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
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Your membership expires before they impose the same day boarding pass rule and you've paid for it so the price increase is not affecting you so why would they? Don't renew in 2019.
I think this is a great change. You should be flying that day on AA not a competitor. It's AA's lounge not Southwest's etc.
Better yet is quit selling memberships and limit lounges to J and F passengers on qualifying flights.
I think this is a great change. You should be flying that day on AA not a competitor. It's AA's lounge not Southwest's etc.
Better yet is quit selling memberships and limit lounges to J and F passengers on qualifying flights.
#92
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
On second thought, maybe the price increase is the good start.
Interesting thoughts here...
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
... thus raising the question of whether AA considers a mileage redemption ticket a revenue ticket. IMO it's a revenue ticket, just using a different form of currency.
Separately, this may be to be a good reason for people who fly domestic to post enough miles to QRPC (which I had stopped using) every year to maintain QRPC PLT (OW EMD), which provides AC access, no?
Separately, this may be to be a good reason for people who fly domestic to post enough miles to QRPC (which I had stopped using) every year to maintain QRPC PLT (OW EMD), which provides AC access, no?
For those cancelling now, that is up to them. But, if one can still renew at the current price, one has that for a year. The "sane day" issue does not come into effect until 11/1/2019, so why would that affect a renewal today?
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
As it is lines getting the AC (LAX T4 in particular) can be long. Now you are going to need to show a BP on your phone as swiping one's card. Then there will be those fiddling around trying to find their paper BPs.
#95
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Stilllwater OK (SWO)
Programs: AAdvantage ExecPlat, World of Hyatt Globalist, plain "member" of Marriott, IHG, enterprise, etc.
Posts: 1,844
Frankly, I just don't see why anything at all needs to be done with regards to placing institutional limits on access. I've been in AC's during many peak travel times at more than a few airports and I've only seen an AC truly 'crowded' once (ATL during a stormy day; I couldn't even find a place to sit when I first got there so left, but went back 30 minutes later and it was half-emptied). Otherwise, the worse that has happened is the gauc line takes maybe a seemingly grueling 5-10 minutes. This policy change is a solution in search of a problem.
#96
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
complain to Nick Richards at AA
Director, Premium Services & Customer Experience Strategy
Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Director, Premium Services & Customer Experience Strategy
Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Last edited by AANYC1981; Oct 19, 2018 at 11:20 am
#97
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA EXP Plat, Mariott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 165
Maybe, but I can't count the number of times I get to my airport at T-45, checked in at T-40, and get through security and sit at the gate at T-30 just to see an hour delay on the app pop up. I can only imagine that people at larger airports that need to get there earlier would encounter this more often. I definitely see a benefit in having an AC at one's home airport.
Frankly, I just don't see why anything at all needs to be done with regards to placing institutional limits on access. I've been in AC's during many peak travel times at more than a few airports and I've only seen an AC truly 'crowded' once (ATL during a stormy day; I couldn't even find a place to sit when I first got there so left, but went back 30 minutes later and it was half-emptied). Otherwise, the worse that has happened is the gauc line takes maybe a seemingly grueling 5-10 minutes. This policy change is a solution in search of a problem.
Frankly, I just don't see why anything at all needs to be done with regards to placing institutional limits on access. I've been in AC's during many peak travel times at more than a few airports and I've only seen an AC truly 'crowded' once (ATL during a stormy day; I couldn't even find a place to sit when I first got there so left, but went back 30 minutes later and it was half-emptied). Otherwise, the worse that has happened is the gauc line takes maybe a seemingly grueling 5-10 minutes. This policy change is a solution in search of a problem.
#98
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,310
No reason for United to keep their policy to their clubs as being "any airline boarding pass that day." They'll match and literally nobody will have the option to use one airline's clubs for their travel regardless of ticketed airline. Reducing to the lowest common denominator. Yawn.
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
No reason for United to keep their policy to their clubs as being "any airline boarding pass that day." They'll match and literally nobody will have the option to use one airline's clubs for their travel regardless of ticketed airline. Reducing to the lowest common denominator. Yawn.
#100
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
I would get in the habit now of only using the BP if you are an AC member (and flying an allowed carrier with your AA number).
#101
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,021
It's been said here many times but I'll just reinforce my opinion that restricting to same day AA is a big devaluation. Generally I don't use their lounge when not flying AA but there are times where it's convenient when on WN. So it seems that UA is the last of the big 3 that allow less restrictive access now.
#102
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I find the ACs are only really crowded during flight delays, usually weather related. Or possibly if one of the ACs is closed for renovations. Even at CLT where its down to just C there is still more than ample seating.
#103
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: AAdvantage EXP | United Silver | HH Diamond | Bonvoy Platinum | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 718
I called them to ask, and the agent told me it would be fine as long as I didn't have to go through security. I send them an email as well to get that in writing.
#104
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
When lounges first existed they were kind of like CK, by invitation to VIPs who could influence others supporting the airline. Some may have been top fliers, but more were industrialists, politicians, etc. Iirc they were ultimately required to have more egalitarian access due to civil rights legislation, as their “exclusivity” at least appeared to exclude most women, people of color, etc.
I’m surprised to see that the subject of D0 hasn’t been brought up, as IMO that has been a significant barrier to pre-departure lounge time.
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
Not exactly.
When lounges first existed they were kind of like CK, by invitation to VIPs who could influence others supporting the airline. Some may have been top fliers, but more were industrialists, politicians, etc. Iirc they were ultimately required to have more egalitarian access due to civil rights legislation, as their “exclusivity” at least appeared to exclude most women, people of color, etc.
I’m surprised to see that the subject of D0 hasn’t been brought up, as IMO that has been a significant barrier to pre-departure lounge time.
When lounges first existed they were kind of like CK, by invitation to VIPs who could influence others supporting the airline. Some may have been top fliers, but more were industrialists, politicians, etc. Iirc they were ultimately required to have more egalitarian access due to civil rights legislation, as their “exclusivity” at least appeared to exclude most women, people of color, etc.
I’m surprised to see that the subject of D0 hasn’t been brought up, as IMO that has been a significant barrier to pre-departure lounge time.