IADCAflyer

Never had a problem getting the gate pass.

acvitale

Delta has already incorporated the same day travel on Delta/Skyteam with boarding pass so Delta would NOT help in this scenario. I am maintaining Admirals Club/CITI and Skyclub/AMEX Plat/Priority Pass so I am covered on the multitude of flights that I take. I am using Hyatt UA passes for the rare time I need a UA club access.

johnash

Here's my two-penn'orth on the subject of lounge access from regular but infrequent visitors to USA and fans of premium class flights. (Our flights to, from and within USA have, for the past couple of decades, been with American).

Growing up, I always fantasised about flying in "Club". "Club" lounges back in the day were reserved for people flying in "Club" class. There were also First class lounges for very posh people, top film stars and millionaires. Credit cards, when they started to become generally available, were used for buying stuff.

So imagine my disappointment and disbelief when, at last, we could afford First Class flights within the US, only to find we could not access the lounge as First Class passengers. Almost unimaginable. Certainly unbelievable to me.

Of course our International Business Class flights brought us access, so that was OK.

We have been buying lounge access, first a monthly (was it?) pass and more recently, day passes to go with our domestic First flights. But have now decided that it's just not worth it. Quite often it's been difficult to find a seat due to the incredible overcrowding. Plenty of seats out in the terminal! On our next trip, we do have First class flights on Alaska and that airline do the right thing and grant us lounge access. For me, moves to reduce overcrowding in lounges have my full backing. Our next lounge will be the wonderful Iberia Velazquez lounge at MAD!

BlooJoo

A welcomed move. Lounges too crowded. Let's be realistic, an actual AC member is probably among the least valuable customers AA has. If they were or high value, they'd already have access to the FL. Frankly, I've never known anyone to pay money to be a member of an airline club. Utterly bizarre IMO.

TWA884

There are many high value customers who travel on routes that do not make them eligible for Flagship Lounges access. Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not get Flagship Lounge access unless they are traveling in J or F on transcontinental flights between JFK and LAX/SFO on the A321T or LAX and MIA on the 773. Only ConciergeKey customers are eligible for unlimited access regardless of cabin or itinerary.

buckeyefanflyer

.

Same day ticket shouid alllow club access. I do the same.

miamiflyer8

https://viewfromthewing.com/lifetime...rlines-ticket/

Now it's confirmed that lifetime members will be exempt matching DL's policy.

JDiver

This is great for lifetime Admirals Club members! I have to give kudos to AA for doing the right thing here.

sbrower

Now, if they would just extend that to people who have been paid members for 38 consecutive years or more, I would be even happier.

miamiflyer8

Since you've been AC member since 81 what made you not jump on an opportunity to get a lifetime membership?

AAdmiral

I had bought my lifetime membership back in 1990 and glad to see that American Airlines did the right thing. Now I'd like to see United Airlines do the same thing.

E55

This is the most reasonable lever that they have to pull. They can't add more space easily enough. It's not like the clubs are NOT crowded.

Beltway2A

Not surprising to see Parker bending over backwards to appease Boomers at the expense of the folks who will continue contributing to AA's revenue over the next half-century. Thankfully he appears to be on his way out.

worldwidedreamer

As a child of the 1980s who bought a lifetime Admirals Club membership in 2005, this makes me much more interested in expanding my relationship with AA.

BWISkyGuy

First of all, it wasn’t THAT long ago that they sold lifetime memberships. I’m in my mid-40’s, thank you very much.

Second, Parker’s team is hardly lifetime-member-friendly. This is the same team that charged lifetime members for alliance and partner access annually at LUS. Of course, compared to what LAA did to TW’s members, that may look like bending over backwards for them.