Exploring the Pros and Cons of Airport Lounges: A Comprehensive Review of American Airlines Lounges

Experience of an Admirals Club Member

I'm an Admirals Club member and I fly a lot, so I'm an airline lounge regular. Find out the best and worst features of American Airlines lounges.

Traveling with Family

My family and I fly a lot because we go back and forth between our houses in two different states. In fact, we take at least six round-trip flights every year, and sometimes more. We always fly on American Airlines and, because of that, we got a credit card that provides us with airline lounge access. This means I visit American Airlines lounges at least a dozen times annually. Since I'm something of a regular there, I've developed a lot of opinions on what's great about them -- and what's not so good. Here are my favorite -- and least favorite -- things about visiting them.

Benefits of the Lounge Experience

• Comfortable seating: The seats in the Admirals Club lounges I've visited are a lot more comfortable than the hard plastic chairs at the airline gates. They're like standard armchairs where you can stretch out and relax a bit.
• Free food and drink: Some food and drink are included at the lounge -- enough to make a meal out of. This includes certain alcoholic beverages, although not all alcoholic beverages.
• Decent free wifi: The wifi at the lounge is always free and reliable, unlike some free airport wifi networks I've encountered.

Drawbacks of the Lounge Experience

• Food limitations: While you can always find stuff to eat, the selection is limited -- and the free items don't tend to be as filling or fancy as the ones on the menu you can pay for.
• Seat availability: Sometimes it's hard to find a place to sit, especially during crowded times.
• Varying lounge quality: The quality of lounges can be inconsistent, with some offering more amenities than others.

If you're considering becoming a member of an airline lounge, it's a good idea to think about whether doing so works for you and your finances. Before you sign up for a credit card solely to get access, you may want to try a day pass to the lounge at the airport you'll be flying out of the most to evaluate the quality.