Feb 19, 2015, 12:28 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2016)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
PLEASE DO NOT ALTER THE CONTENT OF THIS MODERATOR NOTE
The Lounge Access Help Desk
To assist members with questions about Lounge Access Rules that they have not been able to answer on their own using the above resources, the AA Moderator team has decided to institute this thread, the third in a series of "Help Desk" threads. N.B.: If you have questions about physical access to a specific lounge (e.g., airside vs. landside, different terminal, etc.), please search for and post to the appropriate specific thread for that lounge.
New threads on this topic will be merged into this one and bumped by the moderators as necessary. As such, we do not expect that this thread will develop into a searchable database, but that it will nonetheless provide a valuable resource to members. As well, we may shed / pare down posts from time to time to a trailing thread or similar device.
Our goal is to provide a place where members can feel welcome to post such questions and expect helpful, accurate responses. In this way, we hope to accommodate the needs and desires of both new and veteran members - those who aren't sure they are interpreting the available resources correctly can ask for help without fear of snarky-appearing responses; those who do not wish to participate in such threads are invited and, indeed, encouraged, to ignore this thread.
Please be forewarned: This thread will be subject to heavy moderation. Posts that are incorrect will be subject to editing (
Finally, a few guidelines for members posting queries to this thread:
- Please DO make an effort to review the listed resources before posting here.
- Please DO try to give as much information as possible, including your entire itinerary, with carrier for each segment and codeshares and stopovers clearly designated, your class of service and fare class purchased, whether or not you have Admirals Club or Qantas Club membership, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card (which includes full Admirals Club membership), and the number of guests and your family relationship with them, if any.
- Please DO understand it could take some time for answers (especially on holidays and weekends.)
- Please DO thank helpful members volunteering to reply to your questions.
Also see the future changes in lounges and access: Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge Changes, Renovations & Additions
As well, note Expanded Access to Flagship Lounge Coming "in Spring 2017"
Sincerely,
The American Airlines | AAdvantage forum Moderator Team
(Help Desk established by dstan)
=================end mod note===================
oneworld Lounge Access
Wizard by kduarte.
Help Desk: Lounge Access Rules / Will I Have Lounge Access?
Lounge Access can be obtained in a number of ways during travel on AA and its oneworld partner airlines. These include purchasing an Admirals Club one day pass, or via Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard (including, as of Dec 20-5, authorized card users), reciprocity agreements with other airlines, traveling on certain transcon flights in F or J, or traveling internationally with Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) or Executive Platinum (oneworld Emerald) status or in F or J classes of service. The last is often the greatest source of confusion, despite lounge access rules being described clearly on aa.com. Threads about these are linked to in the American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD thread.
Admirals Club members paid or Executive cardholder members) are entitled guests as follows:
Up to two guests or household members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under the age of 18) may accompany the member.
For AA status-based access (PLT or EXP),* passengers must: (1) be traveling on an international itinerary (Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Mexico City, excluding the Caribbean and other destinations in Mexico), and (2) have an onward flight on a oneworld airline marketed and operated flight on the same day. PLT members are eligible for access to all oneworld Business Class lounges, including Admirals Clubs; EXP members are also eligible for access to all oneworld First Class lounges, including Flagship Lounges.
Lounges operated by third parties or premium lunges operating outside of oneworld rules (e.g. BA Concorde Room, Qatar Al Safwa or Al Mourjan lounges) may be excluded, and all may may refuse admittance if they claim they are crowded. There are other exceptions.
*Non-AA oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites are not subject to rule #1 above.
Another confusing rule relates to transcontinental access. From member FriendlySkies:
Traveling on a Non-Stop Transcontinental* Flight? http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/trans-con-access.jsp
On September 1, 2012, access to the Admirals Club® and Flagship Lounge® changed for customers traveling on an American Airlines certain non-stop transcontinental flight.
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
On September 1, 2012, access to the Admirals Club® and Flagship Lounge® changed for customers traveling on an American Airlines certain non-stop transcontinental flight.
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
The following exceptions apply:
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
In the Flagship Dining subsection, they state:
Beginning in early 2017, the Flagship Dining experience will be available in select cities with 3-class service:
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
All Admirals Club visitors receive free Wi-Fi access at Admirals Clubs (password is available at front desk and throughout the Club on signs), some non-alcoholic and "well" (lower price tier) alcoholic beverages and counter snacks (fruit, some kind of snack mix, cheese cubes, hot cereal mornings and soup evenings are the most common - recent additions have been made); free computer terminals are available for all passengers, and many Clubs have Business Centers and tethered Samsung Galaxy tablets in seating areas. Passengers accessing Admirals Clubs based on status or class of service on international travel are entitled to free drinks coupons usable for higher-tier non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and bottles of water.
Flagship Lounges (JFK, LAX, LHR and ORD) offer extended beverages and upscale snack services as well. See below for link.
NOTE: US Airways Clubs have been rebranded as Admirals Clubs; full consolidation has occurred. Some Clubs are undergoing refurbishment.
Citi Prestige MasterCard holder Admirals Club access ends July 23, 2017.
American Express Platinum cardholder Admirals Club access ended 21 March 2014.
NOTE: It has been verified more airports are allowing multiple terminal access on one's day of departure. LAX has been one since mid-2014, so this has added the oneworld Business and Qantas First lounges at the TBIT international terminal for passengers departing TBIT; the Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge, and Alaska Airlines Board Room to the scope of lounges one might access (depending on status or class of service eligibility).
Admirals Club access is granted the day of flight for statusholders flyingone world and those flying F or J, or the following day at the first port of arrival if flying overnight and arriving by 0600.
Airports requiring Lounge users have a same day departure boarding pass include BOG, CCS, CDG, GIG, GRU, LHR, MEX, NRT, SCL, YYZ.
N.B. Qantas Lounges and Clubs require Smart Casual (sic) dress as of May 2015; those not meeting the standard may be turned away. They also require AAdvantage members be traveling on a departing AA marketed flight.
Please see the following resources for full details on Lounge Access Rules: (and see below)
. . . ● oneworld Lounge Access Wizard, created by FlyerTalk member imagineertobe
. . . ● AA.com: Lounge Access Rules
. . . ● AA.com: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Access Rules
. . . ● AA.com: Reimaging our lounges
. . . ● AA.com: Admirals Club Membership Guide in a downloadable PDF format.
. . . ● oneworld.com: Lounge Access Rules and Search Tool
. . . ● Wiki: Lounges
. . . ● FT: American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD
For various threads on membership, access by status, transcon service, class of service, Flagship lounge access, lounges directory with links to specific lounge threads, Club member access to partner lounges, recipripocity agreements, etc.
. . . ● FT Help Desk: Lounge Access and Lounge Access Rules [ARCHIVED]
ARCHIVE: HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2016)
Apr 29, 2016, 2:49 pm
#361
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
I think it has been clearly stated by AA/OW - lounge access = same day and international connections leaving prior to 6am next day. This is one of the few areas on lounge access that I thought was very clear.
Apr 29, 2016, 6:43 pm
#362
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
It's clear for class of service based access, but not for AA status-based access in the case of a red eye domestic flight connecting to an international flight. See the last few posts above.
Apr 30, 2016, 1:37 am
#363
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
I guess you are right - there is confusion for some. Connecting to international leaving before 6am just seemed very clear to me.
Apr 30, 2016, 7:06 am
#364
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
May 3, 2016, 11:19 am
#365
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
AA Business Class MIA-LHR, do we get free F&B at Admiral Club?
I know we will have access at MIA but I am not sure about the F&B part.
We usually use rental car to MIA but decide to give Tri-Rail a try. Therefore we might be spending 3 hours at MIA before departure. Would like to know what benefits we have when traveling on AA International Business Class to LHR.
Last time when we were on QR MIA-DOH, the agent at the lounge entrance told us our QR BPs entitled us free F&B - just present them to the bar tender to order foods and drinks. The lounge was super busy in the evening though. We barely were able to find seats and waited a long time for some salad and sandwich.
We usually use rental car to MIA but decide to give Tri-Rail a try. Therefore we might be spending 3 hours at MIA before departure. Would like to know what benefits we have when traveling on AA International Business Class to LHR.
Last time when we were on QR MIA-DOH, the agent at the lounge entrance told us our QR BPs entitled us free F&B - just present them to the bar tender to order foods and drinks. The lounge was super busy in the evening though. We barely were able to find seats and waited a long time for some salad and sandwich.
May 3, 2016, 1:32 pm
#366
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
Another thing is AA can on its own be more liberal as to how it interprets the rules for AA elites on AA metal for access to AA lounges.
The alliance rules are just the lowest common denominator.
The biggest benefit of AC membership is not having to argue with agents if I should be let in based on my ticket. If I had purchased DCA-JFK-LAX in F/J, the ticket would give me access but if the first leg cancels and I get rerouted differently, then all of a sudden, I lose the AC access. With the membership, I know that I will always have AC access, and even when I'm flying on other airlines, as long as the AC is in the same security area as the airline I'm flying 😁
The alliance rules are just the lowest common denominator.
The biggest benefit of AC membership is not having to argue with agents if I should be let in based on my ticket. If I had purchased DCA-JFK-LAX in F/J, the ticket would give me access but if the first leg cancels and I get rerouted differently, then all of a sudden, I lose the AC access. With the membership, I know that I will always have AC access, and even when I'm flying on other airlines, as long as the AC is in the same security area as the airline I'm flying 😁
May 3, 2016, 2:17 pm
#367
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
I know we will have access at MIA but I am not sure about the F&B part.
We usually use rental car to MIA but decide to give Tri-Rail a try. Therefore we might be spending 3 hours at MIA before departure. Would like to know what benefits we have when traveling on AA International Business Class to LHR.
Last time when we were on QR MIA-DOH, the agent at the lounge entrance told us our QR BPs entitled us free F&B - just present them to the bar tender to order foods and drinks. The lounge was super busy in the evening though. We barely were able to find seats and waited a long time for some salad and sandwich.
We usually use rental car to MIA but decide to give Tri-Rail a try. Therefore we might be spending 3 hours at MIA before departure. Would like to know what benefits we have when traveling on AA International Business Class to LHR.
Last time when we were on QR MIA-DOH, the agent at the lounge entrance told us our QR BPs entitled us free F&B - just present them to the bar tender to order foods and drinks. The lounge was super busy in the evening though. We barely were able to find seats and waited a long time for some salad and sandwich.
I know that, for example, BA, who used the AUS AC for their lounge, will pay for food from the menu for their business pax and elites, but AA pax don't get that same benefit. It's probably because BA pax expect free food as part of the lounge experience, as that is what BA offers in its own lounges..
May 6, 2016, 3:02 pm
#368
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
You basically get some drink chits for premium drinks, but the food is only the same free food offered to anyone else at the AC. Food off of the menu must be purchased.
I know that, for example, BA, who used the AUS AC for their lounge, will pay for food from the menu for their business pax and elites, but AA pax don't get that same benefit. It's probably because BA pax expect free food as part of the lounge experience, as that is what BA offers in its own lounges..
I know that, for example, BA, who used the AUS AC for their lounge, will pay for food from the menu for their business pax and elites, but AA pax don't get that same benefit. It's probably because BA pax expect free food as part of the lounge experience, as that is what BA offers in its own lounges..
May 7, 2016, 8:30 am
#369
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
May 7, 2016, 10:59 am
#370
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
A bit off topic, but BA and AA have very different approaches to lounge operations (including AA monetizing lounge membership). And, BA lounge food offerings have deteriorated significantly in the last year or two.
May 8, 2016, 6:46 am
#371
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
This is the American Airlines | AAdvantage forum.
Questions about airline lounge access for Qatar Airways passengers have been moved to the Qatar Airways | Privilege Club forum. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qatar...assengers.html
/Moderator
Questions about airline lounge access for Qatar Airways passengers have been moved to the Qatar Airways | Privilege Club forum. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qatar...assengers.html
/Moderator
May 8, 2016, 10:27 am
#372
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
You basically get some drink chits for premium drinks, but the food is only the same free food offered to anyone else at the AC. Food off of the menu must be purchased.
I know that, for example, BA, who used the AUS AC for their lounge, will pay for food from the menu for their business pax and elites, but AA pax don't get that same benefit. It's probably because BA pax expect free food as part of the lounge experience, as that is what BA offers in its own lounges..
I know that, for example, BA, who used the AUS AC for their lounge, will pay for food from the menu for their business pax and elites, but AA pax don't get that same benefit. It's probably because BA pax expect free food as part of the lounge experience, as that is what BA offers in its own lounges..
That said, QR recently moved to E and now uses the OneWorld lounge. Not sure how that has changed the comp at the AC.
May 8, 2016, 5:09 pm
#373
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
No, that is not correct. QR will comp everything at the AA AC in MIA. Any drink, any sandwich, etc. If it costs money, your QR boarding pass gets it for you for free.
That said, QR recently moved to E and now uses the OneWorld lounge. Not sure how that has changed the comp at the AC.
That said, QR recently moved to E and now uses the OneWorld lounge. Not sure how that has changed the comp at the AC.
May 8, 2016, 6:32 pm
#374
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 810
Can I use the OneWorld lounge as ExPlat flying biz on the 77w from LAX-MIA, or am I stuck in the AC?
May 8, 2016, 7:58 pm
#375
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 111
From the OneWorld site:
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/
"
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access."
I am also wondering whether an AA EXP flying biz on LAX-MIA can use the Qantas First lounge at TBIT.
And does "vice versa" mean it can be used on arrival?