I recently passed through the American Airlines Admirals Club in Denver, a lounge I reviewed extensively four years ago. Since we’ve had a pandemic in that time, has much changed?
The short answer is no, much remains the same. One thing that was no longer issued was a voucher for a free premium drink, but that should not be too much of a shock to anyone. I had forgotten they used to do that for other airlines frequent flyers until I read my 2018 review.
A Little Peek Inside
Rather tired after travelling non-stop for days on end, I arrived at the lounge. After handing over my AA boarding pass, the desk lady asked which level I was in the BA programme for some reason, then let me in. I beelined for the bar as I was thirsty.
Inside the Admirals Club
Quite frankly, I was very tired and took exactly two pictures from my seat, hence the little peek. There were also people dotted about the place and I wasn’t in the mood to work out how to take pictures around them.
Overall Thoughts
If you really want a proper look instead of a little peek, my 2018 review is pretty accurate as to what is there today. There have been some cosmetic changes and what not, but otherwise exactly the same. This was one of those times where not being in the main terminal was very welcome.
Only interesting story I have is that three people got thrown out. Apparently they changed their flight and therefore no longer had access to the lounge and the staff sent them packing. I’d love to know what happened there!
Have you been to the Admirals Club in Denver? What do you think of it? Thank you for reading and if you have comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Hi-C is fruit flavored sugar-water with added vitamin C and enough sugar to rot off an elephant’s tusk. Still, a good cheap mixer with cheap vodka. (I’ve heard) 😉
“Barg” is actually BarQ’s, which is brand of root beer, which I’ve heard is not common in Europe, definitely an American thing. Sort of like Dr. Pepper.
I’ve never heard of AHA, either.
Apples are wrapped because the skin is eaten, as opposed to oranges or bananas.
Did you sit in the red chairs?
Ah-ha! The apple mystery is solved. I noticed the same thing in the Alaska Airlines lounge, and it never occurred to me that was the reason. Thanks for that!
Glad I didn’t go for the Hi-C, though it does sound like a good mixer 🙂 I’ll have to try all these next time I’m passing through an AA lounge. It’ll be interesting anyway!
Haha! No red chairs for me that day 🙂
You were likely asked for your BA Executive Club status because that is how you gained access to the lounge. BA Executive Club Silver and Golds traveling on AA or OneWorld have access because they are OneWorld Emeralds or Sapphires even if traveling domestically. (AA Platinums and above do not get similar access while traveling in the US).
Access rules for US airline lounges are very different than European or Australian lounges. US airline lounges are essentially membership clubs. You pay an annual fee for access or gain it through a premium credit card. There are some exceptions that seem to be in place primarily to level out access within OneWorld. Thus, AA or other OneWorld status holders or business/first tickets do get lounge access on INTERNATIONAL tickets. Business/First tickets get access on flagship transcons too. I think it surprises non-Americans that a First Class ticket from Denver to Miami, however, would not come with lounge access.
I have never seen anyone’s access revoked during a stay. I suspect that the folks thrown out were no longer traveling on AA. That’s another access rule.
Another interesting tidbit about this lounge. It and the neighboring Delta SkyClub were both part of the Continental Airlines President’s Club before the Continental United merger. The odd layout of the lounge is the result of that.
The too long; didn’t read version: You got access because of: 1) your BA status; or 2) Premium class international itinerary.
Thank you for the explanation, Brian – especially the part about the history of the lounge. Interesting that it was a Continental President’s Club beforehand! It is a very odd layout indeed, so that explains why.
I should have been more specific, really. She asked me my BA status even though she already had taken my boarding pass which has “Issued by British Airways” on it and “Emerald”. That is why I was surprised. As you correctly point out, non-AA/AS elites can access the lounges on any itinerary within the US.
Qantas operate a similar system in Australia with their paid membership to The Qantas Club. Only thing is, their own elites get access to the lounges, so really Qantas Club is only useful if you are oneworld Ruby or have no status. Just a different model!
Yes, the people thrown out was very interesting. Three guys in their late 20s I’d say, came in, sat down, had a drink, one went to the bathroom and on the way back the lounge lady said something to one of them, then came in and asked them all to leave. It was all done fairly unobtrusively, so there was no yelling and screaming. I happened to be sat about a metre away from them, so it was easy to overhear what was going on.