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Airline lounge access keeps getting more expensive—and Ed and Richard are wondering who is actually paying these prices.
This week on Miles To Go, they break down American Airlines' latest Admirals Club changes, including higher membership prices and a revamped Executive Card. With individual lounge membership now costing hundreds of dollars and family access climbing even higher, the guys debate whether the airline credit card is now the only logical way to buy into the ecosystem.
That leads to a broader discussion about whether airport lounges deserve as much weight as they get when travelers evaluate premium credit cards. Crowding, long lines, limited space, and inconsistent food all make Ed question how much real value lounge access adds.
Richard also shares a surprise about JetBlue Mint: even on an expensive transcontinental Mint ticket, lounge access still isn't included unless you're flying transatlantic.
Then the conversation shifts to a brand-new luxury resort cancellation controversy, where a well-known YouTuber arrived only to find his reservation had been canceled at the last minute.
Finally, Richard gives an update on his Frontier GoWild Pass—and admits that, despite owning it, he still hasn't actually managed to use it.
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✈️ What We Cover in This Episode
✈️ American Airlines raises lounge prices
- Admirals Club membership gets more expensive
- Family access can cost up to four figures
- Why the Executive Card may be the better path
✈️ AA Executive Card changes
- Higher annual fee
- Vacation credits
- Lyft credit increase
- AAdvantage Hotels earning
- More Loyalty Point opportunities
✈️ Are airport lounges overrated?
- Crowding at Centurion and Chase lounges
- Limited usefulness at your home airport
- Why lounge access may not justify a premium annual fee
✈️ JetBlue Mint's missing lounge perk
- Transcontinental Mint still doesn't include lounge access
- Discounted paid entry instead
- Why Ed and Richard find the policy surprising
✈️ A luxury hotel opening controversy
- A reservation canceled the night before arrival
- Whether a hotel should cancel a reviewer's stay
- Why opening-week hotel reviews can be misleading
✈️ Should you stay at a hotel right after it opens?
- Operational growing pains
- Incomplete facilities
- Why both Ed and Richard prefer to wait
✈️ Frontier GoWild Pass update
- Richard still hasn't used it
- Limited availability
- Why it may work better for retirees, students, or flexible travelers
⏱️ Episode 449 Timestamps
0:48 – Vegas heat, travel week setup, and getting started
2:39 – American Airlines raises Admirals Club pricing
6:38 – AA Executive Card changes and whether it's worth $695
10:38 – Are airport lounges really worth premium-card annual fees?
12:20 – JetBlue Mint still doesn't include lounge access on transcon flights
14:06 – M2G passes 9,000 YouTube subscribers
16:53 – Luxury resort cancels a YouTuber's reservation at the last minute
19:42 – Is reviewing a hotel during opening week actually useful?
21:53 – Frontier launches another GoWild Pass offer
22:34 – Richard's GoWild Pass update: has he used it yet?
