Citi Executive World Elite card

[SDMarik]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

As others have stated, Admirals Club access is essentially the reason to have the card, rather than just being an additional perk.  I am curious as to whether the oft-mentioned overcrowding is based on personal experience or from reading about overcrowding?  I'm only using SkyClub or Centurion Club about 30 times a year, but I can only recall two times out of the past maybe 100 uses where either club was what I would exactly call very crowded, but there was still no wait to get in and no issue in finding an available seat.  And both lounge networks have made the bar for entry higher and made changes to limit the number of guests in recent years.  I would think when comparing Centurion to Admirals, the decision might come down more to whether Centurion is available at the airports you travel through, and if they are convenient to use (not needing to change far away terminals with security exit and re-entry).  For a frequent AA traveler, access likely makes a lot of sense especially with IRROPS.

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Thats one of the bigger things for me, espcially since most of 3+ hour flights I take are out of JFK, I usually alternate between AA and Delta. So when I'm on Delta it's no issue with the Centurion Lounge, but it's a huge pain in the ass to move around through terminals there, so when I fly AA I usually don't even bother. Access to AC would be nice in those situations. The new terminal 8 at JFK looks like its going to be pretty amazing as well, granted that is still a ways out, it might be another reason for me to fly more American.

As far as the crowding goes, I'm probably being a little judgy based on a small sample size because it is usually fine, but the handfull of times I hit up the one in CLT, it was a nightmare.

[wasCB14]

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@SDMarik wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

As others have stated, Admirals Club access is essentially the reason to have the card, rather than just being an additional perk.  I am curious as to whether the oft-mentioned overcrowding is based on personal experience or from reading about overcrowding?  I'm only using SkyClub or Centurion Club about 30 times a year, but I can only recall two times out of the past maybe 100 uses where either club was what I would exactly call very crowded, but there was still no wait to get in and no issue in finding an available seat.  And both lounge networks have made the bar for entry higher and made changes to limit the number of guests in recent years.  I would think when comparing Centurion to Admirals, the decision might come down more to whether Centurion is available at the airports you travel through, and if they are convenient to use (not needing to change far away terminals with security exit and re-entry).  For a frequent AA traveler, access likely makes a lot of sense especially with IRROPS.

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Thats one of the bigger things for me, espcially since most of 3+ hour flights I take are out of JFK, I usually alternate between AA and Delta. So when I'm on Delta it's no issue with the Centurion Lounge, but it's a huge pain in the ass to move around through terminals there, so when I fly AA I usually don't even bother. Access to AC would be nice in those situations. The new terminal 8 at JFK looks like its going to be pretty amazing as well, granted that is still a ways out, it might be another reason for me to fly more American.

As far as the crowding goes, I'm probably being a little judgy based on a small sample size because it is usually fine, but the handfull of times I hit up the one in CLT, it was a nightmare.

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And in the case of JFK T8 (at least the last time I used an Admirals Club several years ago) if your flight was close to either the B or C lounge and it was closed for renovation, the walk to the other (at least with a not-particularly-fast companion) could take about as long as changing terminals.

[imaximous]

I'm getting good value from the AA Exec card. Whenever I have a choice, I still prefer to try the Centurion lounge first, but I find more ACs than Centurions when I travel. 

I also travel with family. That's at least 6 of us, and sometimes a few more. Being able to get free AU cards with AC access is a great perk.

Just for fun, I've done some rough math and while I'd never pay or value $59 per person to enter, I'd easily value a pass somewhere around $20 - $25 per kid, and more for DW and I if we get a couple of drinks. So, $20 x 4 = $80 for the kiddos and maybe $30 x 2 = $60 for DW and I. That's $140 per segment or $280 RT if there aren't any layovers in between. Sometimes I can't avoid them. Figure the usual 4+ family trips a year, some quick getaways with DW and the AF is more than paid for. 

Aside from that, last year, I was on a plane (not always AA) twice a week for like 5 months or so. I probably could've used a United Club card too, but I decided not to get one. I just keep getting tempted though.

I also need to pay for Global Entry for 6, so this card takes care of 1.

Every situation is different so it's hard to put value on any card for someone else, but it works for me.