Originally Posted by
someone
Another data point for the hive mind: as a plain-vanilla BA Gold I was recently allowed into the IAD lounge early one evening while flying US domestic AS, and allowed to eat in the Club side. First dining was "closed," according to the lounge reception, and she watched me very carefully when I entered the First seating area (past a rope -- just two sofas?). Altogether a peculiar experience.
Not strictly BA IAD, but I had a similar experience in BA EWR lounge in Feb
Yes I was on AS EWR-LAX F, was also JL OWE at the time. Obviously AS passengers were supposed to be in B4x gates, I had to exit restricted area and reenter in Gate B51 security in order to access the EWR lounge:
EWR BA lounge dragon: “Sir you can’t come in with this”
Me: “Why? It’s an F BP”
EWR BA lounge dragon: “Sir where’s your Alaskan card?”
Me: “I don’t have one. I have OWE. I get in either way”
(Lounge dragon reluctantly scans Alaskan BP, does not code OWE) EWR BA lounge dragon: “Sir I’m going to invite you in this once. Next time please have your Alaskan card”
Me: “Errr k”
That was my first attempt to access lounges on US domestic BP and it was a bit of a learning curve for me.
In Japan and Australia I'd walk into the appropriate Sakura domestic lounge/Diamond Premier lounge/Qantas Club/Qantas Business lounge on much more straightforward rules.
Subsequently I learnt BA US and AA Flagship make a distinction between international and domestic routings that isn't practiced elsewhere (well, Japan and Australia practice international/domestic segregation...).