American Airlines Admirals Club
- Complimentary snacks
- Food for sale
- Complimentary soft drinks
- Complimentary house wine and beer
- Complimentary liquor
- Premium drinks for sale
- Accessible
- Air conditioning
- Conference rooms
- Flight information monitors
- Newspapers and magazines
- TV
The American Airlines Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare airport at Terminal 3, located at the junction of Concourses H and K, is the airline’s largest and best appointed lounge at ORD, save for the Flagship Lounge which welcomes premium customers and Platinum members bound for international destinations.
The club was remodeled in 2018, and the adjacent conference center has been phased out to make room for the Flagship Lounge, though the overall layout and amenities have seldom changed.
American Airlines Admirals Club ORD design
The Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare airport Concourses H/K is located on the third floor of the terminal building. Check-in takes place at the lower concourse level, and is typically swift and efficient. Based on their status and itinerary, guests are directed to the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge, both an elevator ride away.
The upper-level lobby impresses with its expansive dimensions and vast open space. Featuring customer service desks, the lobby acts as a hub linking the club’s various areas and amenities, which are situated at the periphery of the building in order to maximize views and daylight. The complex sports American’s latest club design—a modern but conservative and somewhat sterile ensemble with clean lines, Earth tones, and the occasional bold splash of color.
It may take you a while to find your bearings once you leave the central area. At a first glance, the place feels a bit like a maze, with a succession of seating areas, hallways, and nooks. Besides, it’s busy, and the concept of a vast central lobby pushes the crowds to the edge of the lounge, into tighter spaces. The bar area is often bursting at the seams, and it pays to walk around to find a quieter space.
Seating options include traditional individual seats, tabletop seating, dining tables, and booths. Most seats are outfitted with side consoles, power outlets, and USB ports.
There are also a number of American’s signature high-backed, semi-private seats with are equipped with a built-in power outlet and side table. Guests will also find a few recliners—which, while comfortable, lack any privacy, and are located in broad daylight. Perhaps to encourage turnover, American Airlines has shied away from carving out a dimmer slumber room, though some areas are designated as cell-phone free.
American Airlines Admirals Club ORD amenities
The Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare airport Terminal 3 at the junction of Concourses H/K serves both domestic and international passengers, with a complete range of amenities.
Snack and coffee stations dot club, although you’ll want to visit the bar area for the most complete selection. The modest food selection include snacks, salads, crudites, breads and dips, and soups. That’s the most significant difference between the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge on the lower level; the latter is furnished in a similar way but boasts a complete hot buffet for international business class passengers.
Coca-Cola Freestyle machines mix a dizzying array of sodas at the touch of a button, and there are also espresso machines with a variety of syrups. For alcoholic beverages, head over to one of the two bar areas. Well drinks are complimentary, but American Airlines charges for premium beverages.
Despite the demise of the former full-service business center, the Admirals Club retains a complete line-up of business amenities. Business travelers will find a number a handful of conference rooms, work cubicles, a fax/printer/copier, and Wi-Fi throughout.
Families benefit from a mother’s room, as well as a well-appointed room for the little ones, with a TV, toys, and video games.
Inquire with the reception desk for access to a shower room, which comes equipped with a toilet, a sink, towels and bath products in wall-mounted dispensers.
American Airlines Admirals Club ORD bottom line
The American Airlines Admirals Club at Chicago O’Hare airport at Terminal 3 Concourses H and K is a well-appointed lounge with a complete range of international-grade amenities.
Due to its sheer size and awkward layout, however, the lounge feels more impersonal than exclusive, and it does get painfully crowded at peak times. If you qualify for access to the Flagship Lounge, skip the Admirals Club for slightly more exclusive surroundings and a generous hot buffet. When traveling domestically, the albeit more modest Admirals Club at Terminal 2 Concourse G might be quieter.
- The daylight and tarmac views.
- American’s signature semi-private seats.
- The crowds at peak times.
- The shower suites.
- The work cubicles and business amenities.
American Airlines Admirals Club at Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) welcomes:
- American Airlines Admirals Club members (including Citi® AAdvantage® Executive Card card holders) departing or arriving on a same-day flight operated by American Airlines or a oneworld member airline (+2 guests or immediate family)
- Alaska Lounge+ members departing on a same-day flight operated by Alaska Airlines or American Airlines (+2 guests or immediate family)
- Citi® Prestige primary card holders departing on an American Airlines flight within 12 hours.
- American Airlines Admirals Club One-Day pass holders departing on a same-day flight operated by American Airlines or a oneworld airline (subject to capacity restrictions.) Passes can be purchased for $59 and used at multiple lounge locations throughout on the same day at Admirals Club lounges (no guests)
- American Airlines First Class passengers departing on a same-day international fight (+1 guest)
- American Airlines Business Class passengers departing on a same-day international fight (no guests)
- First class passengers departing on a same-day flight operated by a oneworld airline (+1 guest)
- Business class passengers departing on a same-day flight operated by a oneworld airline (no guests)
- oneworld Emerald members (+1 guest)
- oneworld Sapphire members (+1 guest)
Notes:
- Guests must be departing on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.
- Members of the military may bring in 2 guests or their immediate family.
- American Airlines AAdvantage® members, regardless of their tier status or class of travel, are not eligible for lounge access when travelling solely on North American flights within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
- For connecting passengers, lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
- Qantas airline club members do not have access to American Airlines lounges.
Cards accepted
American Airlines Admiral Club
When flying a oneworld member airline
Alaska Lounge+
When flying Alaska or American
You may have access to American Airlines Admirals Club as a premium customer of one of the following airlines, or as an elite member of their frequent flyer program. Check the Access rules tab for more details, or use our lounge access wizard to find out if you have access.
oneworld
Access for eligible customers traveling on any oneworld member airline.
Alaska Airlines (AS) | American Airlines (AA) | British Airways (BA) | |||
Cathay Pacific (CX) | Finnair (AY) | Iberia (IB) | |||
Japan Airlines (JL) | Malaysia Airlines (MH) | Qantas (QF) | |||
Qatar Airways (QR) | Royal Air Maroc (AT) | Royal Jordanian (RJ) | |||
SriLankan (UL) |
The following is a typical sample selection. All selections and pricing are subject to change. See the latest menu at aa.com.
Complimentary food
- Breakfast: bagels with cream cheese, mini muffins, fruit.
- Snacks: olives, cheese and crackers, cookies, vegetable crudité and snack mixes.
Complimentary drinks
- Water, soft drinks and juices.
- Coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate.
- Trinity Oaks chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Anheuser-Busch or MillerCoors beers.
- House spirits.
Premium food
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Canadian bacon, egg & cheese: $5.99
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Breakfast Brioche 5.99
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Apple cinnamon pecan yogurt parfait: $4.99
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Seasonal fruit cup: $4.99
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Naked Juice 100% Juice smoothies: $3.99
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Sunflower chicken: $10.50
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Butternut squash and ricotta: $10.50
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Turkey, pear and gorgonzola: $10.50
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Turkey Florentine Panini: $9.99
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Roast Beef and Cheddar Panini: $9.99
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Grilled chicken hummus: $9.99
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Portobello stack: $9.99
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Chicken brie: $9.99
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Selection varies
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Gourmet fruit and cheese assortment: $7.99
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Citrus spiced lentil: $7.99
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Toasted quinoa and kale: $7.99
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Sahale nut blends: $2.29
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S’mores by Edward Marc Chocolatier: $3.99
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Sweet and savory snacks: $3.99
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JimmyBar! Whole Foods energy bars: $2.99
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Chips: $2.29
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Cheese: $8.99
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Cilantro Chicken: $9.99
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Wild Mushroom Quesadilla: $10.99
Premium drinks
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Energy drinks: $3.99
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Mineral water: $3.50
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Bottled water: $2.29
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Bottled sodas: $2.29
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Premium Domestic/Craft: $7.00
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Imported: $8.00
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Smirnoff, Bombay Original, BACARDI Superior, Captain Morgan Original Spiced, Dewar’s White Label, Jose Cuervo Especial, Jim Beam: $8.50
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ABSOLUT, Stoli Vanil, Russian Standard, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Avión Silver Tequila, Jack Daniel’s, Jameson: $10.00
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Ketel One, Grey Goose, Ultimat, Hendrick’s, 10 Cane, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Patrón, Crown Royal, Maker’s Mark, Templeton Rye, Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon, Pyrat XO Reserve Rum: $12.00
- Cordials: $10.00
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Bollini, Pinot Grigio: $10.00
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Willamette Valley Vineyards, Riesling: $10.00
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Casa Lapostolle, Sauvignon Blanc: $10.00
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Napa Cellars, Chardonnay: $12.00
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Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay: $12.00
- The Show, Cabernet Sauvignon: $9.5
- Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec: $9.5
- Folie à Deux, Merlot: $12.00
- Joel Gott 815, Cabernet Sauvignon: $12.00
- Rodney Strong, Pinot Noir: $12.00
- Chandon Brut Classic: $14.00
3.5 / 5, based on 223 reviews
Overall ratings
I signed up for this website specifically so I could write this review. I’ve been an AA lounge member for a while. During tighter Covid restrictions, I traveled to Denver and very much liked how this club handled things, from greeting you at the elevator, to finding you a comfortable but distanced spot (whereas, the UA club in Denver was a free for all, everyone packed in rare mask-wearing – and while I’m not a mask fan, this felt very lax). Anyway, all this to say, I think this club does things well in general. I’m also a fan of the variety of snacks including the munchies such as m&ms, plus it’s one of the rare places that has a Coke freestyle machine.
But the reason I decided to write the review is because of the lovely employee I met on Wednesday. I believe her name is Darlene. A father/adult-daughter were a few seats away and I heard the daughter ask about using public transportation to get to her home downtown (she’s newer to the city) when she came back through in a few days. Darlene was friendly and thorough and when she realized her instructions to even get to the Blue Line enntrance at O’Hare might be confusing, she mentioned that she was working that day and if the girl came to the club, Darlene would walk with her to make sure she found it. Further, she went into great detail about how to navigate downtown, very patient with questions. The group of us started to talk, and you could just tell what a sweet, friendly person Darlene is. She asked if there was anything else she could do for us, saying that it’s her goal to make people smile (which she did that day) and she checked back before going on break. She is a great representative of the club and the company and the experience makes me happy to be a lounge member!
Great lounge makeover in H/K at O’Hare – much needed and appreciated. EXCEPT that the large number of ‘service’ dogs made for disruption today. OK – so it’s Christmas, but come on!!
I see mention that they give you two free drink tickets. Forgetting for a moment that they ought not to stoop to such a cheap stunt in the first place, that is not alway the case. Last time I was there I got one ticket. And then I made the mistake of asking for a Campari Spritz, which uses Campari and champagne. A distinctly unhelpful barkeep informed me that I needed to cough up two tickets or pay for one, as I was consuming two alcoholic beverages.
And then I had to ask her to give me the remainder of the split of champagne she had used (and I had paid for).
What happens if you ask for a Black Russian, or a Manhattan?
Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Four stars for the extensive range of amenities (showers, quiet room, family room, business center) but it’s old fashioned and crowded.