Originally Posted by
Venezuela-Miami
'My hunch is that the statement is specific to AA elites' - I don't get this reasoning, AA Elites don't get any Lounge access privilege per status alone (save for CK), for me this is all that counts and I have the webpage tab always in my phone (not that I ever had to show it yet): 'Get access if you’re departing, arriving or connecting to any same-day flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin).'
'I’d give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge)' - This is exactly my case, always access it as non-AA OWS/E at all of the locations (mainly at ORD), on arrival, without any issue, but haven't been since March this year. It scares me a bit now that you say that the very same agent at ORD that let you in a week ago now denies entry. In my case I'd stand my ground showing the above mentioned paragraph from the AA website
My point on AA elites is for those that already qualify on status (e.g., an EP in Y on a qualifying route).
From the OW Lounge site:
Access is available on the day of travel (or before 06:00am the following day), at the airport from which the oneworld flight on which the eligible customer is travelling departs.
The agents would likely point to this clause. Having said that, there’s clearly a written contradiction so it comes down to how much you’re willing to engage on the matter.