American’s website lists most of the locations around the world that an Admirals Club membership will get you into. Accessing most will require you to be flying American same day, and not via someone else’s codeshare. And none will get you American’s signature afternoon guacamole.
American partners with Alaska and Qantas lounges. Some of the options are strange, though. You’d think in Hong Kong they’d offer access to a Cathay Pacific lounge but instead they use the Hong Kong Airlines Club Bauhinia and the Plaza Premium Lounge West near gate 40.
In Beijing they offer access to the Air China Business lounge, which is pretty weak sauce considering Priority Pass gets you first class lounge access.
The Airspace lounge in San Diego is accessible to Admirals Club members. Anyone can pay $25 to get in and that comes with a $10 food and beverage credit, American Express Platinum cardmembers get the credit, American’s club members don’t. But since there’s no more Admirals Club in San Diego it’s nice there’s still an option.
What’s interesting though is that AA.com doesn’t actually show all the options you have.
The Club at Bluegrass in the Lexington, Kentucky airport can be accessed by any Admirals Club member, United Club member, or Delta Skyclub member. (HT: Rich G.) It’s also $10 pay-in. There’s no alcohol in the lounge but it’s right next to the Kentucky Ale Taproom where Priority Pass gets you a $28 per person credit.
The Dayton, Ohio Business lounge apparently used to welcome Admirals Club members, but that’s before it was renovated. The Savannah/Hilton Head airport used to offer something similar to Admirals Club members but no longer appears to.
By the way if you ever find yourself in the Mobile, Alabama airport here’s a trick to access that airport’s lounge for free.
Just read your article on the Admirals Club. I am flying EWR-SJC on Alaska Airlines in paid first. Do I have get access or can I purchase a day pass? AA site is very confusing.
Would be nice to see some form of club access in TUS or SAT with either an AC membership or Priority Pass.
“The Club at Bluegrass in the Lexington, Kentucky airport can be accessed by any Admirals Club member, United Club member, or Delta Skyclub member.”
I wonder if that’s because Mitch McConnell flies out of there.
When did the AA lounge close in San Diego?
I went to the lounge in Lexington a couple of years ago. Lady at the desk was an old UA FA, who started telling stories of working the “Men Only” flight between Chicago and New York. She absolutely made that lounge visit worthwhile.
@Ken
If you bought the ticket as an AA codeshare (ie, your ticket has AA flight numbers on it) you’d have access to Admirals Clubs if you are a member or could purchase a day pass if you are not a member. If you bought your ticket as an AS flight (ie, your ticket has the AS flight number on it), you only have access to Alaska-operated clubs unless you are an actual “member” of Alaska’s lounge, in which case you have access to select Admirals Club locations (e.g., EWR). If you have a credit card that gives you priority pass select membership, you could access the AC lounge in EWR terminal A and the pay-in lounge in SJC. Hope this clarifies things.
“American partners with Alaska and Qantas lounges. Some of the options are strange, though. You’d think in Hong Kong they’d offer access to a Cathay Pacific lounge but instead they use the Hong Kong Airlines Club Bauhinia and the Plaza Premium Lounge West near gate 40. ”
Of course if you are AA Plat or above (OW Sapphire or Emerald) you will be able to get in the CX lounges by status. On one trip flying J on AA, I think I visited most lounges in HKG (CX all, QF, Bauhinia, Plaza, United) – via AA Emerald, AA J, Priority Pass, United Club.
Walter the AC in SAN closed many years ago, I and many people were sad to see it happened, but the new lounge is much better.
I am flying from San Diego to Mumbai. Booked Premium Economy using AA web site all the way. I have been a 2-million miles AA flying guest, ans AA Advantage member and a lifetime Admirals Club member. I am an Hong Hong at the Airport waiting for my flight to Mumbai. My ticket has a priorit rating in the USA, a sapphire marked on my next flight.
None of the lounges mentioned as potential lounges to spend a few pleasant hours to realax while waiting are ready to accept the qualifications for access, unless I paid exhorbitantly high access rates for the day. All of the attendants that I encountered denied knowledge, or feigned it. I ha no success walking all of T-1 for find a lounge.
They will refuse knowledge of admirals club.
Good luck.