The way to entry American Airways Admirals Membership lounges

Metro Loud
13 Min Read


The American Airways Admirals Membership airport lounge is a spot to calm down and recharge earlier than a flight on American Airways or its companions.

Contained in the lounge, you’ll be able to anticipate complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi and a spot to sit down away from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal. You will discover Admirals Golf equipment in practically 50 airports worldwide, together with main American hubs.

There are a handful of how to entry the Admirals Membership earlier than your subsequent flight — listed here are your choices.

Associated: First look: American’s new Flagship Lounge and Admirals Membership in Philly shine in large debut

Entry the Admirals Membership on same-day flights

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

No matter the way you acquire entry to the Admirals Membership — by way of a membership, class of service or American Airways AAdvantage elite standing — know that you need to current a same-day boarding move on American, Aer Lingus or a Oneworld accomplice airline.

Flights operated by Aer Lingus are a particular case:

  • Standing or premium-cabin entry: Allowed solely on flights marketed by Aer Lingus and operated by American
  • One‑day move: Not legitimate on Aer Lingus; should be marketed and operated by American Airways or a Oneworld airline

Lifetime Admirals Membership members are exempt from the same-day flight requirement and any airline restrictions for entry into the golf equipment.

Entry the Admirals Membership with a bank card

Arguably, the easiest way to entry the Admirals Membership is by opening the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard® (see charges and charges), which comes with a welcome bonus of 70,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles after you spend $7,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. Cardholders additionally obtain a complimentary Admirals Membership membership, which largely offsets the $595 annual payment. With this membership, you get entry for as much as two visitors or quick relations touring with you (with a same-day boarding move for an eligible flight).

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The actual hidden gem of this card comes from its beneficiant approved person coverage. You may add as much as three approved customers to your account for $175, then further approved customers for $175 every. Approved customers get Admirals Membership entry once they maintain a same-day ticket on American or its companions.

Due to this, some could even think about splitting the annual payment with a number of approved customers to deliver down everybody’s lounge prices.

Bear in mind that approved customers don’t get a full membership however slightly simply entry. They have to current their bodily Citi / AAdvantage Government World Elite Mastercard and should deliver quick relations or as much as two visitors. Approved customers do not need entry to accomplice lounges.

You may as well entry Admirals Membership lounges with the brand new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see charges and charges). This premium card offers 4 single-visit Admirals Membership passes every year for the first cardmember. To make use of them, you need to current a same-day boarding move for an eligible American Airways or Oneworld flight. These passes can’t be shared or gifted, and visitors should not permitted except they’re touring on their very own move, so the first cardmember could redeem all 4 passes in a single go to to herald a most of three grownup visitors. Any passes not redeemed on the finish of the calendar yr can be forfeited.

The Citi Strata Premier® Card (see charges and charges) doesn’t embrace Admirals Membership entry, so if lounge visits are a precedence, think about the Strata Elite.

Associated: Finest bank cards for American Airways flyers

Entry the Admirals Membership with a paid membership

American Airlines Admirals Club at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

If opening a bank card just isn’t interesting, you’ll be able to all the time buy a membership. Here is how a lot you must anticipate to spend:

Kind of membership Annual value (particular person membership)
Annual value (family membership — membership for you and your partner or home accomplice)
AAdvantage member $850 ($800 to resume) $1,650 ($1,600 to resume)
Gold $825 ($775 to resume) $1,625 ($1,575 to resume)
Platinum $800 ($750 to resume) $1,600 ($1,550 to resume)
Platinum Professional $775 ($725 to resume) $1,575 ($1,525 to resume)
Government Platinum $750 ($700 to resume) $1,550 ($1,500 to resume)
Concierge Key Free

You may as well use miles to buy an Admirals Membership membership at 1 cent apiece. Per TPG’s August 2025 valuations, American miles are price 1.55 cents apiece, so we usually do not suggest redeeming American miles this manner.

Kind of membership Annual value (particular person membership, in miles)
Annual value (family membership — membership for you and your partner or home accomplice, in miles)
AAdvantage member 85,000 (80,000 to resume) 165,000 (160,000 to resume)
Gold 82,500 (77,500 to resume) 162,500 (157,500 to resume)
Platinum 80,000 (75,000 to resume) 160,000 (155,000 to resume)
Platinum Professional 77,500 (72,500 to resume) 157,500 (152,500 to resume)
Government Platinum 75,000 (70,000 to resume) 155,000 (150,000 to resume)
Concierge Key Free

Associated: Finest bank cards for airport lounge entry

Admirals Membership 1-day move

American Airlines Admirals Club Chicago O'Hare
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

You should utilize one-day passes at some Admirals Membership areas. These can be found for buy for $79 or 7,900 AAdvantage miles. Throughout peak hours, nonetheless, be ready to be turned away with a one-day move.

A one‑day move holder could deliver as much as three youngsters beneath 18 at no further cost, topic to lounge capability.

Entry the Admirals Membership with elite standing

Admirals LAX lounge
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

Elite standing entry guidelines are practically similar for the Admirals Membership and Flagship Lounge, so if in case you have a selection, go to the superior Flagship Lounge.

American AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos Rewards elite members

For those who maintain Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald standing by way of American AAdvantage (by way of Platinum, Platinum Professional or Government Platinum standing) or Alaska Airways Atmos Rewards (beforehand often known as Mileage Plan) elite standing, you and a visitor can entry Admirals Golf equipment or Flagship Lounges on qualifying worldwide itineraries operated by American or a Oneworld accomplice, even in financial system class.

For those who’re counting on standing to enter and also you’re flying Alaska Airways, American doesn’t grant entry on flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico.

Different Oneworld elite members

In case you are a Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member with a program aside from AAdvantage or Atmos Rewards, you and a visitor can entry an Admirals Membership or Flagship Lounge when touring on American or one other Oneworld provider. Flagship Lounge entry is a beneficiant profit for Sapphire-level members of overseas applications.

Associated: What it is like flying American Airways with British Airways elite standing

Loyalty Level Rewards

Side of an American Airlines jet
COOPER NEILL/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The next Loyalty Level Rewards can be found that can assist you get into an Admirals Membership. While you attain the next level thresholds, you’ll be able to select a reward:

  • 250,000 Loyalty Factors: An Admirals Membership membership (keep in mind, if you obtain this tier, you’ll be able to choose from two Loyalty Level Rewards, however the Admirals Membership membership requires each of your choices)
  • 400,000 Loyalty Factors: An Admirals Membership membership (requires two selections)
  • 550,000 Loyalty Factors: An Admirals Membership membership (requires two selections)

One-day passes are not provided as a Loyalty Level Reward.

Entry the Admirals Membership with a sure fare class

BA Club Suite
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Whereas customary home first-class tickets will not get you entry to Admirals Golf equipment, the next forms of tickets will:

  • Enterprise- and first-class tickets on worldwide American- or Oneworld-operated flights.
  • Home Flagship-ticketed flights. This consists of Flagship nonstop flights between John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), John Wayne Airport (SNA) or San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO); Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) and LAX; and Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) and LAX.

Once more, in the event you’re flying by way of JFK, LAX, MIA, Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW), Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL) or O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), you must search out a Flagship Lounge. Nonetheless, Admirals Membership entry could be a profit for premium transcontinental passengers originating in Boston or San Francisco.

You will not have the ability to usher in a visitor in the event you’re getting lounge entry this manner except you are flying in worldwide top quality, wherein case you are allowed one visitor, as long as they’re on the identical flight.

Navy entry to the Admirals Membership

With a sound navy ID and same-day American Airways boarding move, U.S. navy personnel touring in uniform can entry the Admirals Membership and most accomplice membership areas. You may usher in your quick household or as much as two visitors.

Nonetheless, uniformed U.S. navy personnel cannot entry these two accomplice lounges:

  • Aspire Lounge in San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN)
  • JAL Sakura Lounge in Honolulu’s Daniel Okay. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL)

Associated: The most effective journey perks and reductions for members of the navy

Backside line

There are quite a few methods to entry American Airways’ Admirals Golf equipment. Whereas the creature comforts of the Admirals Golf equipment fluctuate considerably, these lounges are nonetheless higher than sitting in a crowded terminal and spending greater than $5 on a bottle of water.

Make sure you’re well-versed within the ins and outs of accessing the Flagship Lounge. In spite of everything, if in case you have entry to the Flagship Lounge, you would not wish to go to the Admirals Membership mistakenly.

For those who’re like many TPG staffers who worth an Admirals Membership membership, an American Airways cobranded bank card that gives membership for you and entry to your visitors will be the option to go.

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