Originally Posted by
PLeblond
So... Flying on AA out of LHR is fine unless you use the AA lounge. Most comments suggest OP should have wondered in advance, when trying out AA as a comparison to UA: "Hmmmm...should I use the AA lounge or is there a hack for better lounge access with other carriers lounge to enhance the enjoyment of my AA flight?"
Depends when you're there. Nothing wrong with the full English breakfast but I prefer an American breakfast and they have that, they also have American style ingredients for the blood mary that's necessary with breakfast. BA (and I believe CX) just have the basics of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce.
Originally Posted by
MorganB
When I checked in at T3 Flagship First counter in March I was told by the agent that checked me in the list of lounges that I could access. She specifically said that Cathy 1st was very nice and encouraged me to try them all if I had time ( which I did ). I'm not sure if I was just lucky but at least in my case I was directed to all the lounges
Good check in agent. I don't remember AA check in saying anything to me there, but wouldn't have mattered as I know the lounge situation already.
Originally Posted by
JMN57
I would agree in general. That said, for LHR, the best check-in experience (and, IMO, one of the best in the world) is T5 check-in for premium cabin/OWE status. It's not very busy, it is a personal experience and there is champagne right after one exits security (directly into the lounge).
Yes, I am an AA flyer but if you fly a lot internationally, you have to redefine your "loyalty" to the alliance and evaluate how to get from a-to-b as, in my case, a OneWorld flyer to truly maximize the benefits of loyalty. Mixing and matching, lounge and flight and, yes, even check-in are all needed to maxing one's benefit.
The T5 experience is pretty top notch if you're flying BA first or OW Emerald. We used it just for a domestic flight to ABZ and was crazy efficient. Going back to Asia I actually regret now not just going through immigration (was coming from DUB) vs. Transit security and going back to the F check in, it certainly would have been a shorter queue and put us right where we wanted to be in the lounge vs. walking across the entirety of T5 to get to the F lounge.
Originally Posted by
Pickles
Not to get too far off track (but keeping it within OW), there is the JL F check-in at HND, with its own lounge and its own security lane. Your carry-on bags even get special "JL F" tags with your name, date, and flight number printed on them.
And directly to the topic of this thread, I don't think I would even consider an AA lounge when a CX, JL, or even BA lounge is available. Unless, of course, FT told me that AA had the best lounge (I guess that's possible in some airports?)
I despise that... there's no purpose in a tag on your carry on except for the staff to scrutinize it. Why does it need your name, date, and flight number on it? Why does it need to exist at all? JL has official limits on carry ons but is almost never enforced, so this tag is doing nothing more than making you feel special for having an F carry on tag. The F tags on check in luggage have a purpose since they normally come out first (not BA's of course). I actually keep a QR Business tag on my travel backpack so hopefully they don't look at it or weigh it next time since it's always WAY overweight. But even at that, I don't understand the purpose of the tags on carry ons, since if you originate on a partner connecting flight, you don't get one at check in and no one checks it at the boarding gate. It's only when you check in with QR that they make a fuss about it.