Were you on an AA-operated flight? Did they give you access to the Club or First side, and did they explicitly say it's because of your business flight PLUS AA status (which is not the policy)?
Pre-COVID the BA lounge used to routinely turn away anyone not on a BA or QR operated flight. I'm a PRO and flying PHL-ZRH in economy next week...
Me EXP, momma PP. Both in J on AA metal. She looked at our BPs, consulted a list she had and said come in, to the club. So she may have had a double secret probation allowance. Or maybe those are the rules, language from BA and link below. Go for it. It does not mention cabin you are flying. They better let me in because all those BA flyers in AUS are clogging up the AC there. Go around back to the F side for Glenfidditch and Chandon, but they did have Aviation gin on the club side.
- Emerald and Sapphire level Members of any oneworld airline frequent flyer programme on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of our oneworld partners
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...lounge-access#