Apr 11, 2013, 8:02 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Lounge Access for oneworld First or Business Class Passengers
NOTE: This thread has received little use since the establishment of the thread HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2017). Please use that thread to inquire about Lounge access. A few more recent posts have been moved to that thread.
Relax in more premium lounges around the world
If your oneworld® frequent flyer tier status is Emerald or Sapphire, or you are traveling in a First or Business Class cabin on a oneworld member airline, you can access more than 600 airport lounges throughout the world.
This means you can relax or catch up with work in comfort and style before departure, regardless of which oneworld member airline you choose to fly with.
To be eligible, you must be departing on a flight that is both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline.
oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class customers (link)
Indulge yourself before departure in a wider range of airport lounges when you fly First Class or Business Class with any oneworld member airline.
The following exceptions apply:
If your oneworld® frequent flyer tier status is Emerald or Sapphire, or you are traveling in a First or Business Class cabin on a oneworld member airline, you can access more than 600 airport lounges throughout the world.
This means you can relax or catch up with work in comfort and style before departure, regardless of which oneworld member airline you choose to fly with.
To be eligible, you must be departing on a flight that is both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline.
- Some lounges may get busy at peak times, and access to them may be restricted as a result.
- Lounges operated by third parties are identified in the lounge finder tool (above). Access to these lounges is restricted to eligible customers when travelling on specific oneworld airlines as shown in the lounge finder tool.
- Arrivals lounges are excluded.
- Spa and Pre-Flight Dining facilities are excluded.
- British Airways Concorde lounges are excluded.
- Other exceptions may apply (see below).
oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class customers (link)
Indulge yourself before departure in a wider range of airport lounges when you fly First Class or Business Class with any oneworld member airline.
- Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. First Class passengers may use a Business Class or frequent flyer lounge if a First Class lounge is not available.
- First Class passengers may invite one guest to join them in the lounge. The guest must also be travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.
- Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
- First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
- Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
- You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.
- First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access.
- Guests are not permitted at Qatar Airways Al Safwa and Al Mourjan lounges at Hamad International Airport in Doha or Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4.
Please see the following resources for further details on Class of Service Based Lounge Access Rules:
. . . ● oneworld Lounge Access Wizard , created by FlyerTalk member imagineertobe
. . . ● AA.com: AA Lounge Access Rules
. . . ● oneworld.com: Lounge Access Rules and Search Tool
. . . ● FlyerGuide Wiki: Lounges
. . . ● FT thread: AAdvantage status-based access to AA & oneworld lounges (consolidated)
ARCHIVE: Lounge Access Based on Class of Service (master thread)
Mar 6, 2016, 3:34 pm
#316
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I booked my family on a round trip FC award ticket with a leg operated by AY which only offers 2 class aircraft from JFK.
They were denied access to FL due to the service on the aircraft even though the ticket is A in all other segments including inbound to JFK from CLT.
This is BS...I argued with the AC manager for 15 and she basically told me to deal with it. I am traveling on a different ticket as an EXP on business...so angry. Are they following the rules to the T? Anyone I should bring this up to?
They were denied access to FL due to the service on the aircraft even though the ticket is A in all other segments including inbound to JFK from CLT.
This is BS...I argued with the AC manager for 15 and she basically told me to deal with it. I am traveling on a different ticket as an EXP on business...so angry. Are they following the rules to the T? Anyone I should bring this up to?
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 6, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Mar 7, 2016, 1:08 am
#317
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Unfortunately I am obliged to confirm my esteemed colleague's legal interpretation. 
Mar 7, 2016, 6:08 pm
#318
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 394
FL access?
Apologizes if this has been covered but I didn't see it in all 22 pages!
I am flying with my fiance international over 6 hours (various upcoming flights) on business class (some it's a 2 class plane and some is a 3 class plane). He is EXP and I am PLT, will we have access to FL ? We are flying AA metal, so was not sure how that would work.
I am flying with my fiance international over 6 hours (various upcoming flights) on business class (some it's a 2 class plane and some is a 3 class plane). He is EXP and I am PLT, will we have access to FL ? We are flying AA metal, so was not sure how that would work.
Mar 8, 2016, 12:57 am
#319
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Apologizes if this has been covered but I didn't see it in all 22 pages!
I am flying with my fiance international over 6 hours (various upcoming flights) on business class (some it's a 2 class plane and some is a 3 class plane). He is EXP and I am PLT, will we have access to FL ? We are flying AA metal, so was not sure how that would work.
I am flying with my fiance international over 6 hours (various upcoming flights) on business class (some it's a 2 class plane and some is a 3 class plane). He is EXP and I am PLT, will we have access to FL ? We are flying AA metal, so was not sure how that would work.
Mar 8, 2016, 6:44 pm
#321
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,213
If all of these are same-day with the long-haul INTL on an OW carrier (and marketed) thet EXP will have FL access with one guest. By cabin, only AC is allowed as all INTL segments are in biz.
Last edited by Madison Guy; Mar 8, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Mar 8, 2016, 8:30 pm
#322
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
As traveling companion is EP, they'll both have access to the LAX and ORD Flagship Lounges as well. By cabin flown, only Admirals Clubs and QF operated oneworld Business lounge in TBIT, First by t.c. status.
Mar 9, 2016, 11:38 am
#323
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Milwaukee
Programs: AA Pl, KL Platinum for Life
Posts: 384
Outbound if your overnight is 11 hours or longer you're most likely going to have your baggage checked to DFW.
There is no lounge at SJC; the Admirals Club was closed some time ago. If it were open, you'd not have access.
There are four Admirals Clubs at DFW you could use. ("A" has the best showers and a small workout room.) As you'll be departing to Incheon from terminal D, you'll probably want to use the D Club prior to departure.
Return, you'll have several lounges available at HKG. I suggest you go to the "GUIDE" sticky and use the Lounge Dashboard post to access the threads on different lounges you'll have access to.
As you are arriving LAX in oneworld Business and departing the same day on a oneworld flight, you will have access to the LAX Admirals Club.
There is no lounge at SJC; the Admirals Club was closed some time ago. If it were open, you'd not have access.
There are four Admirals Clubs at DFW you could use. ("A" has the best showers and a small workout room.) As you'll be departing to Incheon from terminal D, you'll probably want to use the D Club prior to departure.
Return, you'll have several lounges available at HKG. I suggest you go to the "GUIDE" sticky and use the Lounge Dashboard post to access the threads on different lounges you'll have access to.
As you are arriving LAX in oneworld Business and departing the same day on a oneworld flight, you will have access to the LAX Admirals Club.
Mar 9, 2016, 12:22 pm
#324
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Since the DFW ICN is in F, I believe the pax should be able to use the new Flagship lounge at DFW in terminal D. It offers great food and free beverages whereas the AC's offer limited snacks and a bar you have to use coupons or pay for. I used an F award ticket from ORD to LHR and had access to the Flagship lounge at ORD.
- There is no Flagship Lounge at DFW; you're referring to the International First Class Dining area at the DFW D Admirals Club. This isn't the same as the Flagship Lounges in other stations such as ORD.
- AA have announced a Flagship Lounge at DFW is coming, exact opening date TBA.
- The food at the International First Class Dining area is passable, not great.
- Drinks for international premium cabin travellers are free at an Admirals Club, you just have to give a drink chit for each one. If you run out, nicely ask for another–I've never been turned down. The Admirals Club bar tends to have a deeper selection of alcohol than the International First Class Dining area, though the latter does have (proper) Champagne if that's your fancy.
Mar 21, 2016, 11:20 pm
#325
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NY burbs
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, MR Silver, HH Diamond.
Posts: 101
Lounge access in FRA?
Flying DFW to FRA on an AAward ticket in biz, and then on BA CityFlyer in Club Europe to LCY, on a separate award ticket.
What, if any, lounge access will I have in FRA?
Thanks in advance.
What, if any, lounge access will I have in FRA?
Thanks in advance.
Mar 22, 2016, 4:14 am
#326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
Both BA and AA utilize the JL Sakura lounge at FRA. Your BA J ticket to LCY will grant you access, it's before security in T2.
Mar 22, 2016, 5:54 am
#327
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Mar 22, 2016, 8:00 am
#328
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: JFK > LGA >> EWR
Programs: AA EXP 1.2mm, Kimpton IC, Starwood Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,180
Mar 22, 2016, 8:47 am
#329
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
I stand corrected!
Mar 22, 2016, 5:50 pm
#330
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NY burbs
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, MR Silver, HH Diamond.
Posts: 101
Thanks, guys, glad to hear this!
Safe travels...
Safe travels...