The Admirals' Club
One of the worst things about air travel is the perp walk one does when making one's way back to the Economy section. I could never mask my anarchic thoughts when I viewed the people in first class, whom I felt were both 1.) paying way too much money for the dubious honor of the few extra comforts afforded to first class passengers, and 2.) the only people on the plane who were treated with respect.My pal Molly Beck Ferguson flew first class when she went to New York for a Nexium commercial and said, "They heat your nuts."
That the person in the seat next to me might have paid hundreds of dollars more or less for his ticket is also unfair. There are few places where an unjust class system is more purely manifested than on an airplane. That is why I like JetBlue and Southwest.
That said, I'm taking American Airlines to Austin for the improv festival, and I researched their Admirals' Club when I was making my reservation. For 50 bucks I can get a day pass, so I thought I'd see what membership has to offer and what delights I could partake in on my layover in Dallas.
The answer is: not much. Complimentary snacks and access to a fax machine. You can buy food and rent Wi-Fi access. The chairs are probably comfier than in the main terminal. But the $450 and up yearly fee only guarantees that you won't have to feel like the poor people even if you are only being given token acknowledgment of your buying power. In other words, the only real reward is having paid more.
That sitting in seats that don't promote airplane thrombosis requires a much heftier fare is insane.
posted
by Marty Barrett at Thursday, August 25, 2005
1 Comments:
Nexium, schmexium...I'm so honored I made your blog!
Thanks for the hot nuts plug! Wait...that didn't come out right.
MBF
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