Originally Posted by
Frequentflight
I think the improvement AAs done to both flagship and Admirals lounges are worth the increase in price. Better food, more options and nicer amenities than UA/DL
I disagree with the "better food" comment as to the AC. We were just in the T5 AC at LAX and the breakast offerings have been cut back. In little ways, such as no more raisin/craisins for the oatmeal, no more bananas. There was something else, but it was so little that I can't remember it.
All AA (metal) flights depart out of Terminal 8 in JFK. T8 has two sections: low numbers (called B) and high numbers (called C); the lounge in B is now FL only, the one in C is a regular AC. While it requires some walking and negotiating moving walkways (not always working), you can still access the AC (near gate 42) even when departing from gate 5 (in B).
OP was talking about GATE 5, not Terminal 5. The pathetic AC that remained after the creation of the Flagship lounge wasn't worth stopping in for, IMO, but it's very annoying (to me, anyway) that OWE on other airlines have access to the FL while EXP do not.
DH and I argued this year about whether or not to chase EXP for 2019. I was against and "lost" the argument (we will both make it). I think I'm going to "win" this year. Our spending will go down as we inch toward retirement, so my Barclaycard will be shredded when it expires (he got his this year so has a year's grace period). And we will likely cancel one of two Citi cards and just have a member + authorized used on the other.