Aug 6, 2018, 9:03 am
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines Club History and Background
Background
The Admirals Club was the first of the airline VIP clubs. In 1936, the commercial aviation industry had few strong supporters and American Airlines Chairman C.R. Smith (1934-1968) wanted to recognize them (and recruit them as advocates of air transport). He began naming honored passengers and friends of the airline by coining the term "Admirals" in keeping with the designation of the airline's planes as the "Flagship Fleet."
"Admirals of the Flagship Fleet" were presented with nicely printed certificates attesting to their status (in keeping with the "Kentucky Colonels" who never were) framed and ready to be proudly displayed on one's office or Board Room wall.
(The AA fleet was named "the Flagship Fleet" early on, in a nautical theme that carried over to the uniforms pilots now wore and their rank - Captain and First Officer, aided in those days by an Engineer, Radio Man, Navigator as necessary. When the low wing twin engine all metal monocoque DC-3 came online, it was named the "Flagship" aircraft (Flagship Detroit at the C. R. Smith Museum is an example), and on the ground each Flagship flew a four star "Admirals' Pennant" from the starboard cockpit window.)
New York - La Guardia Field opened in the 1930s and AA was a prominent early tenant, relocating its hangars and offices from Chicago. (Pan American became the tenant at the Marine Air Terminal, and TWA was also a main tenant.)
Original American Airlines Admirals Club History, removed from the AA pages since the US Airways reverse takeover:
"In 1939, American decided Admirals deserved a special place to relax before or after a flight. The original Admirals Club shared a space in the just-opened New York LaGuardia Airport with Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Press criticism of the mayor's large, well-equipped offices had prompted him to offer to rent out the space. American Airlines representative Red Mosier immediately accepted the offer and the private airport club was born. Ironically, when the papers were drawn up for the club's liquor license, a judge refused to grant the name "Admirals Club" on the grounds the public might think it was a facility for Navy admirals only. So the club was initially called the "Flagship Club" until the legal hurdles were overcome.
In the early years, membership in the club was solely at the discretion of the airline's sales people. Memberships were given to frequent fliers or VIPs. In keeping with the nautical theme, the club's receptionists were called "skippers" and bartenders were called "stewards."
The airline's second club was at Washington's National Airport and opened with the airport in 1939. Located in a "dry" area, the club was prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages. For a nominal fee, however, the club stored bottles for its members. When the Virginia liquor law changed in 1970, so did this club policy. At one point, the club had more than 9,000 bottles stored. Many bore the names of powerful U.S. politicians.
A change in Admirals Club membership eligibility was made in 1967 when American established an open policy of accepting dues-paying members – a policy that remains in effect today. Paid airline lounge Club membership came about after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted. Admirals Club was somewhat like CK in that membership was granted by sales personnel to AA to VIPs who were generally influencers of air travel (legislators, corporate heavyweights, etc.) and sparse of people of color, etc. US airlines established a paid membership system any member of the public was able to purchase, choosing not to change to a scheme more commonly used abroad wherein class of service is an admission criterion regardless of domestic or international routing.
The dues in 1967 were $25 per year, or $250 for a lifetime membership. Almost all Admirals at the time decided to pay the fees and retain their memberships.
Today, all persons 18 and over can purchase an Admirals Club membership. Pricing for Admirals Club memberships is based on the customer's tier level in the American AAdvantage membership program. Pricing ranges from $450 or 60,000 AAdvantage miles annually for a new Executive Platinum membership, to $550 or 85,000 miles annually for a regular membership. Membership is also provided to holders of the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard ($450 annual fee). One-day passes are available for $59 each.
The clubs were designed to simply provide a quiet haven away from the clamor of the airport terminal. Today they also offer flight information for American and American Eagle as well as a host of amenities that significantly differentiate the travel experience. There are now over 40 Admirals Clubs at 36 airports in the American Airlines system. These include(d) Atlanta; Austin; Bogotá; Boston; Buenos Aires; Caracas; Chicago O'Hare; Dallas/Fort Worth; Denver; Honolulu; Kansas City; London-Heathrow; Los Angeles International; Mexico City; Miami; Nashville; New York-Kennedy; New York-LaGuardia; Newark; Orange County (Calif.);
Link to archive
Unfortunately, the new American has deleted its online Official Admirals Club history page at: https://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corp...alshistory.jsp
Link (now not working) to Point Me to the Plane brief article and AA photos at early LGA
Link to PDF history of New York - LaGuardia International Airport (NYC Aviation)
The 01 Aug 2009 American Way in flight magazine had an article by then-CEO Gerard Arpey on Admirals Club history in the Vantage Point column. You can read an online version of the August 1, 2009 American Way magazine article here (not working) or see post #3.
Admirals Club History, Logo, Name
Aug 9, 2009, 7:32 am
#17
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Back in the 30's, AA used to hoist a pennant from the cockpit when the aircraft arrived on the tarmac. Here's a link to an old promotional poster. The circle of stars was a dominant marketing theme for AA at the time LaGuardia Airport and the first Admiral's Club opened in 1939.
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Last edited by JDiver; Aug 6, 2018 at 10:58 am Reason: Redacted dead link
Aug 9, 2009, 8:03 am
#18
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I think it has to do with the nautical theme, since most of the first planes that flew long distances were actually "sea" planes (landing and taking off) from the water. Remember that is why Laguardia was built on the water and was an international airport serviving European cities.
Hence Pan Am used "Clippers"
Hence Pan Am used "Clippers"
Aug 9, 2009, 10:47 am
#19
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From American Way:
"Spurred by company patriarch C.R. Smith, American introduced the Admirals Clubs -- the first at what is now New York’s LaGuardia Airport -- as a way of honoring the airline’s best customers. People sometimes ask about the name, since it sounds more nautical than aeronautical. In the 1930s, Mr. C.R. dubbed AA’s new DC-3 aircraft the Flagship Fleet. Sticking with the maritime theme, American started honoring some of its best customers, along with the occasional movie star and public official, as “admirals.” With the opening of the industry’s first VIP club in 1939, the admirals had a port to call their own, a sanctuary where they could relax between flights."
Hence, Admiral's Club. Also a Fleet Admiral has 5 stars on the collar, so there you go. In the history of the US Navy there have been only 4 fleet admirals: William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King,
Chester W. Nimitz and William F. Halsey.
"Spurred by company patriarch C.R. Smith, American introduced the Admirals Clubs -- the first at what is now New York’s LaGuardia Airport -- as a way of honoring the airline’s best customers. People sometimes ask about the name, since it sounds more nautical than aeronautical. In the 1930s, Mr. C.R. dubbed AA’s new DC-3 aircraft the Flagship Fleet. Sticking with the maritime theme, American started honoring some of its best customers, along with the occasional movie star and public official, as “admirals.” With the opening of the industry’s first VIP club in 1939, the admirals had a port to call their own, a sanctuary where they could relax between flights."
Hence, Admiral's Club. Also a Fleet Admiral has 5 stars on the collar, so there you go. In the history of the US Navy there have been only 4 fleet admirals: William D. Leahy, Ernest J. King,
Chester W. Nimitz and William F. Halsey.
Last edited by docr775; Aug 9, 2009 at 11:03 am
Aug 9, 2009, 11:19 am
#20
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Back in the 30's, AA used to hoist a pennant from the cockpit when the aircraft arrived on the tarmac. Here's a link to an old promotional poster. The circle of stars was a dominant marketing theme for AA at the time LaGuardia Airport and the first Admiral's Club opened in 1939.
<redacted>
<redacted>
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 6, 2018 at 10:59 am Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content
Aug 9, 2009, 6:39 pm
#22
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral...ited_States%29
Aug 9, 2009, 6:58 pm
#23
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Back in the 30's, AA used to hoist a pennant from the cockpit when the aircraft arrived on the tarmac. Here's a link to an old promotional poster. The circle of stars was a dominant marketing theme for AA at the time LaGuardia Airport and the first Admiral's Club opened in 1939.
<redacted>[/url]
<redacted>[/url]
Originally Posted by DaDaDan
The current admiral's club logo may not be the original.
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 6, 2018 at 11:00 am Reason: Redacted previously deleted post content
Aug 10, 2009, 8:37 am
#24
Original Poster
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thank you everyone, apparently none of these answers are correct, I don't know the right answer but it has nothing to do with an Admiral's pennant.
Does anyone have the definitive answer, please???
Does anyone have the definitive answer, please???
Last edited by dstan; Aug 10, 2009 at 12:44 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts
Aug 10, 2009, 12:45 pm
#25
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Why do you say that? Seems reasonable to me, with the aside that the AC logo is inverted relative to a Fleet Admiral's stars.
Aug 10, 2009, 1:17 pm
#26
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Why do you feel the connection of that fact to the Admirals Club logo is not relevant?
Aug 10, 2009, 3:15 pm
#27
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The stars in the logo are in the same configuration as a Fleet Admiral's collar device and shoulder board's stars. The word Admiral is in the name of the club. Why would you dismiss the explanation that stars in the logo are representative of a Navy admiral? Perhaps in addition to the above, 5 stars represent the highest rating for customer service.
If you don't like this or the previous explanations then why don't you write to AA and ask? Be sure to let us know what they say.
If you don't like this or the previous explanations then why don't you write to AA and ask? Be sure to let us know what they say.
Aug 10, 2009, 5:03 pm
#29
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Aug 10, 2009, 7:30 pm
#30
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Here's a little more history from a quick web search:
The Admirals Club was conceived by AA president C.R. Smith as a marketing gimmick shortly after he was made an honorary Texas Ranger. Inspired by the Kentucky colonels and other honorary organizations, Smith decided to make particularly valued passengers "admirals" of the "Flagship fleet" (AA called its aircraft "Flagships" at the time). The list of Admirals included many celebrities, politicians and other VIPs, as well as more "ordinary" customers who had been particularly loyal to the airline.
There was no physical Admirals Club until shortly after the opening of LaGuardia Airport. During the airport's construction, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia had an upper-level lounge set aside for press conferences and business meetings. At one such press conference, he noted that the entire terminal was being offered for lease to airline tenants; after a reporter asked whether the lounge would be leased as well, LaGuardia replied that it would, and a vice president of AA immediately offered to lease the premises. The airline then procured a liquor license and began operating the lounge as the "Admirals Club" in 1939.
When I was at Delta we designated certain VIP customers "Flying Colonels". I don't know if they still do that, but it sounds like the Admiral's Club started out the same way. Unless someone's got something more definitive, my logo vote goes for the Fleet Admiral explanation.
There was no physical Admirals Club until shortly after the opening of LaGuardia Airport. During the airport's construction, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia had an upper-level lounge set aside for press conferences and business meetings. At one such press conference, he noted that the entire terminal was being offered for lease to airline tenants; after a reporter asked whether the lounge would be leased as well, LaGuardia replied that it would, and a vice president of AA immediately offered to lease the premises. The airline then procured a liquor license and began operating the lounge as the "Admirals Club" in 1939.