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
To no one’s surprise, FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF engaged in a scorefest May 13 at TQL Stadium.
A hat trick by one of the best goalscorers in the history of the game, Lionel Messi, sparked Miami to a 5-3 win. Miami scored three times from the 79th minute on to come from behind.
A sellout crowd of 25,513 witnessed the showdown, the club’s sixth home sellout of the season.
FC Cincinnati falls to 4-5-4, staying at 16 points, taking its first loss since April 4 at Red Bull New York. Miami improves to 7-2-4 for 25 points, improving to 7-1-1 on the road this season. Miami moved into second place in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville. Cincinnati started the night tied for fifth but could drop depending on games later on.
Second half highlights as FC Cincinnati squandered a late lead
Cincinnati took a 3-2 lead in the 64th minute.
Evander fired a rocket from the top of the 18 into the top left corner. Deneky passed ahead to him, then he maneuvered around two defenders, and no one stepped up to him. It is Evander’s seventh goal of the season.
Miami tied it in the 80th minute, 3-3.
After a Cincy turnover, Rodrigo De Paul quickly found Messi in transition, who delivered to Mateo Silvetti. Silvetti, playing his first game in a month, maneuvered in space and scored from the top of the box for his fourth of the season.
Miami took a 4-3 lead in the 83rd. A Messi free kick from 35 yds was saved by Cincy keeper Roman Celentano. He collided with Andrei Chirila, which knocked the ball out of his hands. Miami’s German Berterame pounced on the rebound to give Miami the lead, his fourth goal of the season.
Chirila landed hard after the collision and was taken out of the game.
Miami took a 5-3 lead when Messi made a sliding shot after a cross from Silvetti. The ball went off the post, then off Roman Celentano, who was on his stomach trying to get the ball, then in. Messi was credited with the goal and a hat trick.
FC Cincinnati took a 2-1 lead in the 49th minute.
Pavel Bucha scored from close range. He took a crossing pass from Bryan Ramirez after Denkey found him on the left side in transition.
It was Bucha’s second goal of the MLS season and the second assist for Ramirez. Bucha was hit in the head late in the first half and examined by trainers, but stayed in the game.
Moments later, Messi had a free kick from 30 yards saved by Celentano.
Messi scored again in the 56th minute to tie it, 2-2. He had a nice give-and-go with Rodrigo De Paul, who dribbled near the end line and crossed to him from the right side. Messi was unmarked and scored easily from near the penalty spot.
In the 62nd minute, Luis Suarez missed an open shot that Celentano saved, set up by a quick transition by Miami.
Miami ended with 17 shots to 10 for Cincinnati, six on target. After an even first half, Miami controlled the expected-goals mark, with 4 to 1.6 for the home team.
First half highlights
Messi scored from close range in the 24th off a turnover by Matt Miazga. Miazga tried to pass to a teammate on the side but the pass went straight to Messi.
He had a goal in the fifth minute waved off by offsides.
In the 32nd minute, Cincinnati won a corner kick, which Evander placed right in front of the goal line but the ball was cleared away.
In the 42nd minute, a Kevin Denkey penalty kick tied it up. Denkey drew the PK after collecting a good pass into the box by Pavel Bucha and being grabbed by Gonzalo Lujan. Denkey converted for his team-high eighth goal of the season.
The first half was tied 1-1 and virtually even on statistics. Both sides had seven shots, one on goal, and 1.1 expected goals. Neither keeper made a save.
What’s next for FC Cincinnati?
Cincinnati heads to the West Coast to play San Diego FC 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16. It is the first meeting between the teams. San Diego, 3-5-4 for 13 points, was set to play Austin later May 13. Cincinnati will leave for California on May 14.
A wildfire has scorched over 11,000 acres in Florida’s Everglades, just outside the Miami metro suburbs, prompting officials to warn nearby residents of dangerous smoke.
The Max Road Miramar Fire is straddling the line between Miami-Dade and Broward counties. At least 11,000 acres have been burned, and the fire is 80% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The fire was first reported Sunday. The Pembroke Pines Police Department said that drivers stopping to watch the fires along US-27 were causing dangerous traffic backups.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they were working with state forest officials to protect nearby properties.
Florida Senator Rick Scott urged people on social media to adhere to any local road closures.
Aerial footage showed flames in the vicinity of a local subdivision, and smoke could be seen billowing for miles.
This comes in the middle of Florida’s wildfire season, which is being compounded by a historic drought ongoing across the state.
Almost 2,000 wildfires have burned nearly 120,000 acres just since the start of the year, the forest service said earlier this month.
Wildfires south of Jacksonville canceled and delayed Amtrak service last month.
While the vast majority of the state is under Exceptional or Extreme Drought conditions, Miami itself is roughly an inch below average rainfall, year-to-date.
However, parts of the Everglades are also experiencing Extreme Drought.
Fire officials are warning residents to take precautions if smoke is impacting your area. Those with respiratory conditions, older adults and children may be especially sensitive to smoke exposure.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is advising people to stay indoors when possible and set home and vehicle A/C systems to recirculate.
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