Guide to Admirals Club Partner Lounges: Locations, Access, and Amenities

There are nearly 50 American Airlines Admirals Clubs located across the globe. With an Admirals Club membership, travelers get access to these lounges whenever they fly with American Airlines and on eligible partner airlines. However, a membership to American’s airport lounges also comes with access to over 60 Admirals Club partner lounges.

The Admirals Club partner lounge network includes lounge access to clubs in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, South America, and New Zealand. While many of these partner lounges are operated by other oneworld Alliance members, others are operated by independent lounge operators or other airlines. That being said, the partner lounge network is not nearly as consistent as American’s portfolio of Admirals Clubs.

In this post, we’ll provide a full list of all Admirals Club partner lounges, how to access them, and the various amenities guests can expect when visiting these premium lounges. Here’s everything you need to know about Admirals Club partner lounges.

What Are Admirals Club Partner Lounges?

Premium airport lounges are quite capital-intensive. One report states that to revamp Delta’s SkyClubs at its Atlanta (ATL) mega-hub, the airline invested over $90 million. It’s worth noting that this figure also includes some improvements to the gates from which Delta operates at the airport. Other figures put the price of a new 15,000-square-foot lounge at around $20 million. These figures don’t even factor in the routine costs associated with operating these lounges like staffing, catering, and upkeep.

With lounges costing a pretty penny to build and operate, airlines like American Airlines, aren’t too keen on investing in new lounges outside of their major hubs and within their primary market. But, American Airlines is not exclusively a domestic airline. American still wants to be able to provide a premium experience outside of its core network. That’s where the Admirals Club partner lounges come into play.

Take Zurich Airport (ZRH) in Switzerland as an example. American Airlines serves just one destination (Philadelphia) from Zurich. This flight operates once daily which adds up to just 365 departures from Zurich a year. American is currently operating its Boeing 787-8 between Zurich and Philadelphia configured with 234 seats. With 234 seats available each day from Zurich, this means American will serve at most 85,410 passengers in a calendar year from the airport.

Zurich is a very premium market with Switzerland home to a number of major companies and also some pretty deep pockets. However, if American Airlines were to build its own Admirals Club in Zurich, it would be investing, at a minimum, $25 million into this club. Instead, American Airlines contracts out its Zurich lounge to Primeclass. This allows Admirals Club members to access a premium departure lounge without American having to invest millions into a space that would see little use.

In short, Admirals Club partner lounges are clubs and lounges that are not operated by American Airlines but are a part of the Admirals Club network of lounges. This is similar to the American Express Global Lounge Collection which allows Platinum Card holders to access not only American Express Centurion Lounges but also Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, and even some lounges operated by Lufthansa.

Related: How Many AAdvantage Miles Do You Need for a Flight Award?

Which Airports Have Admirals Club Partner Lounges?

As of October 2024, there are 61 Admirals Club partner lounges across the globe. American has partnered with fellow oneworld Alliance members and some independent lounge operators to offer this partner lounge network. The two most noteworthy partners include Alaska Airlines and Qantas with which American has reciprocal lounge access agreements.

These 61 partner lounges are found in major markets like Australia, Germany, Qatar, and Japan but also in secondary markets including Denmark, New Zealand, and Portugal. Here’s which airports feature an Admirals Club partner lounge.

Below, you will find an interactive map of all 61 Admirals Club partner lounge locations worldwide:

Full List of Admirals Club Partner Lounge Locations:

Admirals Club Partner Lounge Amenities

As previously mentioned, amenities vary significantly from lounge to lounge. This is not unlike the Priority Pass network of lounges in which you can find some fantastic lounges, including one with a swimming pool, while others are not even worth visiting. Even within the Qantas Club portfolio, club quality varies quite a bit with some clubs featuring 2-star reviews on Google Maps. Still, there is a baseline for what you can expect during your visit to an Admirals Club partner lounge.

At a minimum, Admirals Club partner lounges feature the following amenities:

• Complimentary house wine and beer and soft drinks
• Complimentary light snacks
• Free Wi-Fi

Again, that’s just the bare minimum when it comes to amenities. Other partner lounges offer far more to guests including:

• Hot and cold buffets
• Complimentary spirits and liquor
• Barista-made espresso beverages
• Shower suites
• Nap rooms or day lounges
• Family rooms
• Conference rooms

To get a better idea of the differences in amenities across the partner lounge network, let’s take a look at three partner lounges:

Amsterdam (AMS) Oneworld Lounge

The oneworld Lounge at Amsterdam-Schipol opened its doors to passengers in February 2024 and is the second oneworld-branded lounge after the alliance’s Seoul-Incheon (ICN) location. Since opening, travelers and bloggers have given the lounge fairly high marks. This is partly the result of the lounge’s premium design elements and bright atmosphere. The space also features solid amenities including barista-made coffee, a full bar, and hot food.

Amsterdam’s oneworld Lounge also features private shower suites and various seating styles and configurations. The lounge is on the smaller side with a capacity of just 118 guests. This should not be a huge problem as oneworld Alliance members do not have a very large footprint at Amsterdam-Schipol Airport.

Karratha (KTA) Qantas Regional Lounge

With an annual passenger count of less than 500,000, it’s surprising that Karratha has an airport lounge. However, Qantas’ network of Qantas Clubs does not discriminate against small regional airports with a number of other small regional airports featuring a Qantas Club. Qantas’ regional lounges are in stark contrast to the carrier’s International First Class Lounge in Sydney. The Karratha Regional Lounge has space for just 80 passengers and features very few amenities.

Amenities at the Karratha Qantas Regional Lounge include complimentary house beer, wine, and spirits, light snacks, and free Wi-Fi. On the plus side, the lounge looks fairly upscale with a bright interior and premium design accents.

Munich (MUC) Airport Lounge World

While the name is pretty uninspiring if not odd, the Airport Lounge World at Munich Airport is highly rated by travelers. The lounge is located in the airport’s oldest and as such, most cramped terminal, Terminal 1. However, unlike the terminal, travelers say the lounge is modern, spacious, and features solid amenities.

According to travelers and the lounge’s website, amenities include hot food, a full bar, and shower suites. Day beds are also available but visits are limited to 3 hours before scheduled departure so you won’t be able to get that much shut-eye during your visit. The Airport Lounge World also features fantastic views of the apron overlooking Terminal 1.

Related: Review of the Admirals Club at Washington-National (DCA) in Concourse E

Who Can Access Admirals Club Partner Lounges?

There are a number of ways passengers can access these lounges. Many of these partner lounges are accessible to American Airlines elite frequent flyers. As access requirements for oneworld elites vary from lounge to lounge, this section is going to focus on access for Admirals Club members.

While the obvious answer to the question of who can access Admirals Club partner lounges is Admirals Club members, the process of accessing partner lounges is not the same as it is for accessing Admirals Club locations. Depending on the lounge, there may be certain stipulations and special requirements. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the access requirements:

Accessing Partner Lounges with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®

The first and one of the most significant differences when accessing partner lounges compared to Admirals Club locations impact Citi / AAdvantage Executive credit cardholders. Authorized users cannot access partner lounges. That is, an authorized user cannot present their credit card and access these lounges by themselves.

If you are traveling with an authorized user you can bring them into a partner lounge as a guest as the primary cardholder. This is because, with the Citi / AAdvantage Executive card, the actual Admirals Club membership is connected to the primary cardholder.

Alaska Airlines Alaska Lounges

If you’re an Admirals Club member traveling on a flight operated by American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, you can use your membership to access any Alaska Lounge. You will need to show a physical or digital Admirals Club membership card or your Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard in addition to your boarding pass at check-in. Of course, Citi / AAdvantage Executive card authorized users cannot access Alaska Lounges unless they are guested in by the primary cardholder.

Related: Alaska Airlines Alaska Lounge Seattle (SEA) Review

Qantas Club and Lounge Locations

Access requirements become more complex when you get to the Qantas Club network. For Qantas Club locations, access is still pretty straightforward. To access Qantas Clubs, you need to be traveling on a Qantas-operated flight or an American Airlines-marketed flight operated by Qantas. You will need to present your membership card or Citi / AAdvantage Executive credit card in addition to your boarding pass.

As for Qantas International Business Lounges, access is limited to passengers traveling on international flights. Again, to access a Qantas International Business Lounge, you need to hold a same-day boarding pass on an eligible flight in addition to your Admirals Club membership. Eligible boarding passes include those for a flight operated by American Airlines or Qantas or an American-marketed flight operated by Qantas.

All Other Partner Lounge Locations

To access all other partner lounges you must present the following at check-in:

• Digital or Physical Admirals Club® membership card or physical Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard
• Boarding pass for same-day departure on an American Airlines-operated flight

How To Get an Admirals Club Membership

There are three ways that you can get an Admirals Club membership. We’ve covered these three methods in our detailed post on how to access Admirals Clubs and club locations. However, here’s a brief breakdown of the three ways to obtain a membership:

1. Buy an Annual Membership: American Airlines sells Admirals Club membership outright starting at a whopping $850 a year with discounts when you renew your annual membership.
2. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®: As part of the card’s $595 annual fee, cardholders receive complimentary Admirals Club membership as well as other benefits. Authorized users can access Admirals Clubs with their physical card however, this only applies to Admirals Clubs and not partner lounges.
3. ConciergeKey Status: If you’re lucky enough to receive American’s highest elite status, you will also receive a complimentary Admirals Club membership as long as you hold this status.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About American Airlines Admirals Clubs

The Bottom Line

Admirals Club partner lounges offer travelers an expansive network of premium lounges worldwide, providing access to clubs in regions where American Airlines doesn’t operate its own lounges. While the quality and amenities vary significantly between locations, these partner lounges still offer a comfortable, premium experience for Admirals Club members. From basic amenities like complimentary drinks and Wi-Fi to more luxurious offerings such as hot buffets and shower suites, these lounges are a great place to relax or get some work done.

For American Airlines frequent flyers, an Admirals Club membership may be a worthwhile investment though will cost you a minimum of $850 a year if you don’t hold elite status.

I hold an Admirals Club membership through the  Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard® which has an annual fee of $595. At $255 less than the cost of paying for a membership outright, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is often a more practical way of obtaining an Admirals Club membership as the card also comes with additional cardholder benefits.

As a reminder, Admirals Club partner lounge access policies and lounge quality can differ from lounge to lounge. Overall, the Admirals Club partner lounge network provides a useful alternative for travelers looking for a place to kick back before their next flight.

Have you ever used your Admirals Club membership to visit a partner lounge? What is your favorite partner lounge?