What time were you flying?
There is priority security at the A gates most of the day (last I checked).
Also, showing up 30 min before departure in front of the TSA Circus is just asking for trouble at any airport. Your EXP status at AA might be helping you at your primary airport, but at others it might not be sufficient time. Just ask elites at Denver on a busy day. Can take 45 minutes to get through security and onto the train to get to the gates. And that's with "elite" security lanes. I miss CLEAR.