That passport checkpoint can indeed take an age. Even if multiple booths happen to be open, it is not unknown for one of them to close summarily in the face of the queue snaking up to it!

The logjams seem to occur when there is a long-haul flight departing from the non-Schengen C gates at the same time. So I would check the website the night before to see if that is the case and factor in some more time if it is. PM me if you want info. on what to look out for/which airlines use the pier in question.

Regarding the security fast track: I'd be a bit cautious about relying on the AA card. The minders can be a bit "sceptical" if the boarding pass doesn't automatically give access, so it could get tricky given that the AA cards aren't on the official permitted list. But my hunch is that they're more likely to let you through than not.