In a previous post, I shared my thoughts on whether or not I should get myself a membership to AA's Admirals Club lounges. So now for part two: How shall I pay for this AC membership?
As I see it, I have three options:
1. Business Extraa points. When I was last on the UPGRD podcast (episode no. 18), I discussed AA's Business Extraa program. Basically, the program allows businesses to earn points above and beyond the miles earned by their traveling employees. You get a point for every 10 dollars spent (though with bonuses, you actually get a point for every five dollars spent, unless you're based at DFW or MIA), and then those points are redeemable. It works out to about 2000-5000 points for a domestic award, depending on class of service and flexibility. You can also get a one-year Admirals Club membership for 3000 points. (The full redemption chart is here.)
In a few weeks, I'll have 3000 Business Extraa points. I could simply exchange those points for an Admirals Club membership. (I should be clear: I'm the travel manager for my company, which means I manage our Business Extraa account. I'm also, for the most part, the only one who does a significant amount of traveling, so I'm free to use the Business Extraa rewards for myself.)
If I go with this option, I'm out 3000 Business Extraa points, and I'll have my AC membership within a week or two of redemption (which would be in about a month from now).
2. The Elite Rewards Promotion. Several weeks ago, AA launched a promotion called Elite Rewards:
AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® and AAdvantage Gold® members who reach a select miles/points milestone beyond the standard elite qualification requirement will be eligible for a special Elite Reward. Combine this promotion with our double elite qualifying miles offer and reach your goal quicker!
Basically, if you get a bunch of miles above your elite qualification threshold but not quite enough to hit the next level (or, if you score 125,000 EQM as an EXP), you get to choose a reward from a list. For the most part, the rewards are luggage tags, bonus miles, and 500-mile upgrade "stickers." For EXPs, however, they sweeten the pot:
Earn 125,000 or more elite qualifying miles or points during 2009, and choose two of the following:
- 2 One-Way Systemwide Upgrades
- One 1-Year Admirals Club Membership
- 25,000 AAdvantage Bonus Miles
- Gift of AAdvantage Gold status for a Friend
For AAdvantage Executive Platinum members, maximum of two rewards may be earned/selected. With the exception of the Single One-Year Admirals Club Membership, which is limited to one membership per person for the qualifying member only, AAdvantage Executive Platinum members may select two different rewards from their list of options or two of the same reward.
Assuming I fly all the trips I currently have scheduled and ticketed, I will end the year with 131,738 EQMs. (I keep a detailed spreadsheet now.) That means I'll qualify for the Elite Rewards bonuses, and I could conceivably elect to receive a one-year Admirals Club membership.
Of course, the most valuable thing on the list are the SWUs, which I would definitely choose if the AC membership weren't part of the equation. So basically, I'm choosing between two SWUs and an AC membership or four SWUs (and having to get an AC membership another way).
If I go with this option, I'll be out two SWUs, and I'll have my AC membership as soon as they process the Elite Rewards promotion (which will be sometime in January).
3. Cold hard cash. I could just buy an Admirals Club membership, which is cheaper now then ever before. The base membership fee for an EXP (which I'll be in about 14 hours, when I fly LAX-JFK and cross the 100,000 mile threshold somewhere over the California desert) is $350. AA has a Admirals Club 70th Anniversary promotion going right now, which gets me $70 off that initial fee. So in reality, membership costs $280. (Also, I recently bought an AC day pass. It was just a couple weeks ago, so I might be able to convince the AC to apply that day pass towards the cost of membership. That would knock another $50 off the price, bringing it to $230.)
If I go with this option, I'll be out $280 (or perhaps $230), and I'll have my AC membership in a few days.
4. (Not really an option) Miles. As an EXP, I could redeem 50,000 miles for the AC membership. That many miles is worth too much to me (I'm saving up to take my wife on an exotic and awesome vacation), so I'm not even considering it.
So which option is the best? What's worth more? $280 vs. 2 SWUs vs. 3000 Business Extraa points. (To consider: I'm flying at least 10 more segments this year, virtually all of them to and from airports with ACs. So I could certainly get some use out a membership immediately.)
I think I know my answer. What would yours be, and why?
Comments
Save the Elite Rewards for the SWUs/EVIPs, go with cash. You should be able to apply the $50 if you purchased in the last 30 days.
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