If you frequently fly American Airlines, you may be able to access one of its airport lounges. There, you can enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks, travel assistance, a place to work and, depending on the location, shower suites.
CNBC Select covers how to access American Airlines' network of Admirals Club and Flagship lounges, the benefits of these lounges and where they're located.
How to access American Airlines lounges
To access any American Airlines lounge, you'll need to be flying either with American Airlines or a oneworld alliance partner.
Use a card that offers American Airlines lounge access
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® comes with a full, complimentary Admirals Club membership for the primary cardholder and the ability to add authorized users to your card. You can add three authorized users for a total of $175, and an additional $175 for each authorized user after that. Authorized users will receive access to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges but won't receive a full membership, which includes additional perks reserved for the primary cardholder.
The card's $595 annual fee may seem hefty, but it's less than an individual Admirals Club membership, which costs up to $850. A same-day boarding pass for an eligible American Airlines flight is required for Admirals Club access.
The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite also offers other perks, like a first checked bag free for you and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation, priority check-in, early boarding and 25% savings on in-flight food and beverage purchases.
The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is one of the best ways to get access to American Airlines' network of Admirals Club® airport lounges.
- Access to nearly 100 Admirals Club® and partner airport lounges
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fee credit
- High annual fee
- Additional fee for authorized users
- No bonus rewards outside of American Airlines purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $7,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation
Balance transfer fee
5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
You can also get complimentary or discounted Admirals Club access with a number of American Express credit cards that offer airline fee credits. If American Airlines is selected as your preferred airline, the purchase of an Admirals Club membership or day pass will likely qualify for the credit. With the American Express Platinum Card®, you can be reimbursed for up to $200 back in statement credits each year after incidental fees charged by your chosen airline. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also offers a similar benefit of up to $200 in airline statement credits (enrollment is required) alongside more benefits geared toward your business.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,550 airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- As High As 300,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card company on the market as of 07/2025.
- See how you can unlock over $4,000 in business and travel value annually after meeting qualifying spend thresholds on the Business Platinum Card. Terms apply.
- Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually for up to a total of $600 in statement credits per calendar year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using the Business Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- No Preset Spending Limit: The spending limit on the Business Platinum Card is flexible, so unlike a traditional credit card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment and credit history.
- Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton for Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Gift cards are not an eligible purchase. Benefit enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- Use the Business Platinum Card and get up to $209 back per calendar year on your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal).
- Maximize your time away with Fine Hotels + Resorts through Amex Travel™.
- Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits on U.S purchases directly with Dell Technologies on the Business Platinum Card and an additional $1,000 statement credit after you spend $5,000 or more on that same Card per calendar year.
- Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Platinum Card. *Subject to auto-renewal.
- Enroll and get a $250 statement credit after you spend $600 or more on U.S. purchases directly with Adobe per calendar year on the Business Platinum Card.
- Get up to $90 in statement credits quarterly for purchases with Indeed on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $360 back per year. Enrollment required.
- Get up to $10 in statement credits per month for wireless telephone service purchases made directly with a wireless provider in the U.S. on the Business Platinum Card. That's up to $120 back per year. Enrollment required.
- 2X points on purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more, up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
- 1X points on other eligible purchases
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
3.10% APY as of 5/19/2026
Min balance to open = $0
1.00% APY as of 06/24/2024
Min balance to open = $0
Complimentary access: Fly with an eligible ticket, elite status or military ID
Complimentary Admirals Club access is available to business- and first-class passengers traveling on any international route (including flights to Canada, the Caribbean, and Mexico, which were previously excluded), premium transcontinental routes and select flights to Hawaii.
American AAdvantage members with Platinum status or higher, as well as Atmos Gold, Platinum or Titanium members, are eligible for complimentary business lounge access when flying internationally on a oneworld® airline (outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico). Through oneworld status, Sapphire members can access business class lounges, while Emerald members are also eligible for first class lounges, which often have more premium perks.
U.S. military personnel in uniform traveling on a same-day flight operated by American will also be able to access lounges, except at the Airspace Lounge in San Diego (SAN) and the JAL Sakura Lounge in Honolulu (HNL). They can bring their immediate family or up to two guests.
Paid access: Purchase an Admirals Clubs membership or day pass
If you don't have the right credit card or free access, you can purchase an annual Admirals Club membership or a one-day pass. With an annual Admirals Club membership, you'll also have access to Alaska Airlines lounges, Qantas lounges and other partner lounges.
One-day passes cost a flat $79, or 7,900 AAdvantage miles, and access can be restricted if the lounge is full. You can also splurge on a single-use Flagship First lounge pass for $150, or 15,000 miles.
For unlimited access, you'll need to buy a full membership. The price of a yearly membership varies depending on your level of AAdvantage elite status, whether or not you're renewing and the type of membership.
An individual membership ranges in cost from $750 for top-tier AAdvantage Executive Platinum members, to $850 for anyone with no status. Household memberships cost as little as $1,550 for Executive Platinum members and max out at $1,650 for members without any level of elite status. Membership renewals cost $50 less. You can also redeem miles for an annual membership at a rate of 1 cent per mile, so an $850 membership would cost 85,000 AAdvantage miles.
With a membership, you may bring your immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18) or up to two guests along with you. The household membership grants full membership privileges to a spouse or domestic partner, so they can access lounges without the primary member.
What is the difference between Flagship and Admirals Club lounges?
American's higher-end Flagship lounges have stricter entry requirements than the standard Admirals Club locations. You'll need to meet one of the following requirements:
- Traveling in business or first class on a qualifying route (long-haul international, premium transcontinental and select Hawaii flights)
- Traveling on a qualifying international route (regardless of cabin) with one of the following elite statuses: AAdvantage Platinum status or higher; Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold or higher; oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status
- Have oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status earned through a program other than American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan
- Have American Airlines' invite-only ConciergeKey status
- Traveling in any cabin and purchase a single-visit pass for $150, or 15,000 AAdvantage miles (capacity limits apply)
Admirals Clubs are more widely available and provide a lighter offering of food and beverages. These lounges will allow you some of the more basic amenities, like WiFi, comfortable seating and some light snacks, but not the more premium services found in Flagship lounges.
American Airlines lounge locations
American Airlines offers a network of nearly 50 Admirals Club lounges across 32 airports worldwide. Many hubs, such as Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas and Philadelphia, offer multiple Admirals Club locations. Admirals Club amenities may include a range of benefits, from complimentary food for snacking to showers for freshening up.
The airline also offers five Flagship lounges for certain premium cabin and elite passengers, with the Philadelphia location having launched most recently:
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
In Dallas and Miami, there's also Flagship First Dining, which is a sit-down dining experience for Flagship First and Flagship Business Plus passengers on qualifying international or transcontinental flights (this option is temporarily closed in Los Angeles).
While not Flagship-branded, American Airlines operates premium lounges at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in partnership with British Airways. You'll need a qualifying fare class, ticket or AAdvantage Status to visit these lounges.
If you don't travel solely with American Airlines or its partners, then you're better off with more general lounge access; many credit cards come with Priority Pass lounge access.
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Benefits of the American Airlines Admirals Club
Whether you travel frequently for work or just once in a while for a vacation, airport lounges often have a handful of different perks that can help make flying more comfortable and enjoyable. These can include benefits like:
- Complimentary snacks, house drinks and made-to-order specialties
- Personal travel assistance
- Shower suites
- Business center
- Full meals and premium drinks for purchase
While some aspects, such as shower suites, will only be available at specific locations, the American Airlines Admirals Club can serve as a great place to relax and unwind before a flight.
FAQs
How much does the Admirals Club cost?
A one-day ticket for the Admirals Club will cost a flat $79, or 7,900 AAdvantage miles, but access could be restricted if the lounge is full.
How many American Airlines Admirals Clubs are there?
American Airlines offers close to 50 different Admirals Club locations in certain domestic and international destinations.
What credit card get you Admirals Clubs access?
While the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the only card that includes a membership, there are other cards that can help offset the cost of accessing the Admirals Club.
Which is better, American Flagship lounges or Admirals Club?
Both lounges offer helpful services and amenities for travelers, but American Airlines Flagship lounges are generally considered more premium. You can enjoy perks like chef-inspired meals, speciality cocktail bars and more spacious seating.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
