American Airlines

I purchased a 1-day pass for 3 people in my family to use the Admirals Club in Dallas-Ft. Worth Admirals Club on the way overseas. I bought it online and ask the agent if there was free sandwiches snacks and alcoholic beverages. We wanted to get a cold beer and maybe cheese/crackers. The person said all this was free and when we got there I did not find any sandwiches free or alcohol. There was some trail-mix and pretzels cokes tea and water. The menu was an elaborate price to order anything else. We did not stay long and left. Delta clubs are better with choices of drinks (alcoholic or others) finger-foods and sandwiches. Do not bother with a 1-day pass at Admiral Clubs the only thing you get is maybe a fairly comfortable chair.

We arrived LHR after 11 hour flight from Cape Town. We were told that there was no hot water for showers. For simple washing up the ladies room was not even stocked with towels or soap. My husband reported that the men's room was filthy. When I finally approached one of the staff for entry to the shower room for a cold shower she was less than pleased at the interruption and seemed quite put out. Seating was shabby and tired-looking. Food offering was awful. There were 2 computers in the lounge occupied by a couple using them for twittering and net surfing.

Under renovation with partial completion. Standard US furnishings with reasonable atmosphere. Crowded for much of time there and other than nuts and juice everything had to be bought thus bringing down the scores. Internet access was on the blink.

Worst international lounge I've ever been in. We're supposed to "pardon their appearance" due to their renovation. Why didn't they just set up card tables in the hallway? OK there were some alcoholic drinks on offer along with tasty items like cardboard muffins in plastic under the fluorescent lighting. Packed in for 4 hours with guys yelling into their cell phones the distant receptionists ignored all we waiting sufferers. Is it any wonder that American Airlines is having financial problems?

Have American Airlines not seen the way the rest of the world does it? What is a "pay bar"? What is it with ordering and paying for food? After paying $12000 for a return business class ticket I do not expect to pay for a beer or a sandwich in the lounge waiting for a flight. As for the "drinks vouchers" stamped with a date - cheap and nasty! It is a real pity because the lounge itself is richly appointed. It is a warm and comforting environment spoilt by the need to pay for food and drinks.

Having flown AA for 20 years the Flagship Lounge/Admirals Club experience is one of my most disappointing with AA. The typical Admirals Club is rather tired has a poor selection of food and drink and are often crowded. Internet access has become one of the main reasons I keep my membership. The Flagship lounges (I have experienced LHR/ORD/San Juan) are better but typically quite small. It is mind boggling to me that they do not have one at their hub in DFW - but even these are nowhere near the quality of BA/Cathay for 1st class passengers. Their shower facilities are fairly decent with Chicago being recently upgraded but again Flagship do not have these - Admirals Club only. All in all not close to international standards with some of the lounges having totally insufficient bathrooms for the capacity of the lounge (ORD G Concourse is a good example - 1 toilet for men in a club with a 100+ capacity).