FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - AA status-based access to Admirals Clubs & oneworld lounges (consolidated)

Aug 12, 2008 | 11:47 am

#26

martin33

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP

Posts: 7,689

Quote:

Originally Posted by teabird

I'm confused about Admirals Club Access. For several years now (maybe 3 or 4) I've believed that as Platinum I'm allowed to use the Admirals Club whenever I fly internationally, even on economy class tickets. In fact, I've done so repeatedly, always checking in, being given drink chits, etc., with never a problem or a sense that this was a special favor from one of the lounge officials. I also thought I might be able to use the Club when I flew domestically first class, though I wasn't sure and I do that so rarely I can't remember if I ever even tried it.

But just last week I flew first class SFO-DFW-YUL and when I tried to use the Admirals Club at DFW I was denied admission. I didn't make a big deal about it, as I wasn't sure what the domestic policy was (and I know that, illogical as it seems, Canadian flights are considered domestic - nevermind that silly passport and immigrations thing we do...). But in the course of my conversation with the agent, she told me that I can only ever use the lounge when flying international first class (unless I buy a membership, of course), and that I had been wrong when using it with international economy tickets.

When I got home I did a search here and looked again at AA's policy on the web. (http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...ungeAccess.jsp) And now I really am confused. I think I had relied on the information at Few Miles (http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/index2.html), which shows that I do have access. Did something change? Or did I just commit the mistake at looking at faulty information without verifying it? And how would you explain the fact that I used the lounges so many times without problem?

Any information you can offer would be great.

Thanks!

the first confusing part is that canada (and mexico, MEX excepted) does not count as international for purposes of lounge access. the second is the fine print (*, next to oneworld Emerald) that says domestic access is fine for oneworld sapphire/emerald members *other* than AAdvantage:

* AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum® members must be traveling on a same day itinerary that includes an international segment. Excludes AAdvantage Executive Platinum and AAdvantage Platinum members traveling on solely North American itineraries. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

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