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How do I get a Priority Pass on American Airlines?

How to get American Airlines priority boarding
  1. Earn AAdvantage elite tier status. ...
  2. Earn Oneworld elite tier status. ...
  3. Purchase higher fare class. ...
  4. Get an AAdvantage credit card. ...
  5. Purchase AA AirPass. ...
  6. Purchase priority boarding. ...
  7. Are active duty US military. ...
  8. Are a corporate traveler.




American Airlines does not directly provide a Priority Pass membership with its own Admirals Club memberships or standard ticket tiers. Instead, the most common way American Airlines frequent flyers obtain Priority Pass is through premium travel credit cards not branded by the airline, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Platinum Card® from American Express, or the Capital One Venture X. While the co-branded Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive card provides access to Admirals Clubs, it does not include Priority Pass. To get the membership, you must hold one of the aforementioned non-branded premium cards and "enroll" through your card's benefits portal. Once enrolled, you receive a digital or physical card that grants access to over 1,300 independent lounges globally. This is particularly useful for AA travelers at airports where there is no Admirals Club, as Priority Pass often covers "contract lounges" and airport experiences like spa visits or nap pods that are not part of the standard airline-run lounge networks.

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As we mentioned, the easiest way to get priority boarding with American Airlines is to fly in a premium cabin. First class passengers board in Group 1; business class passengers board in Groups 1 and 2; and premium economy passengers board in Group 4.

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Your credit card company may automatically mail you a Priority Pass membership card if you are eligible, but in some instances, you will need to enroll with Priority Pass first or call the credit card company to acquire and activate it. You can register with Priority Pass on its website here.

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Your Priority Pass membership kit containing your personalized membership card will be produced within three business days of our receiving your membership application and then posted/despatched to your preferred mailing address.

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If you don't have access to airline or credit card lounges, you might want to investigate Priority Pass, a service that provides access to more than 1,300 lounges worldwide. Even better, it's a perk included with many top-tier travel credit cards, so you might not even have to pay for it.

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The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is the best American Airlines credit card for the American Airlines frequent flyer who wants lounge access and premium airline perks. The card comes with a hefty $595 annual fee, but it also grants cardholders access to the Admirals Club (up to a $850 value).

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Most cards that grant you Priority Pass Select membership allow lounge access for you and up to two guests. There's an additional guest fee that ranges between $27 and $32, depending on the card you have.

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Technically, you can access lounges for only three hours, though some lounges will waive this rule. Many lounges may restrict access to passengers departing from that airport, meaning you may not always be able to use the Priority Pass membership as an arrivals lounge.

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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.

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There are no membership benefits – it's just a straight purchase for lounge access. Priority Pass has membership benefits that include free spa sessions (all spas in the US) for example. They also offer discounted car transfers, and meal deals in the airport too.

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Can my membership card be used by someone else? The Priority Pass membership card is non-transferable. When you access a lounge, the staff will need to check that the name printed on your membership card matches your boarding pass.

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When you enroll in a membership with Priority Pass—Standard, Standard Plus and Prestige—each guest visit has a fee. At the time of writing, the fee is $35. That fee is the same for each guest, regardless of how many accompany a member into a Priority Pass lounge, assuming it has capacity.

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If a lounge is accepting Priority Pass members, you'll have to present your membership card at the front desk. This could be the physical card that's mailed to you after you activate your account or pay for your membership, or a digital card that you store either in your phone's wallet or in the mobile app.

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Each credit card company sets the terms of Priority Pass Select; while they all include at least 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges, only some allow unlimited free visits. Others allow you to bring unlimited guests for free, while some cap free guests at two, and yet others still charge for guests.

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