Day pass to the Admirals Club with minors?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,442
Day pass to the Admirals Club with minors?
According to the the AA site, you can bring 3 minors into the Admirals Club if you purchase a day pass. The situation is my sons High School is on a trip to Ecuador and the 4 adults and 12 STEM High Schoolers had a 6 hour layover in MIA. Since the AA club allows 3 minors per adult I said I would pay for the 4 adults to have access and they could bring 3 minors in each, I even called AA before hand and they stated that would not be a problem. When they arrived the club informed them that the minors had to be in the same family, but it seems that they were going to give them a "special" deal and if they purchased 5 day pass instead of 4 it would be okay. Anyone have any experience with this?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
According to the the AA site, you can bring 3 minors into the Admirals Club if you purchase a day pass. The situation is my sons High School is on a trip to Ecuador and the 4 adults and 12 STEM High Schoolers had a 6 hour layover in MIA. Since the AA club allows 3 minors per adult I said I would pay for the 4 adults to have access and they could bring 3 minors in each, I even called AA before hand and they stated that would not be a problem. When they arrived the club informed them that the minors had to be in the same family, but it seems that they were going to give them a "special" deal and if they purchased 5 day pass instead of 4 it would be okay. Anyone have any experience with this?
Guest access
Up to 3 children under 18 (if accompanied by adult day-pass holder)It does not have a same family requirement.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,442
I called the Admirals Club number today and the Rep informed me the minors have to be your children which is not what the web site says, or what the rep said last. In the end the AA Club was happy to let them in, just as long as they forked over more $$$.
Last edited by 787; Jun 24, 2019 at 8:27 am Reason: Typo
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
My guess is that the intent of the policy is to allow for parents to bring in their own children when paying for a day pass. The policy is probably not really intended for school trips, etc, with chaperones bringing children who are not their own. That might be why the agent said that. But the written rules are quite clear that minors do not have to be relatives of the day pass purchaser. (It is probably not common for a day pass holder to bring in minors who are not related to them...)
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Whatever the intent of the policy, it is not the policy. The policy is as published by AA.
It is unclear whether the group actually paid out the additional funds. If they did, AA ought to refund each adult's payments above the single. If not, then it is worth a complaint to AA and one would certainly want the original 4 passes refunded.
It is unclear whether the group actually paid out the additional funds. If they did, AA ought to refund each adult's payments above the single. If not, then it is worth a complaint to AA and one would certainly want the original 4 passes refunded.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,442
Whatever the intent of the policy, it is not the policy. The policy is as published by AA.
It is unclear whether the group actually paid out the additional funds. If they did, AA ought to refund each adult's payments above the single. If not, then it is worth a complaint to AA and one would certainly want the original 4 passes refunded.
It is unclear whether the group actually paid out the additional funds. If they did, AA ought to refund each adult's payments above the single. If not, then it is worth a complaint to AA and one would certainly want the original 4 passes refunded.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
The AA Club agent said she would make a "special exception" and let them in if they paid for 5 passes instead for the 4. I had told the group I would cover the cost, so they were on the spot to pay the extra $59 instead of the $236 it should have been. My son was not sure what to do, so he just used the CC we had given him for the trip to cover the full cost $295. I understand that the lounges may not be specifically intended for school trips, but this was early on a Sunday Morning, so i'm pretty sure the club would not have had a capacity issue. At the end of the day AA has a posted policy, but they seem pick and choose how it is enforced. And hitting up a group of High Schoolers and their teachers for more $ is obviously not an issue for them.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,437
My understanding is that OP purchased the day pass, but OP was not one of adults traveling with high school students. Is it possible that was the problem?
What was the name on the day pass OP purchased?
Day pass is non-refundable, non-changeable, non-transferable, and valid only on date of visit. Day pass is only valid for use by the named pass-holder as printed on the pass.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,442
No, I was not with the group, and the plan was for them to just use my son's CC to purchase the day passes at the club. They were not pre-purchased. There was no rational given from the agent at the club desk why purchasing an extra pass (5 instead of 4) made everything okay. Maybe she works on commission for all I know.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,210
I think it's pretty clear the intent of the policy is to come in with one's own children. I don't think it's reasonable to think the marketing analyst who wrote the text for the web site should have envisioned this scenario (and likely several others) where one may come in with minors not one's own.
Also, "children" is often used to mean descendants.
Also, "children" is often used to mean descendants.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
There were 12 minors on the trip, or 3 per adult.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I think it's pretty clear the intent of the policy is to come in with one's own children. I don't think it's reasonable to think the marketing analyst who wrote the text for the web site should have envisioned this scenario (and likely several others) where one may come in with minors not one's own.
lso, "children" is often used to mean descendants.
lso, "children" is often used to mean descendants.
That is, in court, I would expect a ruling in favor of the person who bought the passes, as the contract clarity is up to the contract provider.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
I think it's pretty clear the intent of the policy is to come in with one's own children. I don't think it's reasonable to think the marketing analyst who wrote the text for the web site should have envisioned this scenario (and likely several others) where one may come in with minors not one's own.
Also, "children" is often used to mean descendants.
Also, "children" is often used to mean descendants.