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 authorized users at no cost 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.