American Airlines has announced changes to Admirals Club.
- Cash price increase as of February 1st, 2019 (renewals are $50 less than what is listed below):
- Regular: $550 to $650
- Gold: $525 to $625
- Platinum: $500 to $600
- Platinum Pro: $475 to $575
- Executive Platinum: $450 to $550
- Concierge Key: free
- Miles price decrease as of  (renewals are 5,000 miles less than what is listed below):
- Regular: 85,000 miles to 65,000 miles
- Gold: 75,000 miles to 62,500 miles
- Platinum: 70,000 miles to 60,000 miles
- Platinum Pro: 65,000 miles to 57,500 miles
- Executive Platinum: 60,000 miles to 55,000 miles
- Concierge Key: free
- Must show a boarding pass with same day travel on American or a partner airline to access Admirals Club from November 1st, 2019
- Admirals Club household memberships will be discontinued
As you can see the cash price is increasing and the usability is decreasing. The miles price is decreasing, but at best you’re still only getting 1¢ per mile. In any case paying cash doesn’t really make sense given the Citi American Airlines executive card comes with admirals club access with an annual fee of $450. Your authorized users also get Admirals Club access (and you can add up to 10). It’ll be interesting to see if the annual fee on that card is changed or not. I personally don’t think paying even $450 for Admirals Club access is worth it, but that will depend on how often you fly American and what other lounge access you have available to you.
Hat tip to OMaaT
Haven’t seen it posted elsewhere, but I just noticed that United Club now says it will require United or partner ticket starting November 1, 2019 as well.
Basically, apply for Citi AAPS #22 and apply those points to a lounge membership. That is probably a high value redemption given the lack of award space. I feel like an illegal counterfeiter with AA miles, they’re so easy to gain.
I use the AA lounge in Nashville whenever I fly Southwest because there is no other lounge except for Delta in the other concourse. At ORD, the club is closer to my regional United gate too. Probably going to get rid of the card now. If I do, will the points earned, be taken back by AA?
what about purchasing a day pass….still gotta be on AA or partner?
if its copying DL then yes. u need AA or partner ticket.
The $64 question is whether Citi will increase the annual fee on the executive card. I remember when United bumped up the membership fee for the United Clubs. Within a short time Chase bumped up the annual fee for the United Club card by a similar amount.
Anything that they do to cut down the “class from mass” who flood the lounges coz of easy access but applying for a credit card, and then bringing along other freebies coz their access allows it, i fully support. Time to send these loser folks packing back to sit on terminal chairs and leave nuff space for deserving class “who worked hard to earn these privileges,”and GET a seat in these overcrowded lounges!!!!!!AMEN!!!!!!!!1
wouldnt necessarily put it in those words, but yea. Amex Cent needs crowd control dude.
Ha! Ha! Ha! For once NinjaX has met his match in bluntness.
hahaha. u know me too well…
So now now there is no distinction between being a member and having access? Such as being the primary on the Citi AA Executive vs being an AU.
Having access you do not get it added to your AA account, you need to show ID each time. Having access you do not get any of the reciprocal lounge benefits AA said. If you are the primary holder you get the above mentioned items.
Access still doesn’t get you into partner lpunges like Alaska and Qantas while membership does.
well, since AA is just copying DL, then yes, there will be a huge difference. just wait until everything is finalized.
Citi AA Exec gives the primary priority ticketing, TSA and boarding access, access to AA and partner lounges, and free 1st checked bag (on up to 8 people flying together.) AU’s only get access to AA lounges (no partner lounge access.)
But after 11/2019, all AC members must be flying AA or partners, or you won’t be granted access despite the $450 you’re paying for anyway.
This is ridiculous and I’ll be canceling my Citi Exec in a year. And there’s no good reason why AA ‘s management cancer is doing this. The AC clubs are rundown and there’s no need to do this.
I wonder if CK’s also have to be flying AA or partners, or no AC access?
Admirals Club is better than no lounge but it’s the worst out of all the lounges. Can’t even make a decent gin and tonic. It’s definitely not worth $450/year. I just cancelled my Executive card.
yea dude. its honestly flagship first or nothing for AA. this is not even a deval. dont know why they needed to bust out delta rules here. sky lounge was pimp so that made sense. but AA club has always been pathetic. it was just a place to sit and drink water. but maybe they will add more cool crap?
now, in terms of limiting access, i want AMEX Cent to hurry up and do that shit…
Frank said it FRANKLY, and i agree 100%. It sucks to wait for a chair due to overcrowding coz any Tom Dick or Harry has lounge access, thanks for credit card perks. Wondering how many of these Freebies would be there if it was “Bought or Paid Membership Only”. MF’ers 🙂