Originally Posted by
NWIFlyer
I'm delighted to be able to advise you that you're mistaken
.
That paragraph is an exception to the usual requirement for North American status holders to buy annual lounge access passes, given even a "short haul" F ticket doesn't qualify. The requirement for an international segment for those people is in line with oneworld rules (and indeed those in other alliances as well).
Status holders from outside the US have no such restrictions and can enter on any itinerary as per oneworld rules.
Thank you! I think I understand - I was reading that paragraph as a definitive description of who is eligible for lounge access whereas it is in fact, as you say, an exception clause for AA and AS status holders.