Just a reminder that if you are trying to enter the American Airlines Admirals Lounge as an authorized user on the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, you need the physical card every time you enter the lounge…no exceptions.
No Physical Card, No Entry: Denied Access To ORD Admirals Club
My kids and I were flying home from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) and we arrived a bit early to use the Admirals Club lounge prior to our flight. However, we ended up being turned away because I did not have my physical card.
I had misplaced my card (I’ve since found it…it dropped under my seat in my car) and figured since I had an electronic copy of the card saved on my phone I could get into the lounge. I also figured there must be a link to my AAdvantage number in the system, especially because I’ve used he lounge many times this year (the year of my free agency).
The agent was very nice at the lounge and I could tell she wanted to let us in, but her supervisor was standing over her and was very direct: no card, no access. He explained that while primary cardholders do not need their physical card, there was no way in the system that they could verify whether I was an authorized user or not, therefore, no access. He added that the magnetic swipe was necessary for them to be paid for my lounge visit…
I wasn’t sure if the agent made up the rule or not, so I went to the other Admirals Club, but was told the same thing (this time, far more rudely…).
Darn…it’s like flying Lufthansa 20 years ago (“Vee must see your actual gold card or zhere is no access”).
The AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is a great card…and I love how generous the authorized user policy is (you can add up to three authorized users for $175/year and they can access the lounge even when not traveling with the primary cardholder).
The rule is what it is…and I’ll ensure to always have my card going forward…but it strikes me as so inefficient and bureaucratic in 2025. Sadly for us, Chicago O’Hare Terminal 3 is one of the most uncomfortable and crowded places to wait for your flight, which ended up being delayed by 90 minutes…
I think this is one of many small things, like the inability to cancel check-in online or having to pay $28 for internet, that puts AA into a lower tier than Delta or United. Making the process smooth and easy for customers is critical in offering a premium product.
Authorized users are no longer free. $175 for the first three and $175 each thereafter.
Updated.
Also, the physical card requirement for authorized users makes sense because otherwise it would be simple to add the card to the Apple wallet of friends/family that you trust enough to not to charge up a storm and then have them use it for lounge access thus bypassing adding them as true authorized users.
The reason the card is not needed for the primary cardholder is that their AAdvantage number is tied to the account so the agents can see them as an Admiral’s Club member.
Not really, you could do as Delta does and require the authorized user at the car that delta wallets on the Delta app and then that barcode on the tickets automatically beeps go for access when they try to go to the lounge.
This happened to my wife. It didn’t matter that I sent a photo of it. She was told the card has to be swiped in order to gain access.
Free AUs is no longer a benefit of this card. You have to pay $175 to add up to 3 AUs (same price if you add 1,2, or 3 people).
Exactly. That changed years ago.
This is total nonsense:
“primary cardholders do not need their physical card, there was no way in the system that they could verify whether I was an authorized user or not, therefore, no access. He added that the magnetic swipe was necessary”
If a primary cardholder won’t need the card – how can swiping the card (which isn’t needed) necessary? So far my BP always got me in no problem, but next AF and I will drop the card
Primary cardholders have an actual AC membership, as reflected on the back of the card and visible in their system as long as you’re flying using your AA number. AUs do not. (also if the primary is flying but using another ow loyalty program, they’ll need to swipe.)
Exactly, it’s on the boarding pass they scan.
I have no clue how I missed this but that’s awesome. Not you not being allowed in, that kinda sucks. But the AU’s have lounge access. Is there a limit to how many free AU’s you can have?
Delta won’t let authorized users into the lounge without a physical Amex Platinum card. I am the primary card holder and have additional cards for my wife and two kids. My wife always carries her cards in her purse but when we are traveling abroad I see no need for my kids to bring their credit cards as it is something else we need to worry about being lost or stolen, We arrived at the Delta lounge and my kids were denied entry even when showing their digital aMEx cards on their Apple Wallet. No physical cards, no entry. We since have them carrying the cards just to access the lounge which I found stupid but comply with the rules.
If you add an eligible AMEX card whether primary or AU as a saved payment method to your SkyMiles profile and that number is linked to the PNR, then a physical card isn’t needed.
@Julio: Ok, I may be missing something. Both my kids have their Amex Platinum cards saved into their Delta account as main method of payment. Now, when they fly with me, I am the one paying for their tickets (or sometimes they are flying using my miles) so not sure having an Amex card saved into their account will be reflected into their PNR if they did not use that card to pay for the ticket. I can tell you that I had this happen to us several times and even two weeks ago when we were flying to Europe, as soon as I presented their boarding pass at the Delta lounge the attendant asked if I was using a guest pass from my account or if they had an Amex Platinum card. I responded that they had an Amex Platinum card under their names and he asked to see the physical card and had it swiped before letting them in. I really like the Priority Pass option where all you need is to show a digital card from the app and you are in.
Wow that sucks. I’m so confused. AU need card. Primary don’t. Okay.
But why? They swipe not chip? Could they simply type in the 16 digits? Or is it pulling something else off the swipe? Does the computer automatically validate access or does it “charge” the account for a visit a la PP. It must do something? Otherwise you could get in using expired cards (I doubt anyone would do this since your name /dob is attached to transaction). You’re telling me if jesus christ himself (it’s a character from south park) showed up without the physical card there would be no way to let him in? Is AA looking into a way to link the AUness to your FFN or otherwise make a digital token or something? I just learned today I can put my Cap1 Lounge Card into apple wallet. It’s not rocket science!
Someone I know just went through TSA at O’hare terminal 1 and he had to take his shoes off. Some did and some didn’t. Has anybody had issues at any other airport with being forced to take off your shoes?
There lies the rub – you are attempting to access via a credit card benefit and not via an AC membership or status-based access. The rule is the physical credit card is required, which is similar to how certain club access works with Amex Platinum card.
We encountered something similar at the PHL Centurion, no card in hand, no entry. Thankfully, we met our annual spend so our son (an AU but didn’t have his card) was able to get in. He has carried his card since that trip.
Next they need to limit members to one guest, including families. The damn clubs are too crowded, especially MIA, and it’s painful watching some breeder bring in 6 kids and his wife when there are already no seats. I would be fine with no one under 18 or 21 too but I know that’s wishful thinking.
While I don’t want to see lines to get in like the Amex nonsense but I see it coming to this with all the cardholders now.
Makes what should be a semi relaxing experience a negative one.
So AA are taking a leaf out of the Lufthansa book, often used against gold members of other *A programmes.
‘We don’t recognise TK/A3/TP or a number of others as *A members, you can’t use the lounge’.
Usually asking for the station manager in person and to be present in less than five minutes changes the dragon’s mind but it’s a game they play too regularly for it to be an accident.
Well, Amex CL requires physical card for payment of any guest fees. Why they won’t/cannot do contactless or in app payment (like LoungeBuddy which they acquired) is beyond me.
I paid for the club, and they never sent me a card or said I needed anything except my Advantage card. They can sure take your money, but they can’t keep track of who’s paid. I’ve had it with AA, and will never fly with them again. And I have free miles to go anywhere.
Good on you, Matt. “The rule is the rule” . No whining no bitching (rare these days).
I totally agree with you that it does seem outdated. Maybe there’s just some things behind the IT scenes that doesn’t allow this? But more importantly, your story educated me. I will always have my card with me.
Yeah, that is the rule. Fortunately, I always have the card with me, as I value accruing OW status with miles (free seat selection on BA), and I find AA miles are useful for 57.5k BA business saver awards and sometimes even cheaper IB business awards.
The way this is written makes it not believable- “I’ve since found it…it dropped under my seat in my car” and “but her supervisor was standing over her and was very direct”. I doubt this ever actually happened
Believe it or not, when you have two young children, things get lost in the car…
This is my favorite card. The lounge access has been great– with a wife and 2 kids included for $175, and they can use the lounge if they travel without me. We always travel with the physical cards so that the kids can go out of the lounge to shop in the terminal if they want and then come back in with no issue (usually they want to buy some candy or chips for the flight).
Also the earlier boarding with this card is helpful in getting bin space if I’m sitting in economy.
The physical cards come in handy if we’re in London or DC because we can use them to hop on the underground without any hassle. This isn’t the cheapest way to do the underground with kids, but it is the easiest that I have found, and the cost difference is trivial in the context of a trip for four.
The cardholder receives a full AC membership.tied to their Aadvantage #, so they don’t need the card. AUs receive access that Citi pays for. This has been the case for a long time, and some of my AUs have suffered similar heartache. I always advise everyone to carry the card, and when I get the “I forgot it” text, my answer is always, “sorry. Nothing I can do.”
Huh, I just assumed you were Emerald or at least Sapphire on OneWorld—that would get you and one guest in free with $75 for the other. Anyway, I’ve found that although I love a nice lounge (Flagship >> Admiral at ORD), my kids at that age would much rather have been running around the terminal, lol
That “BECUASE” in the headline has been hurting my eyes all day!
“Don’t you know who I am!” Quite a bit of self entitlement in these comments.
This is ridiculous and classic AA in a post merger world. Rules first. Elite customers second.
It’s amazing that United is somehow able to miraculously tie credit card access privileges to a users OnePass number such that scanning a boarding pass is all that is required.
AA Exec card also provides access to Alaska lounges, to the primary cardholder only (and 2 guests). However, the primary card holder must present the physical card.
ORD is my home airport. Only once-the first time I visited c. 2014-did I have to show my actual card. I have my two daughters, my brother, and my wife as authorized users. They never have to show their cards, only their boarding pass(es).
Alaska Airlines has always been adamant that an AA Admirals Club membership or Citi Executive card must be shown and the primary member/cardholder must be present; even when flying on Alaska. No exceptions.
I gotta say I’m quite shocked you didn’t take advantage of the British Airways status match last year and aren’t one world emerald via BA right now, which would get you into the Flagship lounge just with your BA number. The pricing was really reasonable and I made a lovely Halloween weekend out of it in London.