asteven75

I'm an EXP and would be interested to hear other's thoughts on the value an AC membership. I use the AC for free when I travel international...is it worth the $300 or 45,000 miles just to use the domestic AC's?

mvoight

That depends.
How much will you use it domestically?
How much does $300 mean to you?

I think it is rather a subjective decision for most people.

If you would use it 10 times per year, is it worth $30 per visit for you?
I am no longer a member, but thanks to fast security lines, and getting my BP ahead of time, I rarely spend more than an hour before the flight at the airport. Additionally, a good part of that is spent after Elite pre-board.
However, when I was a member, due to a holiday fiasco, I was stuck for 13 hours at the AC at SNA. Having a membership permitted me to work in relative comfort. This saved me from having to spend a PTO day. If I hadn't been a member, I probably would have hesitated about spending the $50 day pass rate, because I didn't know how long I would be there.

That said... and since I have a nice stock grant vesting on Oct 1, and a letter from Nancy Knipp (Managing Director, Premium Services) offering me $50 off (I assume it is off any rate you qualify for), I will probably sign up.

Edit: Reading the back of the letter, it says "No other discounts or retroactive credits apply". Doesn't this defeat the logic of sending it to a current PLT?

aamilesslave

I got a similar $50 off this spring. This is in addition to your elite-level pricing (so it cost me $250 as a new EXP member with the $50 discount).

f9999

Short answer. If you are EXP and you fly domestic at least some of the time, then yes. Just do it. If you don't like it then don't renew. Chances are very high that a few incidents over the course of the year will make you *really* glad you did, and all the other times will fill out the value proposition.

ipd054

For 4 more flights I am just a lowly PLT but the AC membership has more than paid for it's self in the 3 weeks that I have been a member. Two flight canx where the AC staff not only rebooked me but called and got my bags on the plane as well. In addion I am 100% on upgrades since becoming a member and was running about 65% before, small sample size but still works for me. I would say bite the bullet and do it.

GeoGirl

I've been an AC member for just under a year and I have to say it is worth it, worth it, worth it. I absolutely love not minimizing the terminal time. My stress level is reduced by the quiet of the AC, and I just find it to be a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience. For me, it's not so much about the investment of "how many times will you use it?" (though some common sense is probably in order), but more about the comfort and improved quality of the travel experience.

If you've enjoyed the relative quiet of the AC when traveling internationally, I'd say it's worth it domestically.

GG

flymeAAway

A gate agent treats everybody (elites and non-elites) the same... as an obstacle to getting the plane off the gate. If you want real customer service you must pay for it with an Admirals Club membership. As an elite you are fortunate to get a discount. I fly in and out of DFW and thought I would never use it. I have found real value and renew every year. When you hit a delay it really pays off. A few examples...

Once I was stuck on a runway at DFW for 6 hours during a thunderstorm. I was not going to make my connection and would be stuck in a remote city until the next day. I tried the PLT desk and my travel agent and neither could get me on a morning flight the next day. I had the business card from the AC Angel and called form the plane. She got me out on the first flight in the morning with an OP upgrade. When the plane returned to the gate for fuel I got off and returned to the AC she had new BP's and offered a hotel room despite being weather delayed.

When traveling with my wife and child (non-elites) I am only allowed to upgrade one additional person. This results in all three of us in coach. I have had an angel change my wife's fare code to Y so I could use electronic upgrades for all 3.

This month our departing flight out of HNL was delayed 3.5 hours. This was going to delay picking up our 6 year old child staying with relatives for 7 hours. The AC forced an illegal connection with a confirmed standby. They had the grand parents escorted to the gate in ATL so my wife could hop off the plane and immediately get back on as it returned to DFW. We also had a place to store our carry on bags for 5 hours while we went to Waikiki for dinner and drinks.

The point is when something happens and you need something "out of the box," nothing works better than making your case face to face at an AC.

JGR01

There was a recent and very good discussion of the value of the AC at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ght=membership and I am certain many more threads.

As an EXP traveling internationally you also have access to the three remaining Flagship Lounges as well as acess to the many OneWorld lounges (somewhat based on your travels/connections).

The AC AAngels have lost a great deal of their 'customer service' power over the past few years .. they tend to defer to 'the Gate' in many instances. But on certain tasks (like cancelled flight or missed connection) they still are powerful enough to warrant the membership.

Also, in SOME cities (ORD no longer) there are smoking lounges in the AC .. while other pax have to go outside (and re-clear security) to smoke.. or MIA D has a little smokers 'fish bowl' and STL may still have the smokers areas near some gates.

Yes .. I think the AC is a valuable tool. But I have been a member for many years (before there was such a thing as EXP!).

And WELCOME to the friendly more helpful FlyerTalk!

TripleThreat

I'll join the chorus in favor of the Admirals Club. I fly about 3-4 times per month.

On three different occasions this year, I have been rescued by the AC AAngels. This year alone, they have secured me the last seat on the only flight back from MIA to TPA in a terrible thunderstorm; pulled me and my bags off a flight with extreme delays and put me on a USairways flight, and completely rerouted my husband and me around delays at STL.

Their powers may be more limited than in the past, but I'd rather be in their hands than queuing at the gate and hoping someone will take care of my.

And it always makes my day to see Johnny the bartender at DCA!

dankyone

One feature that I really like of the membership is that you don´t have to be flying AA to use the club if you are a member. Keep that in mind as you calculate your cost per visit!

ssk1127

if you purchase a one-day AC pass, does that apply to lounges for other OW partners as well? (specifically, I'm asking about LAN - is there a LAN VIP Lounge in Lima, and could I access it if I bought an AC pass that day?).

skye1

If I kept my membership solely on the $xxxx/stay ratio, I may not renew, as some clubs are much/less nicer than others, etc. BUT: While one may not get their money's worth on a per-stay or per-visit ratio, it's those few funky situations where you find it a God-send that makes it worth it. I guess it's sort of like "problem flying experience insurance": like insurance, you rarely use/need it, but when you really do need it, you're really glad you have it.

(when they get get you re-booked on what you need w/o a hassle, where they "protect" you on another flight if the one you're on gets screwed, etc. Or, in DFW, where you can snag a brief workout/run in the mini-gym & a shower, etc.)

skywalkerLAX

No, only for multiple stays in different AC's on the same day. No OW lounges

Abidjan

For all the reasons above (AC staff help, peace and quiet for the most part), yes the AC membership is worth the expense. This is my first year and I look forward to renewing soon. :-:

Vaze

Yes - well worth it. Although the computer access (speed issues primarily) leaves something to be desired, the peace and quite you generally find in the lounges is worth the price. Being a member will most definitely pay for itself the first time you experience a delay, missed flight or any number of issues that the lounge staff will be able to assist you with rather than having to deal with the chaos and line up with a hundred and one other people outside the lounge