Yeah, the Citi Exec AA lounge card really is the way to go if you're renewing after Feb. 1st.....even with the annual fee increase to $595, it's still cheaper than $650 and comes with an automatic rental car (Avis) credit of $120 year so with that credit alone you're looking at $470 yr. compared to $650 yr. with the Alaska Lounge Plus membership. My plan was to cancel my AA card before the $595 fee kicked in and get an AS Lounge + membership for $550 which I'll probably still do and then the following year go back to AA card and hopefully pick-up some bonus AA miles along the way.