AC membership alone does not permit access to FL lounges. But as alluded to upthread, only FC (intl./transcom) and CK(?) will be allowed to enter FL, EXPs will be "shafted".
correct--my post alluded to the increase in people who can manage access to the admirals club which resulted in the expansion of access to flagship lounges.
as an AA EXP and CK (off and on) for 10 years prior to my move to LON--the access was not like this until recently was my point. the confluence of new flagship lounges and increased footprint of same lounges along with the added tier between plat and explat likely resulted in shifting of access was my point.