Originally Posted by
joejones
I think the big issue is dram shop law liability. If the lounge is operated by a foreign airline, it's relatively difficult to sue the airline if someone gets plastered and then gets in their car and kills someone. Whereas American Express is an extremely easy litigation target for anyone in the US.
Not sure I buy that logic at all. If the foreign carrier has legal entities in the US (and if they have employees in those locations they need to have legal entities to pay them, provide benefits, etc.) then I don't think suing them would be an issue.
Furthermore, as has been stated (numerous times), lounges such as the AA Flagship Lounges, which are clearly owned by an American company, seem to be able to provide self-serve without issue. AA would be just as susceptible to being sued as Amex.
Regards