Nov 29, 2013, 10:01 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
LHR / London Heathrow International Airport Terminal 3 AA First Class / Flagship Check-In
American Airlines Flagship First Check-in has moved and now operates in a facility shared with British Airways in Terminal 3, Zone D, effective 27 Nov 2019. Use rules now conform to usual Flagship First Check-in rules, so this thread will be archived.
For the current thread, please see GUIDE: AA Flagship Check-In at JFK, LAX, LHR, MIA, ORD (rev) — link
(The First Class Check-In facility was originally situated outside Terminal 3 in Zone H. This facility was previously called Flagship Check-in, then Premium Check-in, before being rebranded in late 2016 to First Class Check-in. It then moved from Zone H to Zone B 12 Jul 2017.)
Once you have completed your check-in process, you will progress through to the expedited security lane which offers easy access through airport security check points.
The Zone B Flagship First Class Check-In position is available for:
- First Class customers travelling on American Airlines (Business customers previously had access but this has gone away)
- ConciergeKey members
- Five Star Service customers
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum or oneworld Emerald customers
ARCHIVE: First Class Check-in London Heathrow LHR, formerly Premium / Flagship
May 5, 2017, 6:11 am
#196
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LTP, Bonvoy Titanium; AA CK before I retired
Posts: 1,597
Zone F, the last time I used it.
Jul 14, 2017, 3:17 am
#197
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
Flagship Check-in moved from Zone H to Zone B 12 Jul 2017
Aug 9, 2017, 1:11 am
#198
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LTP, Bonvoy Titanium; AA CK before I retired
Posts: 1,597
... and it's utilitarian (to be polite). In fact you have to walk to the very back of Zone B. It's not easy to see from the front door of T3, and you walk past the AA economy check-in.
I am told that Zone B is temporary, the first in a sequence of steps that will create a new AA/BA premium check-in area in T3. (The member of staff didn't say whether this new facility will be in Zone H or somewhere else.) The process is expected to last 12-18 months.
I am told that Zone B is temporary, the first in a sequence of steps that will create a new AA/BA premium check-in area in T3. (The member of staff didn't say whether this new facility will be in Zone H or somewhere else.) The process is expected to last 12-18 months.
Aug 10, 2017, 2:46 pm
#199
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
So the little Flagship facility outside of the terminal by the corridor to Arrivals is no more?
Aug 10, 2017, 5:51 pm
#200
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Platinum, others
Posts: 1,270
Right - nothing special about F check-in. It's an agent about 30 feet to the right of the J check-in. Similar line, seems to be identical service.
Aug 12, 2017, 12:14 pm
#201
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: AA EXP, PriorityClub Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold fivestar
Posts: 486
According to the check in person last week: The old flagship facility is becoming the VAT refunds office. Flagship permanently in zone B but will be made to look nicer. Something about security reasons for doing this.
Aug 12, 2017, 1:39 pm
#202
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
deleted
Last edited by CloudCoder; Aug 12, 2017 at 1:48 pm Reason: The answer was in the Wiki
Aug 13, 2017, 1:17 am
#203
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75k, AAdvantage Executive Platinum
Posts: 197
The old facility closing is unfortunate, as it was really nice being able to check in right after stepping off the tube or getting dropped off.
However, I’m not too disappointed here because as nice as checking in here was, the process after you had your boarding pass was a bit odd in that you had to go back outside, pick another vestibule to enter, and then circle around to an escalator and walk down the long hall to Fast Track security. I’ve never actually checked in with AA inside, but I presume it’ll at least shorten that part of it.
If it was like Flagship check in at LAX, JFK, or ORD, I would miss it.
However, I’m not too disappointed here because as nice as checking in here was, the process after you had your boarding pass was a bit odd in that you had to go back outside, pick another vestibule to enter, and then circle around to an escalator and walk down the long hall to Fast Track security. I’ve never actually checked in with AA inside, but I presume it’ll at least shorten that part of it.
If it was like Flagship check in at LAX, JFK, or ORD, I would miss it.
Mar 17, 2018, 3:09 pm
#204
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
If it were me, I would use the dedicated F/J check-in counters between zones B and C inside, just to be sure... I've heard the Flagship Check-in is rather well defended by staff there, although I've never used it when not entitled myself so cannot speak firsthand as to how fierce they may be.
Mar 17, 2018, 6:25 pm
#205
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Funny and rather well described. There was a woman out front who first asked if I was flying first (I was) and then demanded I show her the ticket before she would let me through. ...?? I flashed my CK luggage tags and she backed off, but it left me feeling annoyed for a while
Mar 17, 2018, 6:29 pm
#206
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
I walked through without stopping and when approached let them know I was EXP. My husband was with me and once I let them know my status, there was no other issue. Not sure why others seem to have an issue.
Mar 18, 2018, 10:19 am
#207
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,673
I was once behind folks like that in the old flagship check-in. A family of four claiming EXP status, but as they were being checked in it became clear to me very quickly that they weren't regular travelers. It turned out that one of them was Gold and the others had no status and they were flying Economy. They made them gather up their bags and pointed them towards the regular check-in – the wife looked completely exasperated, as if she had spent the last 24 hours explaining that it wouldn't work!
Mar 18, 2018, 11:23 am
#208
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Theory: the line dragons look for luggage tags.
It this theory holds up, I just might try to sell some vintage EXP luggage tags on eBay <kidding>
Mar 18, 2018, 3:09 pm
#209
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Perhaps the Checkin Counter Dragons are trained to look at luggage tags? My rollaboard sports old-style well-worn EXP tags, at least 15 years old. (I replace the tags if and when they need replacing: I've got plenty of spares.) Those luggage tags are probably the only visual clue that I actually belong at Flagship Checkin (as I look nothing like a typical FC pax, whatever that may look like). But I'm never stopped at the Flagship checkin area, nor the BA First Checkin at LHR, etc.
Theory: the line dragons look for luggage tags.
It this theory holds up, I just might try to sell some vintage EXP luggage tags on eBay <kidding>
Theory: the line dragons look for luggage tags.
It this theory holds up, I just might try to sell some vintage EXP luggage tags on eBay <kidding>
Mar 22, 2018, 9:17 am
#210
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,850
The old facility closing is unfortunate, as it was really nice being able to check in right after stepping off the tube or getting dropped off. However, I’m not too disappointed here because as nice as checking in here was, the process after you had your boarding pass was a bit odd in that you had to go back outside, pick another vestibule to enter, and then circle around to an escalator and walk down the long hall to Fast Track security. I’ve never actually checked in with AA inside, but I presume it’ll at least shorten that part of it.
But the new BA "Wing" is my preferred check-in at LHR these days, especially if you have the car drop you off all the way at the end of T5 just beyond the last pedestrian crossing ^