Nov 19, 2019, 3:16 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Admirals Club access rules for members changed, membership costs increased 1 November 2019.
This is true regardless of membership type, excluding lifetime members. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® Authorized Users must fulfill the same requirements. (Lifetime Admirals Club members may access Admirals Clubs even if they’re flying non-AA partners, e.g. Southwest, United.)
Declared Business Purposes or rental of a conference facility without a same day boarding pass will not suffice to allow access.
As far as we know, authorized guests accompanying a member do not have to present a same day boarding pass.
No discount is available for a household membership, which will cost $600 regardless of the sponsoring guest’s AAdvantage status.
One Day Passes are available at $59 per person, available for purchase at all Clubs except those where Club refurbishment or construction is going on (currently, ORD and PHL). One Day Passes are not available online.
Changes to membership link to this page on aa.com
Access changes
Starting November 1, 2019
Boarding passes for same-day travel on American Airlines or partner airlines are required for entry.1
1 Any departing or arriving flight: marketed or operated by American Airlines, marketed and operated by any oneworld® partner carrier, or marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines
Access changes
Starting November 1, 2019
Boarding passes for same-day travel on American Airlines or partner airlines are required for entry.1
1 Any departing or arriving flight: marketed or operated by American Airlines, marketed and operated by any oneworld® partner carrier, or marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines
Declared Business Purposes or rental of a conference facility without a same day boarding pass will not suffice to allow access.
As far as we know, authorized guests accompanying a member do not have to present a same day boarding pass.
No discount is available for a household membership, which will cost $600 regardless of the sponsoring guest’s AAdvantage status.
One Day Passes are available at $59 per person, available for purchase at all Clubs except those where Club refurbishment or construction is going on (currently, ORD and PHL). One Day Passes are not available online.
Admirals Club rates increased, new restrictions: 1 Nov 2019
Oct 18, 2018, 10:48 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold (prev. Ex Plat for 10 years); DL Plat; UA Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,338
I do not like that they buried this rather significant change to the membership program inside an email that has sustainability as a lead story. Glad they're doing what they need to help our planet. It does not soften my disappointment that they're stripping the membership down. Also of note: they've closed Hartford, Greensboro and Caracas (perhaps that was known to others here).
Last edited by dll; Oct 18, 2018 at 10:56 am
Oct 18, 2018, 10:54 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
United did this already several years ago. How many people in the grand scheme of things are going to be 1. flying a different airline than AA as a top tier flyer and more importantly 2. going to be anywhere remotely near an AC when flying another airline?
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
Oct 18, 2018, 10:55 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: RIC
Programs: DL Silver & AA Exec Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott & Hyatt Gold
Posts: 120
United did this already several years ago. How many people in the grand scheme of things are going to be 1. flying a different airline than AA as a top tier flyer and more importantly 2. going to be anywhere remotely near an AC when flying another airline?
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
In this scenario -- tough luck sir go park you butt in Tootsies as we will not allow you to use the product you purchased.
Serious devaluation in my opinion.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:03 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
The message to me seems to be that stand-alone memberships aren't that important anymore. If they raised the price on the stand-along membership but also included dropped the same day boarding pass requirement I would take it that maybe the effort was to differentiate from the Citi card but in this case the rational behind reducing access via any access instrument whether that be Citi or stand-alone membership (the new same-day requirement) and pushing customers to Citi by increasing the stand-alone price but holding Citi's cost as the same isn't clear.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:04 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I've flown on AA#65 N/S LAS-JFK departing around 11 PM, arriving in JFK at 6:30 AM; I'm an AC member via Citi Exec card. When I arrive in JFK it's convenient to stop into the AC to have breakfast and relax a bit--but will my flight (which DEPARTED the previous day) fall under same day bp rule and permit me to use AC?
In any event PLAT or higher on intl. flts can still get FL access (even without AC membership).^
In any event PLAT or higher on intl. flts can still get FL access (even without AC membership).^
Oct 18, 2018, 11:05 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: RIC
Programs: DL Silver & AA Exec Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott & Hyatt Gold
Posts: 120
I wouldn't go out of my way to grab a coffee anywhere. But if I'm stuck with a 2 or 3 hour layover - why would I sit in a crowded VinoVolo, pay for Wifi, worry about gathering my stuff up just to go to the dirty bathroom, not have access to a business cubicle, pay for a newspaper, etc etc..... when I could take a 5 minute walk/train ride to a Club I pay 400-500 a year for?
Oct 18, 2018, 11:09 am
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
AA focus groups likely suggest that among HVC's this won't move the needle much, but will generate some revenue and reduce overcrowding at key locations. If those focus groups turn out to be wrong, AA can tweak the policy.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:20 am
#39
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
Not surprisingly, Delta was the first to announce a similar policy restricting access:
"Effective January 1, 2019, Delta Sky Club members may only use the Club in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel on Delta or its partner airlines and will no longer have access to partner lounges." (link).
Of course, United will soon follow.
"Effective January 1, 2019, Delta Sky Club members may only use the Club in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel on Delta or its partner airlines and will no longer have access to partner lounges." (link).
Of course, United will soon follow.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:21 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,015
No snark intended. Personally I don't arrive at an airport 90 minutes early as it's wasted time so that's why I wouldn't stop at A first. To each their own.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:29 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
I wouldn't go out of my way to grab a coffee anywhere. But if I'm stuck with a 2 or 3 hour layover - why would I sit in a crowded VinoVolo, pay for Wifi, worry about gathering my stuff up just to go to the dirty bathroom, not have access to a business cubicle, pay for a newspaper, etc etc..... when I could take a 5 minute walk/train ride to a Club I pay 400-500 a year for?
Seriously though, I totally agree. This is why we buy club memberships. Honestly, if DL hadn't already announced this, AA would not have dared do it.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:29 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
United did this already several years ago. How many people in the grand scheme of things are going to be 1. flying a different airline than AA as a top tier flyer and more importantly 2. going to be anywhere remotely near an AC when flying another airline?
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
I think it's a great idea in crowd thinning.
Oct 18, 2018, 11:30 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
I wouldn't go out of my way to grab a coffee anywhere. But if I'm stuck with a 2 or 3 hour layover - why would I sit in a crowded VinoVolo, pay for Wifi, worry about gathering my stuff up just to go to the dirty bathroom, not have access to a business cubicle, pay for a newspaper, etc etc..... when I could take a 5 minute walk/train ride to a Club I pay 400-500 a year for?
Oct 18, 2018, 12:08 pm
#44
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
true. i have the executive card and my gf is a authorized user with it for the lounge access (shes a jetblue flyer). hence the loss of value for me haha
Oct 18, 2018, 12:22 pm
#45
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
Well, time to cancel the AA Exec card then (which I was already close to doing since I am no longer flying AA exclusively). Woohoo for AA giving me more reasons to avoid spending money with them.
Since I am a free agent now, I fly what works best for me for each trip. Last summer I flew a trip via IAH on United and enjoyed being able to run over to terminal A and use the AC. In the future, I'll just grab a card with Priority Pass and fill in the gaps with day passes or airport bars.
Since I am a free agent now, I fly what works best for me for each trip. Last summer I flew a trip via IAH on United and enjoyed being able to run over to terminal A and use the AC. In the future, I'll just grab a card with Priority Pass and fill in the gaps with day passes or airport bars.