Miami, FL
American Airlines Faces Backlash for Excluding Military from Miami Lounge During Overcrowding – View from the Wing
American Airlines Faces Backlash for Excluding Military from Miami Lounge During Overcrowding
The Points Guy‘s Zach Griff notes during his travel that American Airlines wasn’t offering complimentary access to its Admirals Club for members of the military, because the lounge was deemed at capacity. Commenters on social media seem appalled.
Lounge overcrowding has long been an issue, but what do you think about this move from @AmericanAir in Miami?
Due to capacity constraints, the airline temporarily stopped offering access to military members.
Lounge overcrowding has long been an issue, but what do you think about this move from @AmericanAir in Miami?
Due to capacity constraints, the airline temporarily stopped offering access to military members. pic.twitter.com/I3Au1viDD7
— Zach Griff (@_ZachGriff) January 4, 2024
A commenter quickly calls this a “bad look.” In fact, that seems to be a common sentiment.
Yikes. Not a good move. At the very least not good for PR. This should apply to members of the general public or those maybe at a lower status tier, but not military.
— Rich (@terpswag) January 4, 2024
I understand why, but this isn’t a good look at all
— JTC (@JTCGayFlamer) January 4, 2024
I disagree – and I don’t think doing so diminishes status of members of the military. Placing limits on selling paid one day access, and on offering free access to members of the military, is a better look than forcing paid members and complimentary guests to queue into the terminal Delta-style.
those @Delta sky club changes cant come soon enough
always a ridiculous line at jfk terminal 4 no matter what day or time pic.twitter.com/RET7b6OVG3
— Ali DiBarba (@alisaysdance) September 18, 2023
Prioritizing paid members seems… reasonable.
American is not selling one-off passes for $79 or admitting military members on a complimentary basis (which is, otherwise, a nice space available gesture). It’s hard to characterize American as a bad actor here when they’re even declining ancillary revenue!
There’s a limited amount of space. American’s clubs don’t usually get as crowded as Delta’s lounges for three reasons:
- Separate business class lounges. American offers separate business class lounges at Miami, New York JFK, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas – Fort Worth and Los Angeles. Delta doesn’t have Delta One lounges open, so long haul business class customers use their standard Sky Clubs. That’s more people.
- Amex Platinum. American and United offer lounge access to premium credit card customers. Delta does that and also to all Amex Platinum and Centurion cardmembers flying the airline. That’s more people.
- Differentiated food. Even though American has kind of sort of improved food in Admirals Clubs, they don’t come close to Delta’s offerings.
Passengers with access have more of a reason to visit Delta clubs, and to stay longer. I often just go to the American lounge for a cleaner bathroom, and for help with itineraries during irregular operations. Although the Washington National E concourse, Denver, and Newark clubs are beautiful.
When American lounges do get crowded they prioritize customers paying for membership, either directly or with their premium $595 annual fee credit card, and to customers traveling on qualifying business class tickets. They have an obligation to deliver for those customers before offering complimentary access to others.
Would making everyone – paid club members, long haul business class passengers, and complimentary military guests alike – stand outside in the terminal in a line during their layover be better?
More From View from the Wing
Miami, FL
Crash involving unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle impacts morning commute
A crash involving an unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle was reported in Northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday morning, and the morning commute was impacted as a result.
Few details have been released, but the crash was reported in the area of Northwest 79th street and Interstate 95.
Video from the scene showed that the vehicles had heavy damage.
The sheriff’s office said the crash also involved a civilian vehicle, and no injuries were reported.
No other information was released.
Miami, FL
Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.
Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:
INJURY REPORT
HEAT
Tyler Herro: Available – Toe
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle
Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin
Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team
TIMBERWOLVES
Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot
Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot
Joan Beringer: Out – G League
Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: TV: Peacock,
Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)
VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.
PROJECTED STARTERS
HEAT
G Davion Mitchell
G Tyler Herro
C Bam Adebayo
F Norman Powell
F Andrew Wiggins
TIMBERWOLVES
G Donte DiVincenzo
G Anthony Edwards
C Rudy Gobert
F Jaden McDaniels
F Julius Randle
Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198
Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)
QUOTABLE
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”
For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.
Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket
Miami, FL
Man shot during $22,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested
Three men were arrested Saturday after a robbery inside a Miami clothing store left a man shot and hospitalized, according to Miami police and arrest affidavits.
The incident happened Friday afternoon in Miami’s popular Design District neighborhood.
Police said officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. Friday to the area of Miami Avenue and Northeast 41st Street after receiving reports of a man who had been shot. Officers found the victim, who told them he had been robbed and shot while shopping inside a Supreme store located at 45 NE 41st Street.
According to investigators, the victim said he was approached by three suspects inside the store, including one person with whom he had a prior conflict originating from the Atlanta area. Police said an argument broke out, and one suspect forcibly removed a gold chain from the victim’s neck. The chain was valued at approximately $22,000, according to police.
As the suspect ran out of the store, the victim attempted to chase him, police said. During the pursuit, an unidentified male shot the victim once in the stomach. The suspects then fled the area in a white Mercedes-Benz, according to the arrest affidavits.
Miami Police detectives later located the suspect vehicle parked near Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast 91st Terrace. Police said they conducted surveillance and observed the suspects abandon the vehicle and walk through a nearby residential area before entering a home in the 800 block of Northeast 90th Street.
A residential search warrant was executed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. During the search, detectives recovered the victim’s gold chain, keys to the suspect vehicle, and clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery, police said.
The suspects were identified as Jamar McKay, 25, Omarion Phillips, 20, and Kevieon Smith, 21. McKay was charged with armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Phillips and Smith were charged as accessories after the fact, with Smith also facing an additional firearms-related charge, according to court records.
“This arrest sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Miami,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement. “Individuals who commit acts of violence in our city will be identified, located, and held fully accountable.”
-
Detroit, MI5 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology2 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health4 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska1 day agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Nebraska2 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
-
Iowa2 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Entertainment1 day agoSpotify digs in on podcasts with new Hollywood studios