What is the BEST Way to Access the American Airlines Admirals Club?
by Krish Patel
American Airlines has over 50 Admirals Club Lounges across the globe, which can be accessed in a variety of ways. You can access these lounges via OneWorld Emerald or Sapphire elite status, or buy an Admirals Club membership. Additionally, you can also purchase a day-pass for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles.
If lounge access and elite-like perks are something you value as an American loyalist, there is one credit card that includes a complimentary Admirals Club membership along with other benefits, and that’s the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Benefit of Lounge Access with the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Having the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a good way to guarantee Admirals Club Lounge access on your next trip with American Airlines. The card has a $595 annual fee, so having this card saves money compared to buying any of the memberships. For instance, if you’re a general AAdvantage member, you’re better off paying the annual fee of $595 for other benefits in addition to having lounge access rather than pay $850 for lounge access only.
If you can’t access the Admirals Club based on your elite status or class of service, one option is to buy a lounge membership. Here is a breakdown of the Admirals Club memberships you can buy based on your elite status:
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard allows you to add up to three authorized users for $175, then $175 per additional authorized user. Authorized users can also access Admirals Clubs when traveling with or without the cardholder. This is a fantastic perk that not many other co-branded cards don’t offer. However, authorized users only have access to Admirals Clubs, while the cardholder also has access to partner lounges. The cardholder and each authorized user on the card can bring up to two guests or immediate family into the lounge.
Other Benefits of Having the Card
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard has other benefits besides a free Admirals Club membership, some of which are listed below. It currently offers a 70,000 welcome bonus if you’ve spent $7,000 on purchases with the card within the first three months of your card opening.
Cardholders with the Citi/ AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard earn 10 miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels booked through aa.com/hotels and eligible car rentals booked through aa.com/cars. On eligible American Airlines purchases, you’ll earn four dollars per mile, up to $120 in statement credit for eligible Grubhub purchases, and up to $120 in statement credit for Avis or Budget rental cars each calendar year.
Having the card includes priority boarding in group four and your first checked bag for free on domestic flights with American for the cardholder and up to eight guests on the same flight reservation.
Conclusion
The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard allows you to spread the benefit of lounge access with others, a perk that many other credit cards don’t offer. You won’t be able to add authorized users to your Admirals Club membership, and having one is more expensive than the card’s annual fee. Besides lounge access, the card also includes other benefits and allows you to earn AAdvantage miles and offers Loyalty Point bonuses, which can help you achieve elite status more easily.