FlyerTalk Forums - Third Party Lounge Access

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)

- Airport Lounges (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airport-lounges-763/)

- - Third Party Lounge Access (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airport-lounges/1913222-third-party-lounge-access.html)

Third Party Lounge Access

Hi all,
I am wondering which of the big U.S. global carriers (AA, DL, UA) offer the best third party lounge access policy for members of 'elite' status. I fly a lot domestically but will be changing my scope to international and lounges are important to me. The problem is that I will be spread all over the globe and none of the big 3 have their lounges, or partner lounges, in every major airport around the world. I would likely reach gold or higher with any of the carriers and my travel will be in economy cabin a majority of the time. With that said, I think that would still qualify for access to 3rd party lounges but wanted to ask the community to see what others have found through their travels.

To summarize the question, do each of the big three allow free access for gold and higher into 3rd party lounges when traveling in economy cabin? I can't seem to find the answer on their websites.

Thanks

Each of the three alliances publish information about lounge access based on status:

AA: https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access

DL: https://www.skyteam.com/en/about/faq/lounge-access/

UA: Lounge Access Policy - Star Alliance - Star Alliance

AA EXP status will get you into partner international first class lounges (think Cathay at HKG, Qantas in SYD, BA at LHR), even when you're flying in coach. UA 1K status, for comparison, will not get you into first class partner lounges but rather their business class lounges on an equivalent ticket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rb2487 (Post 29841650)

To summarize the question, do each of the big three allow free access for gold and higher into 3rd party lounges when traveling in economy cabin? I can't seem to find the answer on their websites.

You have to be careful on terminology. Over at AA, a Gold level flyer only flies 25,000 miles a year. They have no lounge access on international itineraries.

Thanks, I should have clarified mile thresholds since not all tiers are the same by terminology. I am thinking of tiers that begin at 50K Miles (AA = Sapphire, DL = Gold, UA = Gold). Given these tiers do you know what each offers when it comes to access policy for 3rd party lounges when traveling in economy?

The AA and UA partner lounge access is the same at the 50K level (One World Sapphire and Star Alliance Gold) - you'll get into partner lounges on international itineraries based on your elite status. I've never flown DL to comment about them. The links are all in the second post of this thread with the details spelled out.

Thanks MIA, I checked out the links but I only see references to partner clubs or alliance clubs like a SkyTeam Lounge. Any experience using the 3rd party options in airports where your alliance isn’t the strongest and no partner or alliance club exists? This is is my main concern given my travel situation.

[QUOTE=mia;29841976]Each of the three alliances publish information about lounge access based on status

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rb2487 (Post 29842327)

Any experience using the 3rd party options in airports where your alliance isn’t the strongest and no partner or alliance club exists? This is is my main concern given my travel situation.

That's going to be pretty much dependent on what the carrier you're flying has in place. At SFO, for instance, Qantas uses the Air France lounge which is not part of One World, and they'll give you an invitation when you check in. I recall also using an Air France lounge somewhere in Europe when flying BA, and again was given an invitation when checking in. You'd probably need to post a specific airport and carrier, in that airline's forum, to get that level of detail. Failing that, Priority Pass has its own lounge network of lounges to give you a backup choice if your airline doesn't have its own lounge or a contract with some other outfit for a lounge (and I've used their lounges or restaurants in Sydney and London when outside the U.S., but mostly stay with my airline's lounges). You can search those on their website:
https://www.prioritypass.com/