You can also get free or discounted Admirals Club access with a number of American Express cards that offer airline fee credits. If American Airlines is selected as your preferred airline, then the purchase of an Admirals Club membership or day pass will qualify for the credit.

No, an American Express Platinum or Centurion card does not grant access to the American Airlines Admirals Club in 2026. While the Amex Platinum Card offers a "Global Lounge Collection" that includes Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and Priority Pass lounges, American Airlines is notably absent from this list. To enter an Admirals Club, you typically need a specific Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, an individual Admirals Club membership, or qualifying elite status while traveling on an international Oneworld flight. Amex cardholders can only access Admirals Club locations if they choose to purchase a One-Day Pass (subject to capacity) or if they are traveling in a premium cabin on a qualifying international route that provides lounge access based on the class of service. In 2026, the "lounge war" has made these boundaries even stricter, meaning you must stay within the specific partner networks—like Amex and Delta or Citi and American—to enjoy complimentary "status-based" entry.