Guide: Admirals Club Locations, Access, and Amenities

When traveling on flights operated by American Airlines, having access to the airline’s Admirals Club locations can make the air travel experience a bit less hectic and more enjoyable. These lounges provide a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the terminal and offer amenities like hot food, free drinks, and private shower suites. As someone who travels almost every other week, Admirals Club access has been a godsend.

Of course, you won’t find an Admirals Club at every airport. There are just 47 locations worldwide with most of these lounges located in the United States. Many of these lounges are found at American Airlines’ hubs. However, you will also find quite a few at other major US airports and a few in Europe and South America.

In this guide, we’ll explore the various ways to access Admirals Clubs, the amenities you can expect once inside, and the airports currently hosting these lounges.

Who Can Access American Airlines Admirals Clubs?

Before jumping into where you can find Admirals Clubs, let’s take a look at how to access these lounges. One of the best selling points of airline lounges is exclusivity and privacy. Though, in recent years, numerous lounges have experienced severe overcrowding, this has not been the case at most Admirals Club locations. This is despite access to Admirals Clubs, when compared to other lounges, being fairly easy to get.

Jump to List of Admirals Club Locations | (Skips Over How to Access Admirals Clubs Section)

There are 6 ways to get access to Admirals Clubs. While American Airlines still sells annual memberships to its network of lounges, this is not the route that makes the most sense for many travelers. Many travelers instead opt for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® which comes with complimentary Admirals Club membership or they obtain access through elite status or traveling in a premium cabin.

Here is how you can get access to American’s lounges:

Purchase an Annual Admirals Club Membership

It’s hard to imagine that purchasing an annual membership is a popular way to obtain access to Admirals Clubs. Annual memberships start at $850 for AAdvantage members without elite status while members with Executive Platinum status can purchase a membership for $750. Keep in mind, this is just for an individual membership which means you cannot bring a guest without your guest paying for a day pass. Renewing your membership does come with a discount however, it is still quite steep.

While an individual membership starts at $850 a year, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®’s annual fee is just $595 a year. Plus, this card comes with additional benefits that more than make up for the annual fee.

If you’re not interested in opening a credit card but still want Admirals Club access, you will want to consider just how practical an annual membership would be.

For example, an annual membership does not pay for itself if you only visit clubs a few times each year. With a day pass available for $79, you will need to ensure you visit an Admirals Club at least 11 days in a calendar year. Again, I can’t imagine there are many travelers buying a membership outright. Nevertheless, it’s still an option.

Complimentary Membership with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

As previously mentioned, there is one co-branded credit card that offers complimentary Admirals Club access as a cardholder benefit. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® offers the primary cardholder and authorized users a complimentary Admirals Club membership as part of the $595 annual fee. In addition to the primary cardholder, 3 authorized users can be added to the primary account for an additional $175 a year. Both the primary cardholder and authorized users can bring 2 guests with them at no charge.

With just the benefit of a complimentary Admirals Club membership, you already save $255 compared to buying a membership outright. Additionally, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® comes with additional benefits including:

• Priority Check-In and Group 4 Boarding when traveling on American Airlines
• First Checked Bag Free on domestic American Airlines itineraries
• Up to $120 in Lyft Credits: You will receive $10 in Lyft credit after taking 3 eligible rides in a calendar month.
• Up to $120 Back with GrubHub: You will receive a statement credit of up to $10 per monthly statement cycle on eligible GrubHub purchases.
• Up to $120 Back in Statement Credits with Avis and Budget Car Rental: You will receive a statement credit of up to $120 each calendar year when you book pre-paid car rentals directly at avis.com or budget.com.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Statement Credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years when you use your card when applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® is how I access Admirals Club. As such, I am of the belief that it remains the most practical way to access these lounges. Though, this card may not be for everyone, especially those who only travel a few times a year. In that case, I recommend exploring an Admirals Club day pass.

Purchase a Day Pass

If you only travel a few times a year, an Admirals Club day pass is the most practical way to gain access to these lounges. A day pass can be purchased for $79 either in-person at a club location or online. A day pass is valid for 24 hours from your first visit and can be used at any Admirals Club during these 24 hours.

For example, if you’re flying from Los Angeles (LAX) to Milan (MXP) with stops in Chicago (ORD) and New York (JFK), you would be able to access clubs in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York so long as each visit takes place in a 24-hour window from when you first checked-in at the LAX location.

Day passes are only valid for the person buying the pass and do not allow for guests. Additionally, there is one major thing to keep in mind. Day passes bought online or at a club are subject to capacity restrictions. If a club is nearing capacity, that location can decide to stop accepting day passes. So, a day pass does not guarantee access to all clubs, unlike a full membership.

There are only a few Admirals Clubs that consistently have issues with overcrowding. The lounges that frequently restrict day pass access include:

• Austin (AUS)
• Boston (BOS)
• Chicago (ORD): Concourse H/K
• Charlotte (CLT): Concourse C/D
• Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW): Varies, most common at smaller clubs (Terminal E)
• Los Angeles (LAX): Terminal 4
• Miami (MIA): Concourse D at D30
• Washington D.C. (DCA): Varies, most common at smaller clubs (Concourses C and D)

Capacity restrictions aside, a day pass is often the most practical way to access Admirals Club locations for in-frequent flyers.

Travel in Premium Cabins on Select Routes

If you’re traveling in first or business class, you may already have access to Admirals Clubs. The keyword here is “may.” For example, if you’re traveling solely in domestic first class, you won’t have access. However, on select premium transcontinental routes and select international routes, a ticket in the premium cabin will grant you access to Admirals Clubs.

Here’s which routes are eligible for lounge access when traveling in first or business class:

Flights Between the United States and the following regions:

• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• Canada*
• The Caribbean*
• Central America
• Europe
• Mexico*
• Middle East
• South America

*Canada, The Caribbean, and Mexico are currently eligible for access when traveling in business class. However, these destinations remain listed as temporary additions to this list when viewing the American Airlines website. Keep in mind that access to lounges when traveling to or from these destinations could be revoked with little notice.

Flagship-branded Transcontinental Routes:

• Los Angeles (LAX) and Boston (BOS)
• Los Angeles (LAX) and Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York (JFK) and Orange County (SNA)
• New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO)

Flagship-branded Flights to Hawaii:

• Chicago (ORD) and Honolulu (HNL)
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Honolulu (HNL), Kona (KOA), Maui (OGG)
• Phoenix (PHX) and Honolulu (HNL)

Hold oneworld Elite Status (Emerald or Sapphire)

If you’re an AAdvantage member with elite status, you are not guaranteed access to any American Airlines lounge including Admirals Clubs. This even includes members with Executive Platinum status. If you hold oneworld status with American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, you will need to be traveling on an eligible route to receive access to Admirals Clubs. If you hold oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status through a non-US carrier, you can access Admirals Clubs regardless of your itinerary. Confusing, right? Here’s some added clarity:

Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire Status through AAdvantage or Mileage Plan:

If you hold Emerald or Sapphire status as a member of the AAdvantage or Mileage Plan programs, you will only receive access if you are traveling on select international routes. These eligible routes to and from the United States are:

• Asia
• Australia and New Zealand
• Canada
• The Caribbean
• Central America
• Europe
• Mexico
• Middle East
• South America

Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire Status through All Other Programs:

If, for example, you hold Emerald or Sapphire status through British Airways Executive Club or Qantas Frequent Flyer Programme, you can access Admirals Clubs when traveling on American Airlines regardless of the route. This actually applies to these members when they travel on any oneworld carrier including Alaska Airlines.

ConciergeKey Members

If you’re lucky enough to receive American’s super elite ConciergeKey status, congratulations, you automatically receive a complimentary Admirals Club membership for as long as you hold this status. ConciergeKey members have access to Admirals Clubs regardless of cabin or itinerary.

Complimentary Access for Active Duty Members of the US Military

The final way to access Admirals Clubs is to be an active duty member of the US military. As a thank you for their service, members of the US military on active duty receive complimentary access to Admirals Clubs when traveling on American Airlines. However, just like in the case of day passes, US military access is also subject to capacity restrictions.

Related: How Many AAdvantage Miles Do You Need to Book a Flight?

Which Airports Have Admirals Clubs?

Not including partner lounges, there are currently 47 Admirals Club locations worldwide. These 47 lounges are spread across 32 airports with a single location (Paris-CDG) temporarily closed. This means that, at the moment, travelers currently have access to 46 Admirals Club locations at 31 airports. While American Airlines does operate a handful of lounges outside of the United States, the overwhelming majority of Admirals Clubs are located in the US.

Not all that surprising, Admirals Clubs are found at all American Airlines hubs and at select airports in larger markets in which American has a more significant presence. At American’s hubs, there is typically more than one club at an airport. The two exceptions to this rule are New York-JFK and New York-LaGuardia, both of which feature just a single club.

Most clubs offer a pretty consistent experience though, there are some outliers. At certain clubs located at American’s hubs and in markets with more premium demand, the Admirals Club experience can be a bit more elevated. At Admirals Clubs in smaller cities for American Airlines and at hubs inherited from US Airways, the experience can leave a lot to be desired.

Below is an interactive map of all 47 Admirals Club locations:

Admirals Club Locations in the United States

Of those 47 Admirals Clubs, 40 are located in the United States. As previously mentioned, clubs are concentrated at American Airlines’ hubs. 25 of the 47 clubs are located at one of the airline’s hubs representing over 50% of all Admirals Clubs. Still, there are 15 clubs in the US not located at a hub. Here is where you can find Admirals Clubs in the United States:

List of Admirals Clubs in the United States:

International Admirals Club Locations

Before the pandemic, American Airlines’ operated a slightly larger network of Admirals Clubs located outside of the US. Before its merger with US Airways, the airline’s lounge portfolio abroad was substantially larger with the airline at one time operating Admirals Clubs in Caracas, Santigo, Santo Domingo, and Bogota.

Today, there are just 7 clubs located outside of the United States with the location at Paris-CDG closed indefinitely. Here’s where you can find Admirals Clubs when traveling internationally:

List of International Admirals Clubs:

What Amenities Are Offered at Admirals Clubs?

American Airlines recently made a few positive changes to the amenities the airline offers at Admirals Clubs across the entire network of lounges. In 2023, coinciding with an increased annual fee for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® and club memberships, American rolled out enhanced food and beverage offerings at its clubs. Initially, these enhancements were only found in select clubs primarily at the airline’s major hubs. However, as of October 2024, it appears that most clubs now feature upgraded food and beverage offerings.

American’s network of Admirals Clubs is fairly consistent in terms of the amenities offered to guests at each club. Guests can expect, at a minimum, the following amenities when visiting lounges in the US and abroad:

• Complimentary Snacks, Hot Food, Salad Bar, and Charcuterie: With the recent upgrades to food and drink, most clubs now feature at least one hot food option. This hot food option has included plates like braised beef, butternut squash pasta, BBQ brisket, egg bites with sausage, and build-your-own tacos, just to name a few. Larger clubs also feature a rather extensive cold buffet with various salads, meats, cheeses, and dips. Most locations also feature soup in the afternoon with oatmeal in the morning. You will also find a selection of sweets and to-go items like chips or stroopwaffels. At lounges at American’s hubs, guests can enjoy made-to-order avocado toast in the morning and guacamole in the afternoon.
• A La Carte Options for Purchase: Each lounge features a menu with larger more substantive plates for purchase. Menus vary by club but typically include items like paninis, flatbreads, salads, burgers, and pasta.
• Complimentary House Wine, Beer, and Spirits: All clubs offer guests a selection of complimentary alcoholic beverages. These house drinks include red, white, and sparkling wine, domestic beer on tap, and well-liquor. Of course, you will also find the typical selection of soft drinks at all locations.
• Premium Wine, Beer, and Spirits for Purchase: In addition to complimentary house beverages, clubs also feature premium options that are available for purchase. Premium drinks include champagne, an upgraded liquor selection, and imported beers.
• Comfortable Seating: The seating options vary significantly depending on which club you visit. Newer clubs like those that feature the 2022-era design offer more private seating options with day lounges. Older clubs like those featuring the US Airways Club design are limited to standard lounge chairs and workstations.
• Dedicated Customer Service Agents: Admirals Clubs feature their own customer service representatives who can assist with most requests like rebookings, flight changes, upgrades, and seat assignments. This is a very underrated benefit, especially during irregularities that impact a significant number of passengers.
• Free Wi-Fi

Some Admirals Club locations at American’s hub airports also feature additional amenities. Below is a list of these amenities and which locations offer them to guests:

Private Shower Suites:

Private shower suites are available at no additional charge upon request at the following Admirals Clubs:

• Boston (BOS)
• Buenos Aires (EZE)
• Chicago-O’Hare (ORD): Concourse H/K
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): Terminals A, B, C, D
• London-Heathrow (LHR)
• Los Angeles (LAX): Terminals 4 and 5
• Miami (MIA): Both MIA locations
• New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
• Paris (CDG): Temporarily Closed
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Sao Paulo (GRU)

Conference Rooms:

For guests who need a private space to host a meeting, there are a few lounges that feature dedicated conference rooms. Conference rooms are available at an additional cost starting at $65 per hour and can be booked in advance online. The following clubs feature conference rooms:

• Boston (BOS)
• Chicago-O’Hare (ORD): Concourse H/K
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW): Terminals A, B, C
• Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles (LAX): Terminal 4
• Miami (MIA): Concourse D at D30
• New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
• Newark (EWR)
• Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Washington D.C. (DCA): Concourses C, D, E

Though amenities are fairly consistent across the entire network of clubs, there is still a noticeable difference in the atmosphere at each club. There are now 3 to 4 various design styles found at Admirals Club locations. So, despite hot meals being available at each club, the overall experience can be quite underwhelming at clubs that feature the US Airways-era design. Thankfully, most lounges have received some form of an update within the last 10 years.

My Favorite and Least Favorite Admirals Club Locations

Though I haven’t made it to all 47 Admirals Clubs, I have been to just over half. There are some clear differences in the atmosphere and overall quality of each lounge. I look forward to visiting some of these lounges while there are some I pass on visiting in favor of hanging out in the terminal. Here are my favorite and least favorite Admirals Clubs:

Least Favorite Admirals Clubs:

1. Mexico City (MEX): First and foremost, this lounge is located about a 10 to 15-minute walk from the gates from which American Airlines operates. Second, the club is quite dated with a layout that makes it seem more crowded regardless of how many guests are actually present. Natural lighting and power outlets are also hard to come by. The good thing about this club though is that the food always seems to be quite tasty with regionally inspired options available.
2. Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU): Unfortuantely, there’s little that can be done to improve this club aside from a complete overhaul. The lounge at RDU is one of the smallest in the network and hasn’t received a facelift in decades. There’s pretty much no natural light and seating is limited. During my most recent visit to this club, the food was the saving grace with shrimp and grits served as the featured hot dish.
3. Charlotte, NC (CLT) Concourse C/D: This lounge is widely viewed as one of the worst in the Admirals Club network. A former US Airways Club, the lounge hasn’t received any updates since well before the US Airways-American Airlines merger. It’s also prone to overcrowding with limited seating. The food and beverage is also usually quite underwhelming. On the plus side, the staff at this lounge are among the friendliest at any lounge.
4. Austin (AUS): Similar to the club at Raleigh-Durham, the Admirals Club in Austin is extremely small. It’s also dark with very dated furnishings. The staff, however, are always very welcoming and ready to assist. Thankfully, there is a new lounge in the works though, it’s not clear when this new space will open to travelers.
5. New York (JFK): At one time, this was American Airlines’ go-to Admirals Club location. However, as American has shifted focus to its premium lounges it operates alongside British Airways, the Admirals Club at New York-JFK has taken a hit. It has yet to receive even the 2017-era design and the space now feels very outdated. It’s also quite a ways away from the security checkpoint and requires travelers to make the walk back to the main terminal area if they are departing from gates 1 through 20.

Favorite Admirals Clubs:

1. New York (LGA): One of my two home clubs, the Admirals Club at New York-LaGuardia’s Terminal B opened its doors fairly recently having been open just over 2 years. As a result, the design and atmosphere are bright and modern, and it feels quite premium. There is also a ton of space with this lounge featuring two bars and dining areas. Crowding is also rarely an issue. The staff are friendly and the buffets are kept full and tidy. This club also features two shower suites which has made early morning departures much more enjoyable.
2. Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) Terminal D: Though this lounge can get quite full, it’s still worth a visit for the views of the airfield alone. The lounge offers great aircraft spotting and features a ton of natural lighting. The food and beverage at this club are also usually quite enjoyable with BBQ fittingly offered at various times throughout the year. The high ceilings also make the lounge feel less crowded than it actually is.
3. Washington D.C. (DCA) Concourse E: Of course the Concourse E club at Washington-DCA was going to make this list. The first Admirals Club to feature the new design, the Concourse E lounge atmosphere is very premium. The design elements make for a warm and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, there are a ton of seating options including day lounges if you’re looking to kick back and relax. Food and beverage is consistent though the buffet area is quite tight with limited space.
4. Miami (MIA) at D30: This might be somewhat polarizing as I know many travelers have come to dislike this lounge due to overcrowding. Yes, in the evening, the Admirals Club near gate D30 can get very crowded. However, during other hours of the day, crowds are rarely a problem. The lounge offers large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airfield and part of Concourse D making for amazing views of the widebodies operating from the D gates. The service is always top notch and I always appreciated the make-your-own Cuban sandwich option offered at various times of the year.
5. St. Louis (STL): My other home club, I have come to appreciate this lounge for its modest size and friendly staff. While small, the lounge is only crowded in the morning hours and even then, you can always find a seat. You can also enjoy great views of the airfield, Concourse C, and Terminal 2. The food and beverage have also improved with egg bites and turkey sausage being served during my most recent morning visit. It’s also worth noting that this club was used for shots of Admirals Clubs in the movie Up in the Air.

The Bottom Line

American Airlines’ network of Admirals Clubs is a valuable resource for frequent flyers. There are currently 47 Admirals Clubs located across the globe. While the atmosphere of these clubs can vary significantly, the amenities offered at these lounges are fairly consistent. Guests can expect a few hot food options, free house drinks, snacks, and a comfortable place to relax or get some work done. At some Admirals Club locations, you can even enjoy private shower suites or book private conference rooms.

While many lounge operators have aggressively expanded their portfolio of premium lounges, airlines like American have been a bit more reserved in their approach to expanding their lounge footprint. The majority of Admirals Club locations are found in the United States with just 7 located at airports abroad. Travelers can access Admirals Clubs through an annual membership, purchasing a day pass, or holding elite status.

What’s your favorite Admirals Club? How do you typically gain access to these lounges?