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 19, 2018, 12:33 pm
#106
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
In theory yes although they'd probably need to be opaque about it. Just look at CK. There are no published requirements and its by sole discretionary invitation only.
Oct 19, 2018, 1:28 pm
#107
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SNA
Posts: 928
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.
Now, with these recent changes, and not without some delicious irony thrown in for good measure, you could argue that they only discriminate against their own members! (haha)
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 19, 2018 at 9:43 pm Reason: Let’s beware of going OMNI/PR, please
Oct 19, 2018, 3:19 pm
#108
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
CAB issued a ruling that the clubs were separate and unequal. You can read into that wording what you will.
https://web.archive.org/web/20090114...id=chix-sphere
https://web.archive.org/web/20090114...id=chix-sphere
Oct 19, 2018, 3:21 pm
#109
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,968
Maybe they'll start offering good complimentary alcohol. Paying $8 for a good beer sucks. One can hope.
EDIT: I guess I used the word "good" too loosely. PHX AC near gate A26 wanted to charge me for a bottle of Corona. So I guess I'll be keeping my AMEX Plat for Centurion when I want to drink, and AA for when I want the convenience of the lounge being right next to my gate and airports with no Centurion.
EDIT: I guess I used the word "good" too loosely. PHX AC near gate A26 wanted to charge me for a bottle of Corona. So I guess I'll be keeping my AMEX Plat for Centurion when I want to drink, and AA for when I want the convenience of the lounge being right next to my gate and airports with no Centurion.
Last edited by seigex; Oct 21, 2018 at 12:01 am
Oct 19, 2018, 9:46 pm
#111
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
Okay, friends, let’s rewind to the pricing, boarding pass requirements and other factors affecting the Club today.
Thank you,
Moderator
Thank you,
Moderator
Oct 20, 2018, 8:08 am
#112
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Clearly they want people to use the Citi Exec card for membership due to some LTV financial model. Make other methods for membership comparatively way more expensive and the results predictable.
Although it will not affect me personally, the requirement to have a same day AA BP is going to be a major devaluation for many. My hope is that the net effect will be better, more wholesome food, and wider choice of free/included beverages.
Although it will not affect me personally, the requirement to have a same day AA BP is going to be a major devaluation for many. My hope is that the net effect will be better, more wholesome food, and wider choice of free/included beverages.
Oct 20, 2018, 6:21 pm
#113
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: DL DM, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 150
General admirals club membership question: If I hold an Admirals Club membership and am flying as a non-revenue passenger holding a same day standby boarding pass, will I be admitted? The website only references a same day boarding pass but does not differentiate between a confirmed seat vs standby.
Oct 20, 2018, 8:34 pm
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,234
Oct 20, 2018, 11:22 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
Clearly they want people to use the Citi Exec card for membership due to some LTV financial model. Make other methods for membership comparatively way more expensive and the results predictable.
Although it will not affect me personally, the requirement to have a same day AA BP is going to be a major devaluation for many. My hope is that the net effect will be better, more wholesome food, and wider choice of free/included beverages.
Although it will not affect me personally, the requirement to have a same day AA BP is going to be a major devaluation for many. My hope is that the net effect will be better, more wholesome food, and wider choice of free/included beverages.
Oct 20, 2018, 11:58 pm
#116
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,968
The irony of this is that I will never actually need to have my Citi Exec card on hand since it's linked with my boarding pass. I still carry it around for ease of entry when without an AA boarding pass. If that's going to be the requirement for entry, I can leave the card at home...
Oct 21, 2018, 5:35 am
#117
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
The irony of this is that I will never actually need to have my Citi Exec card on hand since it's linked with my boarding pass. I still carry it around for ease of entry when without an AA boarding pass. If that's going to be the requirement for entry, I can leave the card at home...
Oct 21, 2018, 10:23 am
#118
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Washington DC Metro Area
Programs: A: PP, LTG/1.5M | UA: SLV | Bonvoy LTTi | IHG PLT| Avis PC | Nat'l Emerald Club EE
Posts: 1,067
On the fence now about whether to renew at all next year. Wife is GLD and we have had a household membership for a number of years. With a de-facto “marriage penalty”, same-day OW BP requirement, and dwindling number of clubs in the U.S., this looks to be much less worth the cost of membership. Unfortunately, our renewal date is >120 days after 31 Jan, so we won’t be able to extend the household membership at current rates.
If we stay members, the most sensible route seems for both of us to get the Citi card; at $450 each it is much cheaper than either individual or household memberships (even more so if I get the card and just make her an authorized user, albeit less useful for her in a few circumstances). I can’t imagine how this plays out to AA’s advantage—neither one of us will spend one penny more than the annual fee; I use an Aviator Silver card with better benefits for me and she uses a card of her own for her own reasons. So AA ends up getting less for our membership in this scenario.
If we stay members, the most sensible route seems for both of us to get the Citi card; at $450 each it is much cheaper than either individual or household memberships (even more so if I get the card and just make her an authorized user, albeit less useful for her in a few circumstances). I can’t imagine how this plays out to AA’s advantage—neither one of us will spend one penny more than the annual fee; I use an Aviator Silver card with better benefits for me and she uses a card of her own for her own reasons. So AA ends up getting less for our membership in this scenario.
Oct 21, 2018, 4:51 pm
#119
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: NY/NJ
Posts: 524
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 21, 2018, 8:09 pm
#120
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO, CLT
Programs: AA Bonsai EXP (2.9 MM), AS MVPG
Posts: 1,395
If we stay members, the most sensible route seems for both of us to get the Citi card; at $450 each it is much cheaper than either individual or household memberships (even more so if I get the card and just make her an authorized user, albeit less useful for her in a few circumstances). I can’t imagine how this plays out to AA’s advantage—neither one of us will spend one penny more than the annual fee; I use an Aviator Silver card with better benefits for me and she uses a card of her own for her own reasons. So AA ends up getting less for our membership in this scenario.