Admiral's Club - Worth it?
Dec 1, 2003, 9:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Seattle Metro
Programs: Alaska MVP, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 12
Admiral's Club - Worth it?
I'm not a big poster but I do read this board a lot. I have done some searches and my question isn't completely answered, plus I want some recent opinions. I am contemplating buying an Admiral's Club membership and I would like to know if you all think its worth it? I fly AA about 98% of the time out of Dayton, OH. I almost always connect in DFW; its hit or miss if I a long layover. I'll reach 70K+ by the end of the month and I imagine I'll fly at least 50K next year. Pro and Cons? Worth the price? Which is better, pay with $s or miles? Your opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Primo
Primo
Dec 1, 2003, 9:24 pm
#2
Suspended
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by primozaj:
I'm not a big poster but I do read this board a lot. I have done some searches and my question isn't completely answered, plus I want some recent opinions. I am contemplating buying an Admiral's Club membership and I would like to know if you all think its worth it? I fly AA about 98% of the time out of Dayton, OH. I almost always connect in DFW; its hit or miss if I a long layover. I'll reach 70K+ by the end of the month and I imagine I'll fly at least 50K next year. Pro and Cons? Worth the price? Which is better, pay with $s or miles? Your opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Primo</font>
I'm not a big poster but I do read this board a lot. I have done some searches and my question isn't completely answered, plus I want some recent opinions. I am contemplating buying an Admiral's Club membership and I would like to know if you all think its worth it? I fly AA about 98% of the time out of Dayton, OH. I almost always connect in DFW; its hit or miss if I a long layover. I'll reach 70K+ by the end of the month and I imagine I'll fly at least 50K next year. Pro and Cons? Worth the price? Which is better, pay with $s or miles? Your opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Primo</font>
Dec 1, 2003, 11:32 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin TX
Programs: AA PLT, ICH Plat
Posts: 1,965
The tangible benefits are probably NOT worth the $300+ fee. However, I have found that the intangible benefits (the AC agents) usually makes it worth the cost.
A little over a week ago ago I was flying CLE-ORD-MIA on a Sun. night. Misconnect last flight in ORD. I am rebooked on 6am ORD-MIA on Mon. However I am flying MIA-ORD-PHX at 2pm on Mon. AC rebooks to 5pm MIA-DFW-PHX and since this is a 777 I am in biz.
Next day MIA-DFW is delayed and DFW is a mess. My PHX flight is cancelled and last flight will be delayed by at least 2 hrsgetting me in at 2am. AC puts me on DL.
In my opinion the AC is the only place that a person can take the time to sort out the problem and REALLY help you.
That is why I keep my AC membership.
A little over a week ago ago I was flying CLE-ORD-MIA on a Sun. night. Misconnect last flight in ORD. I am rebooked on 6am ORD-MIA on Mon. However I am flying MIA-ORD-PHX at 2pm on Mon. AC rebooks to 5pm MIA-DFW-PHX and since this is a 777 I am in biz.
Next day MIA-DFW is delayed and DFW is a mess. My PHX flight is cancelled and last flight will be delayed by at least 2 hrsgetting me in at 2am. AC puts me on DL.
In my opinion the AC is the only place that a person can take the time to sort out the problem and REALLY help you.
That is why I keep my AC membership.
Dec 1, 2003, 11:56 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
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Posts: 5,153
If you fly a lot domestic, it is probably worth it. I remember having a membership to TWA's Ambassador Club and used it all the time. With AA, I am usually flying international and in C so I get in free and have never really needed it except for those flights, anyway.
Dec 2, 2003, 2:34 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
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Posts: 5,827
I agree with the previous posters. I have had an AC membership for 8 years, and at least once a year it pays for itself on one trip where the AC agents are able to help me out during a period of turmoil in the given terminal. I have never considered the Quantas play- an interesting option- but I'm not sure what the $ savings is. Regarding your question on using miles vs. paying cash, my experience has been that for premium services that AA sells, such as electronic upgrades and AC memberships, the implied value per mile is too low to use the miles, and you are better off paying cash and using the miles for an international upgrade or free premium class ticket. Obviously your circumstances may vary, and if you are sitting on a big pile of miles and/or are in a liquidity crunch using the miles may be a more attractive option for you. Just do the math to make sure the miles required are "worth it" to you relative to the cash option. Lastly there are discounted AC memberships for elite levels, and if you are in a position where your elite status will decrease in March if you acquire the membership before then you can get the benefit of the lower price based on your current status.
Dec 2, 2003, 4:08 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: EYW - USA
Posts: 774
In short. Yes. If you fly an airline almost exclusively, it's worth it to have a membership to their clubs. Since you seem to travel your share, I would use miles to purchase the membership, sounds like you'll replace them quickly enough.
To me, just having a club to go into to get away from the terminal BS, sit down, have a cup of coffee in relative silence is worth twice the price of a club membership, not to mention food when available, phones in quiet areas and bathrooms that are clean and don't smell like a stomp bar.
Go for it. Spoil yourself. Buy or Mile the membership!
To me, just having a club to go into to get away from the terminal BS, sit down, have a cup of coffee in relative silence is worth twice the price of a club membership, not to mention food when available, phones in quiet areas and bathrooms that are clean and don't smell like a stomp bar.
Go for it. Spoil yourself. Buy or Mile the membership!
Dec 2, 2003, 5:29 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Programs: AA,HP,MP,DL,SPG, MR
Posts: 2,092
If you decide to join and pay for your membership, let me know. Another Flyertalker gave me some coupons, one of which is $50. off an Admiral Clubs membership regardless of any status. I will be out of town till Sunday night but you can leave me an e mail.
Dec 2, 2003, 5:39 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
OK, it seems that for an American, Qantas Club costs AU$587.24 per year, that is US$426.91, from this link:
https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyns/qantasclub/joinqc
Admiral's club costs US$450 for the first year and $400 thereafter, from the following link:
http://www.aa.com/content/aboutAA/AAP roducts/admiralsClub.jhtml?title=Admirals%20Club&anchorLoc ation=Navigation%20Menu#Application%20Form
So, here's the question: for basically the same money, why go Qantas Club?
[This message has been edited by MikeMargolis (edited Dec 02, 2003).]
https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyns/qantasclub/joinqc
Admiral's club costs US$450 for the first year and $400 thereafter, from the following link:
http://www.aa.com/content/aboutAA/AAP roducts/admiralsClub.jhtml?title=Admirals%20Club&anchorLoc ation=Navigation%20Menu#Application%20Form
So, here's the question: for basically the same money, why go Qantas Club?
[This message has been edited by MikeMargolis (edited Dec 02, 2003).]
Dec 2, 2003, 5:49 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Seattle Metro
Programs: Alaska MVP, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 12
Thanks for the help. I will be in touch with you soon, MaryS. You folks are hardcore, I post before bed and then see seven replies. Maybe I'll see some of you in a club sometime. One other question, does an AC membership get you into Flagship lounges for int'l flights? Thanks again.
Primo
Primo
Dec 2, 2003, 6:00 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,222
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by primozaj:
One other question, does an AC membership get you into Flagship lounges for int'l flights?</font>
One other question, does an AC membership get you into Flagship lounges for int'l flights?</font>
Dec 2, 2003, 6:27 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Baltimore; AA Plat
Posts: 315
Well you've heard all these positive postings. My opinion is the contrary. If you fly exclusively domestic, 450$ is a waste of money for waht you get in AC. Most of the time there is not even time to go to the AC since the connections are short. I ather go get a drink in a bar or a better coffee at Starbucks than the US AC. International is a diffferent story cause usually you have to get to the airport in advance so you can actually use the lounge, the lounges are much better thatn in the us. So it really depends on what you are looking for .
Good luck making the decision!
Good luck making the decision!
Dec 2, 2003, 7:10 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: EYW - USA
Posts: 774
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Colombo:
Well you've heard all these positive postings. My opinion is the contrary. If you fly exclusively domestic, 450$ is a waste of money for waht you get in AC. Most of the time there is not even time to go to the AC since the connections are short. I ather go get a drink in a bar or a better coffee at Starbucks than the US AC. International is a diffferent story cause usually you have to get to the airport in advance so you can actually use the lounge, the lounges are much better thatn in the us. So it really depends on what you are looking for .
Good luck making the decision!</font>
Well you've heard all these positive postings. My opinion is the contrary. If you fly exclusively domestic, 450$ is a waste of money for waht you get in AC. Most of the time there is not even time to go to the AC since the connections are short. I ather go get a drink in a bar or a better coffee at Starbucks than the US AC. International is a diffferent story cause usually you have to get to the airport in advance so you can actually use the lounge, the lounges are much better thatn in the us. So it really depends on what you are looking for .
Good luck making the decision!</font>
The connecting times are getting shorter because of depeaking of the hubs, which seems to work a bit better for the carriers. They are turning around much quicker and doing it with less tin.
You can however, skip a connecting flight or two and take a later connection if you need time on the ground for whatever reason. I'm not sure you can do this on the net but rez will do it for you. I've done it several times without charge. I may arrive in Chicago at 10AM and the connecting to Seattle is 10:50 but rez will push that to the 2PM instead. Unless you're hard core about departure and arrival times, it can come in handy. After some flights, its nice to have ground time just to thank gawd you're still alive!
I agree that many of the ACs in the US are crap, but some are quite nice.
You might want to consider alternate carrier's clubs, such as Delta's Crown Rooms which are nice in the US. Delta offers a program, or at least they did, that you can pay a little extra and use the clubs whether you are flying with them or not. America West does it for their lifer members, but they don't have as many clubs.
Either way, if you're a chronic traveler, a club membership is a very nice thing to have.
Dec 2, 2003, 12:43 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Seattle
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by alhcfp:
The tangible benefits are probably NOT worth the $300+ fee. However, I have found that the intangible benefits (the AC agents) usually makes it worth the cost........
<snip>
....In my opinion the AC is the only place that a person can take the time to sort out the problem and REALLY help you.
That is why I keep my AC membership.</font>
The tangible benefits are probably NOT worth the $300+ fee. However, I have found that the intangible benefits (the AC agents) usually makes it worth the cost........
<snip>
....In my opinion the AC is the only place that a person can take the time to sort out the problem and REALLY help you.
That is why I keep my AC membership.</font>
Is it just me or has SEA AC gone downhill?
Dec 2, 2003, 1:09 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katy, TX
Programs: AA - PLT(2MM); DL - PM(2MM); Hilton - Gold; Marriott Bonvoy- Titanium; Hyatt - Platinum
Posts: 1,718
WingNaPrayer--
The problem with having a Delta Crown Room membership, but generally flying AA, is gaining access to the CRC's in these security-hyper days. I speak from experience, as that's my current situation. At ORD, or PHL, little or no problem. But at DFW, or at other airports with multiple terminals and separate, disconnected, security for each, you can probably fergetit. Unless you want to go thru the hassle of buying, then refunding, a ticket.
The problem with having a Delta Crown Room membership, but generally flying AA, is gaining access to the CRC's in these security-hyper days. I speak from experience, as that's my current situation. At ORD, or PHL, little or no problem. But at DFW, or at other airports with multiple terminals and separate, disconnected, security for each, you can probably fergetit. Unless you want to go thru the hassle of buying, then refunding, a ticket.
Dec 2, 2003, 1:22 pm
#15
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This is just another option:
www.prioritypass.com
They have/use around 450 lounges all over the world. They also have different pricing such as, low pre-pay + charge per visit, Bigger pre-pay + 10 free visits + charge per visit or the total package. This may work out cheaper for the 10-15 times a year flyer. This is not for everybody, and as somebody already said, you better make sure you will be in the right terminals at the airports you use the most, but it may be worth a look.
www.prioritypass.com
They have/use around 450 lounges all over the world. They also have different pricing such as, low pre-pay + charge per visit, Bigger pre-pay + 10 free visits + charge per visit or the total package. This may work out cheaper for the 10-15 times a year flyer. This is not for everybody, and as somebody already said, you better make sure you will be in the right terminals at the airports you use the most, but it may be worth a look.