Last week at a Delta Sky Club in Atlanta there was beef, chicken, salads, and sandwiches and many more options as well, all complimentary for guests.
In contrast you’ll often find mac and cheese that’s congealing in an American Airlines Admirals Club. You might have meatballs or ‘make your own tacos’ with tasteless chicken. But you usually won’t be offered more than one of these at the same time!
A premium offering in Admirals Clubs or several years has been guacamole and chips, but that’s available not because American is willing to make that (very modest) investment but because the credit card that offers club membership is a Mastercard and Mastercard pays for the avocados.
If you want chicken nuggets inside an Admirals Club, they have those! But they’ll charge you for it. Indeed, they’ll overcharge you for it.
@AmericanAir in DFW Terminal A Admirals lounge menu says $8 for kids chicken nuggets but system only rings up $10. Pujan was great and gave chips for free to compensate since she couldn’t do anything but this needs to rectified either pricing or computer fixed. pic.twitter.com/te1DoBiRAH
— Olga Ovchinnikova (@ovchinniko58007) June 28, 2023
While Delta Sky Clubs offer food to go to club members who forego use of their lounges:
American Airlines has similar food vending machines. They charge for the food instead of offering it complimentary. And the machines seem to frequently be out of order anyway.
Delta and United offer more solid food options, and better premium drink options at a charge, than American does. Delta has far more updated stylish clubs than American does (the only really aesthetically great one in American’s network is on the regional jet concourse at Washington National airport).
The only reason to maintain an Admirals Club membership is for agent assistance during irregular operations. I’m fortunate to have the best Admirals Club staff in the system in my home airport of Austin.
Expect prices for Admirals Club memberships to rise – as fees for the Citi co-brand that provides membership are expected to rise – and that will only be worth it if they get their product act together, matching other carriers. This is important for attracting premium business, and American Airlines with its cost base needs to earn a revenue premium.
As far as the price for Chicken Bites I bet the Admirals Club employee entered it into the system incorrectly. There is a Chicken Bites appetizer priced on the menu for $10. There is a Chicken Bites kids meal priced at $8. I bet the wrong Chicken Bites was entered into the system.
Makes me glad I’m not a member of any of these “clubs”. Sounds like from what I read and hear these are nothing but extra expense and an opportunity to complain.
AA’s oneworld arrangement forces them to offer more people access to the ‘first class’ level lounges (emerald coach pax on intl trips, or non-AA emeralds on any trip), and all the food they provide, than UA or DL.
I can imagine the overall F&B spend is not much lower, or perhaps even higher, for AA lounges vs DL, UA
I guess a counter is DL offers lounge membership as an option for its Diamond members
Try the flagship lounge food in DFW – awful. This is the perk we get as concierge key – horrible food. Leftover bits of meat and “crab cakes” that have been defrosted – bought in bulk ( not even Costco quality so must be Sam’s!).
As a member for the past several years, breakfast is the best meal of the day, lunch / dinner need some work, but I always get in, always have a seat and the staff is always amazing. DL might have better food (except for FL) but you have to wait 30 – 45 minutes to get in and the membership price is 50% higher. Yes AA needs to update their clubs, but they were open during the pandemic long before DL or UA and since I still had to travel every other week, it was a safe space with pre-packaged food. DL can keep their Sky”high price” clubs. . .AA’s are just fine for me.
Of course, you can actually get into an AA lounge without having to stand in line for hours at the Delta clubs…
As a long AA Club Member – I have been very disappointed with the Food Service for the Admiral Club Lounges – Glad to see you expose them here. We should expect better from AA – we pay for the service – it’s not free. I have been a Loyal AA Flyer for many many years – but, that’s about to change. When AA doesn’t show better service for their frequent flyers – perhaps we need to make a change. I hope AA steps up for those of us who are loyal to them.
I left Americans lounges when they closed during the pandemic and never renewed after paying for something that was unusable.The F&B quality is so poor and their service
was just ok not like years ago
I’m not sure Ill ever be back after 20 plus years
I am constantly amazed at those who expect gourmet dining at either an airport lounge or on a plane.
Was in the club in Philadelphia on Thursday. The food and display was very nasty looking. A big mess.
Went to the was much much better and a great drink selections.
Admirals Clubs may not in general be spectacular, but they are not that bad either. No, the food choices are generally nothing to write home about. I wish they had more menu choices versus one ‘local’ choice (although I do really like the brisket sandwich in DFW!). The access is reasonable whereas others are ONLY outbound and ONLY a couple of hours before the flight – no arrivals and nothing too early. Centurion Lounges have generally good food and drink, but requesting access, waiting in line to get into a lounge that packed is just not worth it. I used to fly out of MIA weekly and at best I’d grab a meal in Centurion but then quickly go wait in the far more peaceful Admirals.
AA made one change that requires flying on OneWorld carriers, themselves, or on of their partners. They do not have time restrictions such as ONLY three hours before flights, do not have arrival restrictions (can’t tell you how many time I’ve just gone into the club to wait for a colleague arriving or just wait out traffic outside or other reason). DL and Centurion have those harsh restrictions while the same time raising prices. I’ll give a huge shout out to AA for updating the clubs (remember the old brown themes?), adding more clubs (granted a bit corporate and cold, but at least updated, bright, generally large, and comfortable), having some basic offerings, and NOT raising prices or implementing draconian restrictions. To me, this is a stand out amazing value out there.
For me personally, I’d only wish they had more menu items. I’m fine with purchasing reasonably priced items that are good in quality. Even if a good quality hot sandwich. Fine! Keep the pricing and restrictions the same and I’m still a big fan. Yeah DL has better food. But try getting in…and once in, good luck at finding a place to sit.
Delta’s lounges served as my oasis over the past 20+ years of flying sometimes three times a month. My admission key was Delta’s AMEX branded Reserve card that allowed me access to the clubs. Best investment I ever made. The selection of food was nonpareil and rapidly refreshed when items ran low. Delta sets the standard on how to treat your passengers.
“Mastercard pays for the avocados” – where is this info from? If anyone other than AA is paying for avocados, I’m a bit surprised that it’s MA and not Citi or Barclays.
@nate nate – Mastercard sponsored the guacamole and the avocado toast, it’s all over the branding on the stations!
The food and beverages offered at Admiral’s Clubs are an embarrassment. Prisons serve better food. Whoever manages AC’s at AA HQ should be ashamed of themselves.
How’d you manage to get in at a Sky Club? The lines are legendary.
So why would you want to go to AA club when you can buy food outside? And it is better? (though I don’t think Austin has anything as good as Tortas Fronteras
I bought a lifetime membership, that included my wife, when there was a club at DTW in the early 80’s for $250.
I prefer AA lounges not just because you can get into them, but because paying for a prepared-to-order food item is a great way to spend down credit card travel credits. The cauliflower pizza was inedible, but their cheeseburgers are really good.
Fun fact for kids: Did you know an American Airlines Admirals Club Chix Bite will float when dropped into a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut champagne? This champagne is an Admirals Club value at only $48.00 a bottle.
According to wine.com, “this Champagne teases and allures us with its festive, light-drenched, pale gold shimmer and joyful display of neat, lively bubbles. Notes of almond and fresh hazelnut accompany the precise ascent of its bubbles. It is lively, subtle, and light, leaving a deliciously incisive sensation of smoothness, marked by the pureness of fresh pear and apple and a delicate hint of citrus fruits. A harmonious mixture of bright, crunchy pomelo, blonde grapes and juicy white fruits creates the delightfully surprising sensation of lightness embraced by the structure and depth from the Pinot Noir; all beautifully balanced.” Chugging a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut Champagne helps to make the Admirals Club Chix Bite taste better.
Although the food choices are much better in DL Lounges, they are very crowded and often involve waits for entry.
I downgraded my Admirals club Citibank executive card when the pandemic started. I had planned to join again due to the 10 authorized users having admirals club access…..but I recall seeing recent rumors this was changing? Has this policy changed yet, and do you have any sign up bonus links for the Executive card? Thanks!