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
Feb 25, 2011, 10:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 85
ARCHIVE: First Class Check-in London Heathrow LHR, formerly Premium / Flagship
I'm flying from LHR JFK I'm EXP my friend no status is traveling LHR DFW on same date with me We are getting to LHR together I'm on a paid ticket hes using my miles on a free ticket can we both check in together at the premium check in?
Feb 25, 2011, 10:52 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,232
I've never been turned away from a premium check-in counter by AA or any other airline when checking in with a non-status travel companion. I don't think they'd turn your friend away just because he's going to a different destination, but I don't make their rules. (Too bad. I'd change some if I did.)
I checked in at the LHR Flagship area around 9 am this past Wednesday (Feb. 23) for AA 109, 10:30 am LHR-BOS. I was the only passenger in the place. There were one greeter, two security checkers and three agents there to serve me, plus perhaps others behind the scenes whom I didn't see. If it's that quiet when you're there, I suspect they'd be grateful for something to do!
I checked in at the LHR Flagship area around 9 am this past Wednesday (Feb. 23) for AA 109, 10:30 am LHR-BOS. I was the only passenger in the place. There were one greeter, two security checkers and three agents there to serve me, plus perhaps others behind the scenes whom I didn't see. If it's that quiet when you're there, I suspect they'd be grateful for something to do!
Feb 25, 2011, 11:04 am
#3
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
If it were me, I would use the dedicated F/J check-in counters between zones B and C inside, just to be sure... I've heard the Flagship Check-in is rather well defended by staff there, although I've never used it when not entitled myself so cannot speak firsthand as to how fierce they may be.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:51 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NYC/Paris
Programs: AA EXP 4MM, Lifetime Platinum, BusinessExtra, Global Entry
Posts: 21
I have never had a problem checking in with a friend who has no status. I've even taken friends to JFK and taken them into the FC line to check in to their flight when I was not flying.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:56 am
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cote d'Ivoire
Programs: OW Emerald - HH Diamond
Posts: 3,414
I've never used the Flagship check-in. I've always found the F check-in counter is empty; service is prompt and efficient.
Feb 25, 2011, 11:58 am
#6
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
Same experience here. Never been in a line more than 1 person deep at either Flaship Check-in or the F/J area between zones B and C.
Feb 25, 2011, 12:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Programs: AA-LTP, HH-DIA, Marriott-LT+AMB, Hyatt-Globalist, Hertz-PC, UA-GS
Posts: 6,825
Why not just check in online? Did it again yesterday. If you have a mobile device, even easier, you will get an email with the boarding pass.
Feb 25, 2011, 12:53 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
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The fact that many will say "it worked for me" doesn't change the fact that it still fails in many cases.
Cheers.
Feb 25, 2011, 1:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 314
Feb 25, 2011, 1:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA PLT 3MM
Posts: 1,135
You clearly weren't at LHR during the pre-Christmas snowgate saga then. The Flagship check-in was closed and the main F/J check-ins were around thirty or forty people deep at one point. This was after you'd got past the door-trolls who were only letting in people with a confirmed seat on a confirmed operating flight leaving within three hours.
Feb 25, 2011, 1:19 pm
#12
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
You clearly weren't at LHR during the pre-Christmas snowgate saga then. The Flagship check-in was closed and the main F/J check-ins were around thirty or forty people deep at one point. This was after you'd got past the door-trolls who were only letting in people with a confirmed seat on a confirmed operating flight leaving within three hours.
Feb 25, 2011, 1:20 pm
#13
Moderator, OneWorld
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: RAA RIP; AA ExEXP
Posts: 11,794
This might be heresy, but while I enjoy the LHR Flagship check-in, if I were an AA bean-counter (and I am convinced there's no shortage of same) I would strongly consider it a potential chicken neck, axe-wise. If memory serves I have had the company of one other passenger on two occasions there; in all cases the staff outnumbered the pax. Maybe I've just missed the throngs, but to me this facility has "featherbedding" written all over it.
Feb 25, 2011, 1:22 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,527
As a leisure traveler, I actually still like the "routine" of flying. The line of desks with (sometimes) smiling agents and the ever present "Where you are flying today?" is still an enjoyable part of the experience for me, so I avoid checking in online whenever I can. As a business traveler, I'm sure I'd be printing my boarding pass as often as possible.
Cheers.
Feb 25, 2011, 1:26 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 314
