Alaska Lounge and Admirals Club Membership for $100

When it comes to travel hacking, there are several areas in which we sometimes overlook. And it is not uncommon to see many rewards cardholders not maximizing all the benefits that their rewards cards offer. Paying $100 for both Alaska Lounge and Admirals Club Memberships has been one of the best travel hacking of 2020. Literally, I can say that each lounge membership cost me just $50. This post covers the admirals club and how you can get the membership for less. Click here for Alaska Lounge

What is Admirals Club?

Admirals Club is the lounge membership program and network of lounges for American Airlines. With nearly 50 locations worldwide, the admirals club membership offers access to all these locations as well as access to more than 60 partner lounges worldwide.

Admirals Club Benefits:

One of the many benefits of having access to an airport lounge is the comfort in which the lounge offers. Whether it’s being able to unwind in an atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal gates before or in-between your flights, being able to get some hot food or quick snacks, or just looking for a quiet space to sip on some premium drinks while you get some work done. These and many more are some of the benefits you can enjoy with your Admirals Club membership:

Complimentary morning and afternoon snacks

Made to order specialties (at select locations)

Personal travel assistance

Shower suites (at select locations)

Business center (at select locations)

Complimentary house drinks (where permitted)

High-speed WiFi

Free digital magazines and newspapers

Full meals and premium drinks for purchase (at select locations)

Related: Alaska Flagship Lounge – Concourse N

How do I access the Admirals Club?

There are several ways in which you can access the American Airlines lounge. While the most common way is by getting a membership via rewards credit cards, we’ll also take a look at some other ways such as day pass, elite status, and many more.

To access the lounge, you can purchase a Day Pass at select locations for $59 per person. You can also purchase an individual or household annual membership. The cost varies based on your elite status with the American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer program. See below:

Admirals Club Annual Rates (USD)

Related: AmEx Centurion Lounge – Phoenix Sky Harbor 

Annual membership can also be purchased using AAdvantage miles. The below screenshot shows the annual rates in miles:

Admirals Club Annual Rates (miles)

How did I pay $100 for Admirals Club Membership?

As at the time of this post, I had no elite status with American Airlines, and neither do I have any credit cards that offers complimentary membership to the American Airlines Admirals Club. But thanks to my MVP Gold 75K from Alaska Airlines and my $200 airlines credits from The Platinum Card from American Express. 

The Club Lounge Seattle (Concourse A)

Having Alaska Airlines lounge membership gives you access to all the Alaska Boardrooms in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), Portland, Anchorage, and very soon San Francisco. Alaska Lounge membership also gives you access to 95 partner lounges worldwide of which Admirals Club is one of them. ALTHOUGH RESTRICTIONS APPLIES.

Let me further break down how I was able to pay $100 for the Admirals Club membership. Though in your case, the cost will depend on whether you have elite status with Alaska Airlines. But if you don’t, it is still a cheaper way of getting the membership while also double dipping.

Even though I have the highest elite status on Alaska Airlines which gives me unlimited complimentary upgrades, I still select Alaska Airlines as the airlines of choice to receive my $200 airlines credit that my AmEx platinum card offers. And since the lounge membership is discounted to $300 for those with MVP Gold 75K status, literally, I was only paying $100 out of pocket. Thus, getting access to both Alaska and American Airlines lounges at the same time, as well as other partner lounges that the membership offers. 

Related: The Club At LAS

Alaska Airlines Membership (USD)

Assuming you’re MVP Gold elites, the lounge membership will cost you $350. $400 if you have MVP status, and $450 for regular members. Whatever status you hold, you are still saving money rather than paying up to $650 when purchasing the membership from American Airlines. ALTHOUGH RESTRICTIONS APPLIES.

Another sweet spot, this lounge membership also gives me access to a few United Club lounges as seen below.

Alaska Airlines Partner Lounges

Although I have access to The Centurion Lounges as well as access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass, having access to Admirals Club will also give me the ability to review many of these American Airlines lounges. You can read more about how to offset the $550 annual fee here.

Can I also access The Flagship Lounge?

Unfortunately having Admirals Club membership does not grant you access to the Flagship Lounge. The flagship lounge is American Airlines premium lounge which is only accessible to passengers flying in First and Business Class on a qualifying international or transcontinental flight marketed by American Airlines or a OneWorld airline.

Qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum elites can also access the Flagship lounge. ConciergeKey elites can also access the lounge when traveling on any flight marketed and operated by American or a OneWorld Airline regardless of cabin. Visit the airlines website for guest access and restrictions.

In Conclusion:

This is one out of many strategies to get the Admirals Club membership at a cheaper rate. It is not guarantee that this strategy will work for you, but I believe if you apply the steps as described in this post, it should work for you.

It’s worth noting that it took about 4 weeks plus having to call American Express Member Services before the credits was manually applied to my account. Though it could take shorter or longer in your own case, but I’ll suggest you give them a call if you’re yet to receive the credits in your account 3 weeks after purchase.

I’d love to read your comments below.