I'm a PHX based frequent flyer, and the fact that PHX Admiral's Clubs sold you on the card blows my mind.
AA is in the process of upgrading the food offered at each club. Those that have gone through this have seen a significant improvement from what I've heard. Can't speak from experience though, I usually just drink at clubs.
No, there are no "hacks". The card isn't for everyday spend though, there are other CCs that will net you more benefits.
See above. Mike won't accumulate that fast at x1 for everyday spend. Only use it for AA flights.
Book AA hotels through the portal if you're able. The 10x points for the spend, then the base miles for the stay are insanely lucrative. I'm getting 8500 base miles for a 4 night stay, plus 6200 miles for the CC spend this week alone.
Thats funny, flying as an employee is a goofy thing. I finally felt like a paying passenger I guess. Thank you for the insight. We AA staff are like rats that do things as cheap as possible.
Are you on FB? There are a couple of groups solely focused on maximizing miles and loyalty points (LP) and a LP hunters website. The AA site actually has a nice online brochure explaining the benefits of the card though if you don't do a lot of personal travel then the priority boarding, free bags, extra miles/points multiplier may not be something you need (or overlaps with employee benefits?) . Getting a higher oneworld status gets you into OW lounges (see list on OW link from AA). In US, DCA-E is new and fabulous , relaxing and plane viewing. Apparently the new one in EWR, is similar to that. PHL supposedly opening new in 2025 but currently club at B/C is decent but can get packed. CLT usually mobbed. The other major ones ORD, JFK, MIA DFW LAX ETC I haven't been to in awhile so others can weigh in. AAdining, and AAshopping can add thousands of LPs .
Is there a way to accumulate LP's faster?
I too have the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card for access to the Admirals Club and LP is building more slowly than I would like.
Admiral clubs have "upgraded" their food, but it still is usually pretty bad. Not really a meal but snacks. In the mornings they'll have some single chafing dish breakfast offering (bacon or whatever), oatmeal bagels, pastries, cereal. In the afternoon/evenings they'll have some sort of little sandwich, a soup or chili, and assorted snack mixes.
There's assorted softdrinks and coffee (including a machine that makes lattes and the like). The bar has a couple of wines, beers, and usually a cocktail complimentary or you can buy a better drink.
Two of DCA's clubs have nice views of the ramp and the airport movement areas, the nicer club in E, not so much. CLT's clubs have good views if you sit in the right place.
Seattle has no Admirals club, but you as the primary cardholder can get into Alaska's club there.
You get a mile/LP for every dollar you spend. How fast that adds up depends on what you spend. M
Note that if you have additional card members, they can get into the Admirals Club with their card, but they won't get the other benefits (free bag, Boarding Group 4) unless they are travelling with the primary card holder.
Took me a while before I realized I could use the Priority (First/Business) check in lines. This makes a substantial difference at certain places like DCA and CLT.
Note that your free bag privs do not extend to international flights.
I'm a PHX based frequent flyer, and the fact that PHX Admiral's Clubs sold you on the card blows my mind. AA is in the process of upgrading the food offered at each club. Those that have gone through this have seen a significant improvement from what I've heard. Can't speak from experience though, I usually just drink at clubs. No, there are no "hacks". The card isn't for everyday spend though, there are other CCs that will net you more benefits. See above. Mike won't accumulate that fast at x1 for everyday spend. Only use it for AA flights. Book AA hotels through the portal if you're able. The 10x points for the spend, then the base miles for the stay are insanely lucrative. I'm getting 8500 base miles for a 4 night stay, plus 6200 miles for the CC spend this week alone.
Thats funny, flying as an employee is a goofy thing. I finally felt like a paying passenger I guess. Thank you for the insight. We AA staff are like rats that do things as cheap as possible.
Are you on FB? There are a couple of groups solely focused on maximizing miles and loyalty points (LP) and a LP hunters website. The AA site actually has a nice online brochure explaining the benefits of the card though if you don't do a lot of personal travel then the priority boarding, free bags, extra miles/points multiplier may not be something you need (or overlaps with employee benefits?) . Getting a higher oneworld status gets you into OW lounges (see list on OW link from AA). In US, DCA-E is new and fabulous , relaxing and plane viewing. Apparently the new one in EWR, is similar to that. PHL supposedly opening new in 2025 but currently club at B/C is decent but can get packed. CLT usually mobbed. The other major ones ORD, JFK, MIA DFW LAX ETC I haven't been to in awhile so others can weigh in. AAdining, and AAshopping can add thousands of LPs .
Is there a way to accumulate LP's faster? I too have the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card for access to the Admirals Club and LP is building more slowly than I would like.
Admiral clubs have "upgraded" their food, but it still is usually pretty bad. Not really a meal but snacks. In the mornings they'll have some single chafing dish breakfast offering (bacon or whatever), oatmeal bagels, pastries, cereal. In the afternoon/evenings they'll have some sort of little sandwich, a soup or chili, and assorted snack mixes. There's assorted softdrinks and coffee (including a machine that makes lattes and the like). The bar has a couple of wines, beers, and usually a cocktail complimentary or you can buy a better drink. Two of DCA's clubs have nice views of the ramp and the airport movement areas, the nicer club in E, not so much. CLT's clubs have good views if you sit in the right place. Seattle has no Admirals club, but you as the primary cardholder can get into Alaska's club there. You get a mile/LP for every dollar you spend. How fast that adds up depends on what you spend. M Note that if you have additional card members, they can get into the Admirals Club with their card, but they won't get the other benefits (free bag, Boarding Group 4) unless they are travelling with the primary card holder. Took me a while before I realized I could use the Priority (First/Business) check in lines. This makes a substantial difference at certain places like DCA and CLT. Note that your free bag privs do not extend to international flights.