitting on the counter for anyone to take.

Who in their right mind would buy an AAdmirals Club membership when they get in for free with AMEX?

Yes, that's the problem. AA needs to enhance membership to make the difference worthwhile. In addition to access without flying AA and free T-Mobile broadband at domestic locations, reciprocal access to Quantas lounges, a Regus membership, and some misc discounts are points of differentation. (American Express happens to also offer Regus membership with Business Plantinum and Centurion, but not with personal cards.)

I don"t beleave this is policy but maybe someone else can give an answer.

That absolutely is the policy. It's very clearly spelled out on the AA web page:

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/urls/admiralsclubwifi.jsp

My guess is that it has something to do with the business arrangement with T-Mobile. I think that unlike other airlines that offer complimentary WiFi in their clubs (like CO) and paid for the build-out themselves, AA inked a deal with T-Mobile years ago and T-Mobile paid for the build-out in return for the access fee revenue. This was fine when the status quo was "no WiFi" at the other clubs, but now that it's an expected amenity, AA had to re-negotiate. I suspect that the current arrangement is a concession that allows T-Mobile to still generate some revenue directly, and probably results in it being less costly for AA to provide it to members.

Delta Crown Room Clubs do the same thing... Wifi is free for CRC members, but not for anyone else (AMEX plat cardholders, daypass, DL Platinum Medallions).

Delta Crown Room Clubs do the same thing... Wifi is free for CRC members, but not for anyone else (AMEX plat cardholders, daypass, DL Platinum Medallions).

You skipped the DL BizElite pax in your list of those excluded, which is surprising since those folks just paid a lot of $$$ and/or points for a ticket.

I wouldn't expect AmEx to push for this to change. They haven't with DL and the situation has been the way it is for much longer there.

Who in their right mind would buy an AAdmirals Club membership when they get in for free with AMEX? I don't see how the lack of a free WiFi connection would be enough to push someone over the edge. Aside from that and the access policy that allows use of the club even when not traveling on AA, I can't see any other benefit to being a full member.
For me, $250 for an AAdmirals Club membership is better than $450 for a platinum card. I was debating a 25,000 point sign-up bonus against the free wifi when I renewed this year, and free wifi won.

If you're on the road that much, a T-Mobile HotSpot account is pretty worthwhile, and if you've already got T-Mo cell I think it's as cheap as $20/mo, and they're all over the place:

There are 8,926 T-Mobile HotSpot locations in the U.S. T-Mobile HotSpot subscription customers can stay connected in 844 additional U.S. roaming locations and in thousands of locations worldwide.
... which includes every club our AmExes get us into that don't provide free WiFi (AA/DL and I think CO). I'm writing this from a Starbucks now (beats the hell outta my stuffy office!) and VPNed into my client in Seattle, too.

... which includes every club our AmExes get us into that don't provide free WiFi (AA/DL and I think CO).

CO is free at all PC locations, as is NW. AA/DL charge via T-Mo. UA has T-Mo as well, though they are not part of the AmEx deal.

It should also be noted that ATT is taking over the Starbucks contract in the very near future, so the number of T-Mo spots will decrease rather substantially. They are supposedly keeping some deal for T-Mo customers at the 'bux for a while, but details are scarce right now.

My Admirals Club membership expires this month and my renewal rate is $400 per my letter from AA. Last month while using an Admirals Club lounge in St Louis I asked the front desk what the difference is between my membership and Amex Plat usage, as I was/am contemplating whether to renew or not since I have a plat card. All that she said was different was lack of free internet and lack of their automatic re-routing of canceled flights [didn't understand that one].

But that internet access sure did come in handy during that lounge visit as my connecting flight became delayed and I needed to know what was going on in the outside world; via the internet.

Leaning towards not renewing Admirals Club membership but not 100% sure; just 89% sure.

A new benefit in the AAdmirals Clubs is the free WiFi. But the access page requires you enter your AAdvantage number (which is also a paying AAdmiral's Club membership number). As AMEX members, we don't have an actual membership, so there is no way to get the free WiFi through this process.


So this leaves you in the same situation as all those AA and Oneworld premium class travellers or elite program members who haven't paid for an Admirals Club membership. They could all use the lounge but wouldn't be able to use the WiFi. Seems fair enough to me.

i was able to log in and get internet access yesterday, but that could be because i am a former admirals club member and they may not have culled my aadvantage number from the lists yet.

So this leaves you in the same situation as all those AA and Oneworld premium class travellers or elite program members who haven't paid for an Admirals Club membership. They could all use the lounge but wouldn't be able to use the WiFi. Seems fair enough to me.

I don't think it's fair at all. If you are admitted to the club, via any method, then you should be able to enjoy all the perks. It's like telling non AAdmirals club/day pass guests that they still have to use the bathroom out in the concourse.

WiFi is becoming a commodity these days. And, with more people having a 3G phone or WAN card on their favorite provider (Verizon EVDO, AT&T UMTS, etc.), WiFi hotspots will become less relevant anyway.

I think this is a reasonable policy on AA's part. Paid membership comes with more benefits than a partner deal. Don't most airlines treat their own elites better than the elites from partner airlines?

Now, AA's policy of not only not having free alcohol in the clubs, but charging premium prices, that's a bad policy.

3G phone or WAN card

But that internet access sure did come in handy during that lounge visit as my connecting flight became delayed and I needed to know what was going on in the outside world; via the internet.

Was just going to say. You could also spend that $400 on an IPhone and free yourself from AA's access restrictions. Yes, I know EDGE is slow in some airports, but it's (a lot) better than nothing.

You could also spend that $400 on an IPhone
Hell, every (American) wireless carrier today has a USB/PCMCIA wireless data card, since you mention it. (I'd love to go with Sprint's service, but I don't want to get roped into a 2-yr contract with them.)

If you just want to check flight status almost any data-capable device will do; no need to spend extra for the iPhone when so many other devices have browsers on them. And almost all the data phones can be tethered to a laptop, too, but you've gotta be careful about how your contract deals with that.

Many workarounds, but it would still be better if we always got free WiFi everywhere.

Was just going to say. You could also spend that $400 on an IPhone and free yourself from AA's access restrictions. Yes, I know EDGE is slow in some airports, but it's (a lot) better than nothing.
You can spent a ton less on a phone with true 3G data capabilities. The iPhone is great, but I won't touch one until they release an upgraded version with the 3G capabilities (said to be this year sometime). Until then I will be fine with a Treo 750(3G/Win Mobile 6.0) for PDA based browsing and a Verizon EVDO for laptop net access.

blackberry connected via bluetooth works too.

blackberry connected via bluetooth works too.

Note that Sprint's Blackberry service charge includes tethered access (usually $30 extra by itself). Only the 8830 (maybe the new new Pearl?) can be tethered via bluetooth. The 8703e has to be tethered with a USB cable.

When did AMEX PLAT get free admiral's club? I canceled my PLAT 3 years ago because the SPG was giving me better return, at the time it didn't have Admiral's club. Crap, I just renewed my admiral's club for $250, I could've just got the freaking AMEX PLAT again.

We just got it last year. (I wanna say May 1st, but I'm sure Dennis will chime in here and correct me forthwith. :))

We just got it last year. (I wanna say May 1st, but I'm sure Dennis will chime in here and correct me forthwith. :))

Is it still $300 per year for AMEX PLT?

Not that it matters for me, but I still have my old AMEX PLT which hasn't expired yet (I think, it's at home). Is it just visual representation or do they swipe the card?

The annual fee for a personal Platinum card is $450. Business Platinum is $395, with an announced increase to $450 although the effective date of the increase is vague.

The Admirals Club access was anounced in August 2007...

http://biz.yahoo.com/wallstreet/070814/sb118705868230396915_id.html?.v=1

Is it still $300 per year for AMEX PLT?
Heh. Oh naive one, with great benefit comes great prices! Nah, it's up to $450 now. Oh, and they do swipe for validity (AmEx pays the partner airline a couple of sheckles for each visit, which is probably why you have to have a valid ticket to be able to use this).

Heh. Oh naive one, with great benefit comes great prices! Nah, it's up to $450 now. Oh, and they do swipe for validity (AmEx pays the partner airline a couple of sheckles for each visit, which is probably why you have to have a valid ticket to be able to use this).

Damn at that price it's still not worth it. With my renewal costing $250 there's still $200 on the table. I already have SPG Gold and Hilton Gold due to my SPG/HH spending, I get better rewards using the respective cards and I already have Hertz Gold; although National Emerald would be nice, I can't value that for much. The rest of the stuff just doesn't appeal to me.

Here's some vanity speaking, but my SPG AMEX is expiring and they're forcing me to switch to that fischer price red crap card which is reason enough for me to contemplate the switch; it just looks like a card they give out on college campuses. I dig the blue stars card. When AMEX sent it to me I called them and told them it looked like a joke and I wanted a new one sent out (this was two years ago maybe or whenever it came out). First, it had the wrong member since date on it and it looked like a joke. The account representative said they've received many complaints and maybe they'll change the appearance of it, however, that's failed to arrive. Anyways, AMEX told me today I'll have my new card by the 26th of next month, just in time for my stars one to expire. Has anyone found a way to secure the old design?

Hey- I like my SPG's look!

Hey- I like my SPG's look!

The red one? :confused::confused::confused::confused:

Did you ever have the blue starry one?

Red's all I've ever had. Got it last year after being recommended here on FT.

Red's all I've ever had. Got it last year after being recommended here on FT.

http://www.credit-cards-applications-center.com/images/cardbin/starwood_preferred_guest_amex.gif

It looks much better in person.

Damn at that price it's still not worth it. With my renewal costing $250 there's still $200 on the table.
They've added a lot more features, like two-for-one domestic flights.

Heh. Oh naive one, with great benefit comes great prices! Nah, it's up to $450 now. Oh, and they do swipe for validity (AmEx pays the partner airline a couple of sheckles for each visit, which is probably why you have to have a valid ticket to be able to use this).

I think they just swipe to record the information, I don't believe they actually verify the card is valid (at least that's how I've noticed on DL). But since BrianV already has an Admirals Club membership, he could try using his non-expired yet invalid Amex Plat to see if he can still get in, and if he can't he can just use his AC membership card instead.

I'm assuming one can cancel their AC membership and get a prorated refund, right?

I think they just swipe to record the information, I don't believe they actually verify the card is valid (at least that's how I've noticed on DL).

What are you basing this on? They absolutely charge AX for each entrance, and there is no way AX would pay if the card were no longer valid. I would not expect to get in if the card is not longer active.

What are you basing this on? They absolutely charge AX for each entrance, and there is no way AX would pay if the card were no longer valid. I would not expect to get in if the card is not longer active.

I'm not saying that Amex is not being charged, rather that it happens all at once with all the recorded data and not on the spot at admission to the club. From what I've seen in the CRCs, the attendant looks at the card to verify its Plat/Cent, then they simply swipe and let you go on your way. Never do thy look at the screen for an approval or anything, nor do I believe that their system is set up to do a test charge to verify card validity.

My understanding of how the system works is that the numbers are all recorded and Amex is billed for those visits in a batch, whether it be end of day, end of week, month, quarter, etc... Amex might be verifying card #s when they are submitted in that batch, and I'm sure an inactive card will come up in their system as being used inappropriately, but it will be after the visit has taken place. If the same inactive card is used repeatedly, Amex might take further action such as contacting the (former) cardholder or sending out a blacklist if it's used at the same club. I don't know if Amex will care to do anything for the occasional visit, but they might refuse to pay and the respective airline/club will end up eating the cost.

I'm not advocating that anybody do this; it depends on an individual's personal morals and ethical code. A risk that one entails by doing this is that Amex might decide to reactivate their platinum account or charge the platinum annual fee if the former cardholder is still presenting the card for benefits. Amex might look at it as "well brosnan6 is still using his old card for platinum benefits even though he downgraded to [insert card type here], so we are allowed to charge him the platinum annual fee instead of whatever he's currently paying." I am not a lawyer so I don't know if this is allowed on Amexes part, but it certainly seems like something that could happen

I'm not saying that Amex is not being charged, rather that it happens all at once with all the recorded data and not on the spot at admission to the club. From what I've seen in the CRCs, the attendant looks at the card to verify its Plat/Cent, then they simply swipe and let you go on your way. Never do thy look at the screen for an approval or anything, nor do I believe that their system is set up to do a test charge to verify card validity.


I have several times had them re-swipe the card when it didn't go correctly (my mag strip is wearing out) and they always noticed that it didn't work and swiped until successful. I don't know what the screen shows, but if the card doesn't swipe successfully you won't get in. If all the card swipe shows is a name, number and expiration date then it might work, with the rejection happening in the batch process later on, but it still is pretty sketchy.

I have several times had them re-swipe the card when it didn't go correctly (my mag strip is wearing out) and they always noticed that it didn't work and swiped until successful. I don't know what the screen shows, but if the card doesn't swipe successfully you won't get in. If all the card swipe shows is a name, number and expiration date then it might work, with the rejection happening in the batch process later on, but it still is pretty sketchy.

That's what I'm saying. Only the swipe needs to be recorded properly, which would explain why your card had to be swiped several times due to a bad mag strip. I'm sure the agents see if the swipe was recorded properly or not, but I'm betting that that's about all they see.

This is a big YMMV for anybody that tries to do this. I've got a legit card account so I have nothing to worry about, nor would I do this myself if I had a non-expired inactive card, but I'm just throwing the idea out there for those who don't mind the risk with the $450 potential "savings."

If I am flying internationally through Miami and am a Platinum AA member (i.e. my status and the fact that I am flying internationally got me in) do I qualify for internet access?

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/urls/admiralsclubwifi.jsp

Admirals Club members may access the complimentary Wi-Fi by using their AAdvantage number....

One-Day Pass guests may access the complimentary Wi-Fi the day of their visit only by using a unique pin number provided upon check-in...

All other guests may purchase an Admirals Club membership, One-Day Pass or a subscription to T-Mobile®HotSpot

Admirals Club members receive free wifi in Qantas Clubs.
Qantas Club members do not receive free wifi in Admirals Clubs.

Annoying to say the least. This includes the 'joint' lounge in T4 at LAX (which is not treated as joint but rather AA when it comes to wifi)

At the very least they could add AA Elites to the list of people who can use the wifi for free and I really think QF Club members as well for balance.

Don't know why they needed an external provider in the first place. Seems NW/CO could work it out fine without anyone else.

Moderator Hat On

Guys, let's try to stay on topic here. This thread is about the difference between AMEX Plat benefits in the Admirals Club, as opposed to the actual value of an Admirals Club membership. There are plenty of threads in the AA forum on that topic. :)

Moderator Hat Off

Last week, I was able to put my AAdvantage number in the browser window, I was given free internet access in both the DFW and ORD clubs. (Not an AC member).

Annoying to say the least. This includes the 'joint' lounge in T4 at LAX (which is not treated as joint but rather AA when it comes to wifi)

At the very least they could add AA Elites to the list of people who can use the wifi for free and I really think QF Club members as well for balance.


If you have status that let's you into the Flagship joint lounge in T4 they'll give you a TMobile day pass. Was able to get passes both times I was in that lounge last month. I realise Flagship <> AC.

Cheers
AC

If you have status that let's you into the Flagship joint lounge in T4 they'll give you a TMobile day pass. Was able to get passes both times I was in that lounge last month. I realise Flagship <> AC.

Cheers
AC

I can confirm that as a no status Qantas Club member in the T4 AC traveling Y there are no free TMobile day passes :(