Decline of Admirals clubs?
#46
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,968
I do wonder what impact (if any) the new AU fees on the Exec card will have on current crowding. I believe the new fees only took effect for renewals starting in the fall, so we’re about halfway through the annual renewal cycle right now.
#47
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 7,033
The clubs in the former US Air hubs are the poor stepchildren. Small and crowded and in a seemingly permanent state of construction or improvisation. AUS is a zoo in the late afternoon before the BA flight boards. I have never been to the STL club. Otherwise I think they are fine and overall worth the price of admission. I was in the ORD club about a week ago and there was plenty of space and the food was quite good. I do agree that too many families with kids can spoil things.
#48
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,842
I've been a lifetime Admirals Club member for about 20 years. Food, drink and wifi are much better today. Yes the PM-US, and especially HP, lounges were never as well equipped as the ACs. But things should eventually get better.
#49
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,968
At this point, other than the new Flagship lounge in PHL (which isn’t even a AC), a new lounge for CLT that is years away, and a theoretical new lounge for AUS (also years away), I don’t recall AA making any announcements about new or renovated lounges in the pipeline.
ACs in the new design are DCA, EWR and DEN… and that’s it for now.
JFK, most of the former US lounges, and I’m sure a few other locations, are in desperate need for a renovation at this point.
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,530
I'm at CLT B now . Total zoo--the club--the concourses--everywhere. Here in the club it's families all over the place little kids at the tables eating chicken out of bags, freestyle machine inop, only one working faucet in the men's room, bags and coats on seats "saving them", listening to drunk rednecks at the bar try to flirt with the bartender...the list is long and distinguished.
#52
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,013
I’m not particularly optimistic, especially when it comes to PHX, which needs new larger lounges, but it’s unclear whether there is even space available for that.
At this point, other than the new Flagship lounge in PHL (which isn’t even a AC), a new lounge for CLT that is years away, and a theoretical new lounge for AUS (also years away), I don’t recall AA making any announcements about new or renovated lounges in the pipeline.
ACs in the new design are DCA, EWR and DEN… and that’s it for now.
JFK, most of the former US lounges, and I’m sure a few other locations, are in desperate need for a renovation at this point.
At this point, other than the new Flagship lounge in PHL (which isn’t even a AC), a new lounge for CLT that is years away, and a theoretical new lounge for AUS (also years away), I don’t recall AA making any announcements about new or renovated lounges in the pipeline.
ACs in the new design are DCA, EWR and DEN… and that’s it for now.
JFK, most of the former US lounges, and I’m sure a few other locations, are in desperate need for a renovation at this point.
#53
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 21,196
You failed to mention that Admirals Club members have access to the Alaska Lounges at SEA.
#54
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,973
They look a lot nicer, but don't worry, they're just as disappointing unless you're there for the pancake machine. I would not advise going out of your way for the Alaska lounges. I really do wonder how Alaska saw what Delta did with the SEA SkyClub and still decided they were doing enough. The Alaska lounge in the north satellite is really nice looking, but they just up and decided that hardboiled eggs, yogurt, cheese cubes, and soup are the kinds of food people really like and to not bother with anything substantial.
#55
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 21,196
They look a lot nicer, but don't worry, they're just as disappointing unless you're there for the pancake machine. I would not advise going out of your way for the Alaska lounges. I really do wonder how Alaska saw what Delta did with the SEA SkyClub and still decided they were doing enough. The Alaska lounge in the north satellite is really nice looking, but they just up and decided that hardboiled eggs, yogurt, cheese cubes, and soup are the kinds of food people really like and to not bother with anything substantial.
#56
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 16
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 11,551
#58
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cote d'Ivoire
Programs: BA Gold - HH Diamond
Posts: 3,432
I gave up ACs over five years ago and haven't missed it once. Twitter/the AA app give me all the customer support I need, in a pinch. Status gets me OW lounges when international and that works fine.
#59
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,968
Was at the BOS AC yesterday, where I am every other month or so. Can't really pinpoint the cause of increased crowding at non-hub airport ACs (do that many people really have the Citi Exec card? Or have more people been choosing AC membership as a Loyalty Choice benefit due to the ease of earning LPs now?), but there's been a noticeable increase in crowding with the BOS club over the past year or so. At times, the crowding makes it feel like a SkyClub without the better decor and food.
For me, the historic value proposition of the ACs was that it was often a more peaceful place to wait, with bad food being the tradeoff compared to other airline lounges. Now they're often uncomfortably crowded, and the food still sucks.
Since I am usually on AA in J on the premium transcons (where lounge access is included), and I don't need the loyalty point boosts this year, I actually downgraded my Citi AA Exec card last month, after holding it since 2017, since my renewal is coming up. The increased AF (with coupon book credits I have no use for), new fees for AUs, and disappointing current state of ACs all contributed to this decision.
For me, the historic value proposition of the ACs was that it was often a more peaceful place to wait, with bad food being the tradeoff compared to other airline lounges. Now they're often uncomfortably crowded, and the food still sucks.
Since I am usually on AA in J on the premium transcons (where lounge access is included), and I don't need the loyalty point boosts this year, I actually downgraded my Citi AA Exec card last month, after holding it since 2017, since my renewal is coming up. The increased AF (with coupon book credits I have no use for), new fees for AUs, and disappointing current state of ACs all contributed to this decision.
#60
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,983
Was at the BOS AC yesterday, where I am every other month or so. Can't really pinpoint the cause of increased crowding at non-hub airport ACs (do that many people really have the Citi Exec card? Or have more people been choosing AC membership as a Loyalty Choice benefit due to the ease of earning LPs now?), but there's been a noticeable increase in crowding with the BOS club over the past year or so. At times, the crowding makes it feel like a SkyClub without the better decor and food.
For me, the historic value proposition of the ACs was that it was often a more peaceful place to wait, with bad food being the tradeoff compared to other airline lounges. Now they're often uncomfortably crowded, and the food still sucks.
Since I am usually on AA in J on the premium transcons (where lounge access is included), and I don't need the loyalty point boosts this year, I actually downgraded my Citi AA Exec card last month, after holding it since 2017, since my renewal is coming up. The increased AF (with coupon book credits I have no use for), new fees for AUs, and disappointing current state of ACs all contributed to this decision.
For me, the historic value proposition of the ACs was that it was often a more peaceful place to wait, with bad food being the tradeoff compared to other airline lounges. Now they're often uncomfortably crowded, and the food still sucks.
Since I am usually on AA in J on the premium transcons (where lounge access is included), and I don't need the loyalty point boosts this year, I actually downgraded my Citi AA Exec card last month, after holding it since 2017, since my renewal is coming up. The increased AF (with coupon book credits I have no use for), new fees for AUs, and disappointing current state of ACs all contributed to this decision.