Originally Posted by
techie
What if one is a Gold/GGL but flying 1st on AA? If I was in that position, I would be miffed to be sent somewhere else.
Really, when flying in the USA (as a Gold flying AA F), I expect to use the AA lounges. If there is another OW airline lounge in the airport then I sometimes try to get in there, but I am always braced for being turned away - after all, there's an Admiral's or Flagship often in the same airport.
The PHL lounge was opened by BA in order to cater for BA's flights, so it isn't that unreasonable of them to deny access to people not flying with them.
In my experience the AA lounges are pretty weak, but the staff tend to be great (special mention for the charming and faultless ladies in the ORD Flagship lounge).