Dave Noble

even pre AA being on the internet, I suspect that you still filled some form in? by joining you would be agreeing to the terms of membership - whether you read them is up to you

Beltway2A

Long before people ignored (or pretended not to see) clickwrap agreements, there were plenty of paper agreements they similarly ignored.

ryan182

buckeyefanflyer

Dave Noble

Even if not ignored - getting 29 years without any change is a pretty decent run - at $2000 for the membership, it works out at under $69 a year - indeed , reading conditions before signing does seem to be a rare trait

SpammersAreScum

Odd. I was on the internet in the mid 80s, and I wasn't a pioneer. The World Wide Web ("the Web") began in 1989-90 but of course it took a few years for commercial use to explode.

JDiver

Thank you for your attempt to invalidate my actual experience, which I’ll cheerfully discard as non sequitur. I will admit I have no idea what they told their secretary, colleagues, etc. And no, most managers would not be aware of the counseling, as that’s confidential information. The CEO or COO, a very few restricted HR employees might.

The point is the Admirals Club conference room served me well for years as an off site place to conduct confidential business.

I suspect AA will be a bit more alert about these following the change to day of flight access, given the C of C clearly states buying a ticket solely for access to airport facilities (without flying) is fraudulent and they may choose not to refund the ticket.

As to what’s fair, ethical, etc. AA typically has binding language such as this, in the current Club membership t & c:

That’s how it is. (They also cancelled TWA Ambassador Club lifetime membership.) But If we’re dissatisfied, we can cancel our membership. If that occurs sufficiently to lose significant revenue, perhaps AA will rethink some of their new policies.

TheDudeAbides

All of them.

sbrower

As someone who has paid for membership for over 35 years, I am 100% in favor of solving the overcrowding by limiting access to only those who have a paid membership card. No one else would have a right to complain. The fact that YOU (and others) might prefer the method chosen by AA doesn't mean that you (or AA) are correct.

stanscan

Trying to get back on topic: I've been a lifetime member since 1985. I originally purchased this membership with the USAir Club. For 34 years I could get entry into the appropriate clubs w/ a guest and w/o any issues. Today, I do not fly American very often (more convenient ways from my home town now), but I do use their club regularly at GRU (far better than the *A lounge across the hall where I would be if only using my boarding pass). To me, this change to require a same day boarding pass amounts to virtually nullifying my AC lifetime membership. It's true the Ts&Cs state that they can make any changes they want at any time, but is there no limit? If the overcrowding issue is not resolved by this announced change, then maybe the next step will be to limit the amount of time one can spend in the lounge, say 30 minutes? It doesn't make sense to prohibit/limit club members from entering/staying to provide them with the lounge experience they deserve. And to anyone who says, "you've got your money's worth over the years, so you should be satisfied," I say that I bought a lifetime membership and my lifetime is far from over as I expect to be flying another 20 years. Adding this limitation after 34 years just doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone have any serious ideas how to fight this change?

USFlyerUS

In theory, US/AA could have terminated the lifetime memberships while in bankruptcy since the membership is, in effect, a contract. I guess we should at least be happy that didn't happen during any of the three (or four if you count HP) bankruptcies over the last 20 years.

When did US/AA stop selling lifetime memberships? How many people are impacted by this?

USFlyerUS

Actually, it does, since AA sets the rules. AA is correct by default based on the T&Cs.

dickinson

As a person who purchased lifetime memberships in both the AA and US Air clubs, I have been pleasantly surprised with the improvement in benefits through the years; especially the free food and alcohol. As I recall, my lifetime membership on US Air cost $1000. Probably other lifetime members paid much less.
I think it is understood that membership is always subject to the current rules of the club. To contend that nothing should change on club rules on a lifetime membership would also mean that enhancements could be denied to lifetime members.

sbrower

This is a good point. And I am NOT one of the life time members (although, having paid for 35 years, annually, I should have been.) I am not claiming that AA can't change the rules - I am claiming that I disagree with the decision.However, since a substantial portion of my travel is on AA, that doesn't mean that I won't renew again - it just means that I disagree.

Tanic

It's rather obvious that permitting club access with possession of certain credit cards caused the overcrowding problem. Clubs were never crowded prior to that nexus. Locking out the small number of Lifetime Members will be virtually unnoticeable in fixing overcrowding.