So, I’m traveling from one base to another right now, and I’ve got four hours to kill at LAX (I asked my dad “What is there to do at LAX that’s fun?” He said “Flying out of LAX.”:rolleyes:). I decide that if I’ve got four hours to kill, I should go find the USO and get my free crash space and snacks on (USO’s in airports are one of those unsung benefits of being in the military. The food’s not great, and you sometimes gotta fight forty Army guys for the last easy chair, but it’s great for the price…)
That said, I can’t figure out where that is. I found a map that is of no help, and about 30 Samsung free charging stations, but no sign of a USO. I walk past the American Airlines Admiral’s Club (why do they call it that?), and decide to ask the lady at the big desk inside where the USO is. She informs me that the USO is on the far side of the airport (evidently a big deal at LAX), and then asks if I’m traveling via American Airlines. Turns out I am! So she tells me to just go ahead and hang out at the Admirals Club.
So… this place usually costs $50 a day. Big comfy leather chairs, headsets playing music, free snacks and coffee (tiny little muffins and almonds and coffee) a bar that may or may not be a pay bar, but I’m in uniform so it doesn’t matter either way, and just generally a pretty nice place. And the lady at the desk is letting me hang out here for free.
Sometimes I wonder if traveling by air would be nearly as fun if I wasn’t in the military.
ETA: I figured I’d be underdressed, but it looks like I’m overdressed instead. There’s a couple guys sitting across from me in jeans and t-shirts. One of them is talking on the phone and mentions that he’s at the Admiral’s Club. He then turns to the guy next to him and says “How ya doin, Admiral?” and the other guy says “Pretty good, Admiral.”
That said, one of them is wearing a Navy sweater, so I suppose it’s remotely possible that he’s actually an Admiral, but I don’t think I’m going to ask.
I get into the Delta Crown Room with my American Express card. It’s pretty awesome and the booze is free. The best part is the peace and quiet you get - it’s a balm to the soul sometimes. Also, the ticket agents they have there saved my bacon when my flight from Lisbon was late and I missed my connection back to Columbia. The regular people were absolute assholes and told me I wouldn’t get home until the next day after flying all around the country, and I was so upset that a kind word from the Nathan’s Hot Dog lady made me burst into tears, but then the Crown Room people were all, hey, yeah, we can fix that for you. The flight was less than half full that took me home that night, too, so the regular agents had no freaking reason not to put me on it.
Umm… why not? I forget what rank you hold, but I’m pretty sure you’re junior to an Admiral. So would it not be proper to ask if you should be saluting them?
The Admiral’s Club is a Godsend in so many bad airports! At the very least, it’s a better class of coffee, company and comfy chairs, and often it’s much, much better (the one at Heathrow is awesome, with good food, free top-shelf booze, showers and a place you can nap in your own room, IIRC). Ben Stein was in the elevator with us the last time we used the one at LAX- God he’s funny.
ETA- and yeah, the ticket agents inside the Admiral’s Club will work miracles for you, most every time.
