OneWorld Sapphire access to Elite Lounges
Dec 1, 2016, 6:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
OneWorld Sapphire access to Elite Lounges
I was under the impression that all OneWorld Sapphire members had elite lounge access to OneWorld non-AA elite lounges in the US and abroad when flying on any ticket. However, a Platinum member was turned away today from the BA lounge at Dulles. 
Dec 1, 2016, 7:26 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,980
What was your route and what ffp is your OW Sapphire with?
If a USA domestic route no lounge access for AA Sapphires
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
If a USA domestic route no lounge access for AA Sapphires
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access
Dec 1, 2016, 7:37 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
Ah, I missed this exception:
"These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement."
Why in the world are AA sapphires treated differently by OneWorld elite lounges than other OneWorld sapphires who qualified to be sapphire by flying the same or fewer miles than the AA sapphire?
"These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement."
Why in the world are AA sapphires treated differently by OneWorld elite lounges than other OneWorld sapphires who qualified to be sapphire by flying the same or fewer miles than the AA sapphire?
Dec 1, 2016, 8:21 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,980
All ffp's have different rules for obtaining and retaining status. Some are more and some are less than with AA.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Dec 1, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Dec 2, 2016, 10:24 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
Ah, I missed this exception:
"These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement."
Why in the world are AA sapphires treated differently by OneWorld elite lounges than other OneWorld sapphires who qualified to be sapphire by flying the same or fewer miles than the AA sapphire?
"These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement."
Why in the world are AA sapphires treated differently by OneWorld elite lounges than other OneWorld sapphires who qualified to be sapphire by flying the same or fewer miles than the AA sapphire?
The correct rules are that, all oneworld sapphire members are entitled to oneworld airlines-operated business class lounge access (with a few location-dependent exceptions), except that AAdvantage Plat members cannot access the lounge when travelling on "domestic" North American itineraries. An AA élite member is thus not entitled to any lounge access based on status, be it AA or BA lounge, when travelling on a "domestic" itinerary.
