AC membership vs Amex Plat
Dec 22, 2007, 7:56 am
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: san francisco, ca 94123
Posts: 200
AC membership vs Amex Plat
Hi All,
Current EXP and AC member. Honestly, Im not really that impressed with the facilities with most admirals clubs when compared to many intl airlines. Particularly in the area of food and beverages. However, my favorite part about the AC are the AC Angels. They absolutely make my entire travel experience SOOOO much easier. I am however considering thinking about getting a Amex Plat instead of renewing with the AC. Mostly because it still gets me AC access but I also get the other Amex Plat services.
As an EXP and AMEX Plat , could I still expect the same level of service with the Angels as an EXP and AC member. If not, I would much rather renew with the AC.
Thanks!
Current EXP and AC member. Honestly, Im not really that impressed with the facilities with most admirals clubs when compared to many intl airlines. Particularly in the area of food and beverages. However, my favorite part about the AC are the AC Angels. They absolutely make my entire travel experience SOOOO much easier. I am however considering thinking about getting a Amex Plat instead of renewing with the AC. Mostly because it still gets me AC access but I also get the other Amex Plat services.
As an EXP and AMEX Plat , could I still expect the same level of service with the Angels as an EXP and AC member. If not, I would much rather renew with the AC.
Thanks!
Dec 22, 2007, 8:39 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
I have been both
and find the level of service to be the same.
Two points are:
1. You have to be flying AA to get in to the AC with the Amex Plat card. You can't just go and use it if you're flying another airline, or meeting someone at the airport.
2. AC members get free access to T-Mo hotspot in the USA, Amex people don't.
Aside from those two things, it's a toss up.
Two points are:
1. You have to be flying AA to get in to the AC with the Amex Plat card. You can't just go and use it if you're flying another airline, or meeting someone at the airport.
2. AC members get free access to T-Mo hotspot in the USA, Amex people don't.
Aside from those two things, it's a toss up.
Dec 22, 2007, 9:22 am
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: AA EXP, DL Plat, US Chairman, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IC RA
Posts: 1,436
Depending on your town, I would add one thing: protection. When I'm flying out of the smaller airports and encounter irregular ops, the AAngels will snag seats on another flight and call me to let me know about the change/give me flight options - sometimes even before a delay/cancellation is posted.
They cannot provide this service to Amex Platinum cardholders since they don't know who we are until we arrive.
They cannot provide this service to Amex Platinum cardholders since they don't know who we are until we arrive.
Dec 22, 2007, 9:22 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
Programs: AA-exp, 4MM, MR-plat, Hertz-PC, WN-CP
Posts: 423
I have ac membership and amex plat. I have needed help via telephone from the club on a couple of occasions. The amex plat wouldn't have helped me in those circumstances. I know it is double paying (spouse card and membership too) but it covers all situations which I find valuable so I am staying with both.
Dec 22, 2007, 9:59 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,526
and find the level of service to be the same.
Two points are:
1. You have to be flying AA to get in to the AC with the Amex Plat card. You can't just go and use it if you're flying another airline, or meeting someone at the airport.
2. AC members get free access to T-Mo hotspot in the USA, Amex people don't.
Aside from those two things, it's a toss up.
Two points are:
1. You have to be flying AA to get in to the AC with the Amex Plat card. You can't just go and use it if you're flying another airline, or meeting someone at the airport.
2. AC members get free access to T-Mo hotspot in the USA, Amex people don't.
Aside from those two things, it's a toss up.
However, walking into the club and having the AAngel hand me a boarding pass to fix a problem I thought was already fixed...just because she knew I was flying and figured I'd be into the club...priceless.
Cheers.
Dec 22, 2007, 10:03 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
yes, absolutely!
All it takes is once a year to need the help of the AAngels and your Admiral's Club membership pays for itself.
Dec 22, 2007, 12:04 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
No, AC membership in times of irregular ops is the key here. The AC tracks its members who are flying on a given day and the AAngels do their best to proactively assist those flyers. No such record if you only access using AMEX.
Dec 22, 2007, 12:34 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,137
I keep seeing posts saying that the AC tracks its members and fixes problems for us before we arrive at airport (by calling us or handing fixed boarding pass when we arrive). This has not been my experience, AFAIK. Is it really only a regular experience for those of you who fly out of smaller ACs or if out of a large AC, have been a member so many years that you are known there. Although I renewed my AC membership this year, it seems to me that people like me, PLAT AMEX may be the better bet. Most of my flights are through JFK, LGA, and ORD.
Dec 22, 2007, 12:42 pm
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin TX
Programs: AA PLT, ICH Plat
Posts: 1,965
I keep seeing posts saying that the AC tracks its members and fixes problems for us before we arrive at airport (by calling us or handing fixed boarding pass when we arrive). This has not been my experience, AFAIK. Is it really only a regular experience for those of you who fly out of smaller ACs or if out of a large AC, have been a member so many years that you are known there. Although I renewed my AC membership this year, it seems to me that people like me, PLAT AMEX may be the better bet. Most of my flights are through JFK, LGA, and ORD.
Dec 22, 2007, 12:43 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
Really it does happen. Most especially now with cell phones. We can be found so much more easily. Last summer I was languishing at an AA gate in ORD watching the delay of my flight grow and grow, when I got a telephone call that I had been booked on another flight to my destination.
I wasn't even in the CLUB! I was traveling with non-members and was waiting out at a gate with them.
I guess the AAngels knew I was in the airport as I had checked a bag.
Or perhaps they were just watching the members' flights.
What is it worth? To me, a great deal to have that membership.
I wasn't even in the CLUB! I was traveling with non-members and was waiting out at a gate with them.
I guess the AAngels knew I was in the airport as I had checked a bag.
Or perhaps they were just watching the members' flights.
What is it worth? To me, a great deal to have that membership.
Dec 22, 2007, 1:06 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
Dec 22, 2007, 1:13 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,137
Ok, follow-up question, is it your HOME AC that's calling you and tracking you? Because I guess my HOME AC must not love me 
-- I'm just a faceless, nameless member to them.Not that the AAngels aren't great when I go to them with an IRROPs problem (thank you AAngels everywhere), it's just that they don't / haven't searched me out to help.
Dec 22, 2007, 3:09 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SJC/VCE
Programs: AA PLT (2.9+ MM), HH GLD, Hyatt Diamond, SPG PLT
Posts: 10,161
It is my home AC when I'm flying to/from SJC. If I'm flying out of SFO, this happens less often. However, on a couple of occasions when it has looked liked weather would be a problem at SFO, I've called the AC there and the AAngels then keep me posted/keep an eye on my schedule.
Dec 22, 2007, 3:09 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
I didn't even know the flight had been delayed when I checked in at the club. She already knew where I was going and had protected me on a flight the next morning in case I misconnected, which is exactly what happened, and she even took the time to pick a good seat. Extraordinary service.
Now, this may work best at smaller clubs--I'm not sure how much of this they can do in a place like DFW.
