Nov 29, 2013, 10:01 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
LHR / London Heathrow International Airport Terminal 3 AA First Class / Flagship Check-In
American Airlines Flagship First Check-in has moved and now operates in a facility shared with British Airways in Terminal 3, Zone D, effective 27 Nov 2019. Use rules now conform to usual Flagship First Check-in rules, so this thread will be archived.
For the current thread, please see GUIDE: AA Flagship Check-In at JFK, LAX, LHR, MIA, ORD (rev) — link
(The First Class Check-In facility was originally situated outside Terminal 3 in Zone H. This facility was previously called Flagship Check-in, then Premium Check-in, before being rebranded in late 2016 to First Class Check-in. It then moved from Zone H to Zone B 12 Jul 2017.)
Once you have completed your check-in process, you will progress through to the expedited security lane which offers easy access through airport security check points.
The Zone B Flagship First Class Check-In position is available for:
- First Class customers travelling on American Airlines (Business customers previously had access but this has gone away)
- ConciergeKey members
- Five Star Service customers
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum or oneworld Emerald customers
ARCHIVE: First Class Check-in London Heathrow LHR, formerly Premium / Flagship
Mar 26, 2013, 4:03 am
#76
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, 1MM
Posts: 643
Whe our taxi dropped us off there last August, the driver made some comment of apology for the distance to Flagship checkin, saying that the inner roadway had been permanently closed, I think he said due to security concerns related to the 2008 Olympics.
I still prefer it to entering the main terminal with luggage, facing the miscellaneous crowds therein.
I still prefer it to entering the main terminal with luggage, facing the miscellaneous crowds therein.
I find that the flagship check-in is rarely useful. It seems to be more affected by glitches than the main desks. Not infrequently there seems to be a computer problem there or a delay caused by a passenger arguing about whether they should be allowed to check in there or some other hold up.
Also, the bags do not go onto a conveyor belt and directly into the system from there. They are loaded on to a cart and wheeled into the main terminal and loaded into the baggage system there. Thus providing an extra opportunity for them to get wet or something else to go wrong.
Mar 26, 2013, 8:25 am
#77
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LGA, JFK
Posts: 1,018
I think it has been impossible to drive right up to any UK airport terminal building since terrorists drove a jeep loaded with gas cylinders into the terminal at Glasgow airport in 2007.
I find that the flagship check-in is rarely useful. It seems to be more affected by glitches than the main desks. Not infrequently there seems to be a computer problem there or a delay caused by a passenger arguing about whether they should be allowed to check in there or some other hold up.
Also, the bags do not go onto a conveyor belt and directly into the system from there. They are loaded on to a cart and wheeled into the main terminal and loaded into the baggage system there. Thus providing an extra opportunity for them to get wet or something else to go wrong.
I find that the flagship check-in is rarely useful. It seems to be more affected by glitches than the main desks. Not infrequently there seems to be a computer problem there or a delay caused by a passenger arguing about whether they should be allowed to check in there or some other hold up.
Also, the bags do not go onto a conveyor belt and directly into the system from there. They are loaded on to a cart and wheeled into the main terminal and loaded into the baggage system there. Thus providing an extra opportunity for them to get wet or something else to go wrong.
I prefer to refer to them as a couple of nuts. They didn't quite get through the glass doors. And, fortunately, only the driver died; no one else was seriously harmed.
But I still find Zone H more pleasant than the main terminal. To each his/her own.
Mar 26, 2013, 8:57 am
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
Right, I suppose I did remember correctly, the taxi driver did indeed mention 2008.
I prefer to refer to them as a couple of nuts. They didn't quite get through the glass doors. And, fortunately, only the driver died; no one else was seriously harmed.
But I still find Zone H more pleasant than the main terminal. To each his/her own.
I prefer to refer to them as a couple of nuts. They didn't quite get through the glass doors. And, fortunately, only the driver died; no one else was seriously harmed.
But I still find Zone H more pleasant than the main terminal. To each his/her own.
Mar 26, 2013, 9:25 am
#79
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The greatest wee nation on earth.
Programs: Iron Maiden FC, GE, Rapidly falling down the Tiers to oblivion.
Posts: 2,604
Back on topic....the first time i could have used flagship it was pouring down so just ran straight into the terminal and checked in at the one random desk that is open in that section for 1st class (at the time a couple of years back). I couldn't be bothered going back outside to get to flagship just to come back in again the same way. Its a nice thought, but really quite pointless having used it a few times since.
Mar 26, 2013, 9:33 am
#80
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
I haven't used anything but flagship check in for a few years....do you have to go through the same inane "security questions" rigmarole when checking in inside the terminal as you do at flagship check in? I assume you do....but where do you get stopped and asked these brilliantly incisive questions?
Mar 26, 2013, 9:46 am
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
I haven't used anything but flagship check in for a few years....do you have to go through the same inane "security questions" rigmarole when checking in inside the terminal as you do at flagship check in? I assume you do....but where do you get stopped and asked these brilliantly incisive questions?
Mar 26, 2013, 10:55 am
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
I haven't used anything but flagship check in for a few years....do you have to go through the same inane "security questions" rigmarole when checking in inside the terminal as you do at flagship check in? I assume you do....but where do you get stopped and asked these brilliantly incisive questions?
Cheers.
Mar 26, 2013, 3:50 pm
#83
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
In fact, I see the same staff there so often that they have stopped asking questions any more, which is of course as it should be given the objective of the process.
Nov 29, 2013, 5:34 pm
#84
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,659
Any recent experiences using the Flagship Check in at LHR when traveling with a non status passenger? I am flying paid J, but he is in an award Y ticket? Would be nice to use like I always do, but don't want to be turned away. Thanks,
Nov 29, 2013, 6:06 pm
#85
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Vail, CO
Programs: AA EXP/1mm, Marriott Titanium/LT Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 626
I had a friend without status in Y with me in March and it was no issue - they checked him in and he came through fast track security with me
Nov 29, 2013, 6:27 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
I think Flagship Check-in is available only for OW EMDs and F passengers. Flying business class or being OW SPH does now allow access (unless the rules changed).
Nov 29, 2013, 7:06 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 7_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/537.51.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.0 Mobile/11A465 Safari/9537.53)
LHR operates under a different set of rules. f and J plus emeralds
Originally Posted by Andriyko
I think Flagship Check-in is available only for OW EMDs and F passengers. Flying business class or being OW SPH does now allow access (unless the rules changed).
Nov 29, 2013, 7:23 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
+1. F, J, and EXP/OW Emerald (and the occasional GLD/PLT who plays "dumb tourist"
) can all use Flagship Check-In.
Nov 29, 2013, 9:38 pm
#89
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EP 3MM, UA Silver, Bonvoy LT TIT, Hyatt Explorist, HH Silver, Caesars PLT
Posts: 7,259
Nov 30, 2013, 2:03 am
#90
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,659
I've always used it when flying J and the occasional F, I was just wondering about my non J traveling friend. Thanks for the replies, I'll be sure to post my results next week.