Originally Posted by
mtkeller
If the Citi Prestige cardholder is flying AA, does the guest need to be flying AA as well? Traveling with my mom on an AA award around Thanksgiving, and I couldn't get her on AA for the domestic part, so she's on DL. We're coming into ORD in JL F, so I'm considering just buying a refundable AA ticket for her somewhere so we can both use the FL while I wait for my DCA flight and she waits for the DL flight to MSP. (Both connections are ~4 hours.) However, if we can both use the AC based on my Prestige card alone, I might not hassle with the ticket. (Cue telling me how much better the FL is.)
I think the wiki specifies, and contains a link to the full language. You must be flying with AA etc. but it's not specified the allowed two guests must be accompanying you or flying AA.
The primary cardmember may bring as guest(s) either immediate family (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under 18 years of age) or up to two traveling guests...
I'd not be buying fully refundable tickets for lounge access, myself. That is prohibited by the Conditions of Carriage, and we know AA can be sticklers about that.
And the FL isn't that much better, so no worries there. Though it offers extended f&b, it's often crowded, looks like a 1970s hotel lobby and offers one lav for men, another for women, and is in a less convenient location unless you're flying out on one of the international flights served by nearby flights. Definitely no showers - those are in the Club.