Originally Posted by
highschoolband
I'm currently BA Silver (OW Saphire), but won't be next year. My travel this year is taking me almost exclusively to Latin America so I am trying to get status on AA this year. This means that I don't have "Priority Access" stamped on my boarding pass. A number of times I've approached the ticket counter or GAs and asked them if I could check in at the First class counter or board with Priority Access. The response is always different (with the exception of the AC, where they've always treated me as having status).
My question is, am I being presumptious by expecting that as a OW Saphire I am entitled to these benefits even though I'm not traveling as an elite? Or should I expect AA to treat me as the elite level I am and be anxious to have me as one of their own elites?
You should get all the benefits, regardless of whether you are earning miles on the BA card. Where are you flying to/from/through? In my experience, even when I have the BA card in the reservation, there are some ground agents that are completely unaware of the OneWorld rules. The biggest problem is that they've tried to charge for bags more than once at non-hub airports where they probably don't see a whole lot of OneWorld elites. I would think that you may have some trouble getting through the elite security lines, since those aren't staffed by AA employees (in most/ all airports?), but you should be allowed to check-in at the first/business desks, check-in bags for free, and use the lounges by simply showing the card.