only1percent

Dallas doesn't have FCI because people arrive at all 5 terminals for their flights. If they had it anywhere, it would be at Terminal D, where the Flagship Lounge is, but even then you wouldn't get enough traffic to justify it. PHL and CLT don't have FCI or Flagship Lounges because AA controls so much of the O&D traffic that they don't have to do anything to appeal to local customers. You can see the benefit of competition from JFK T-8 having FCI and three premium lounges, and LAX T-4 having FCI and a Flagship Lounge.

(JFK T-8 FCI feeds right in to the regular TSApre line. One day in 20 you skip a bit of that line; most of the time you are right where you would have been absent FCI. The real advantage of FCI if you aren't checking bags is that there are occasionally overly aggressive carryon-bag-sizing attendants monitoring the non FCI entrance to the TSApre line, and FCI bypasses them.

donotblink

you can just plow right past them, they’re not police or TSA and you don’t have to listen to them.

Jorma

Stupid question but here goes.

Flying QR as Emerald from JFK, after QR checkin, can i go through the Flagship checkin and get into the TSApre line?
Im thinking this would save some time as i dont recall there being other priority security for QR J/emerald passengers, just normal line.

San Gottardo

Are Flagship Lounges considered normal Oneworld First lounges? In Los Angeles, flying on Alaska Airlines, can I access the FL with my British Airways Gold (=OWE) card?

I only have hand luggage, so no need for check-in - although a few times in LAX I was escorted by an AA agent cutting me all the way to the front of the line, but I presume they only do that if I leave on an AA flight.

Antarius

yes. You will have access with your BA Gold card on any OW itinerary

fender5787

Dont think you can and with precheck, the flagship check in doesn’t really make much difference with you being spit out into the same precheck line as everyone else.

Jorma

yea, i didnt remember if they are checking peoples tickets entering.

and not having tsapre(foreign) it would have helped i think.

fender5787

I guess without pre check it could help a bit, but it’s nothing like it was back in the day where you had an actual escort take you to the front of the line. But either way, I’m 99% sure you have to be flying on AA/BA to be let into the area and yes there’s still someone at the door checking pax’s credentials.

Antarius

Even if you're on AA/BA, half the time, they don't know the rules.

It's hands down the most useless AA benefit.

_kurt

Huh? In MIA, ORD, and LAX, at least, they escort you right to the TDC, skipping any line. Been through all three this year and that was the procedure. The change is that now you only get pre-check if it's on your BP whereas previously Flagship would usually get you pre-check treatment regardless.

S80

I'm 0% at JFK, about 50/50 at ORD, and 100% at LAX for getting an escort to the front of the TSA pre line (via crew/staff line). (To be fair there hasn't been a line for TSA at JFK, but the one time at ORD where I was running late it would have been helpful).

Global321

Shows how inconsistent the service is amongst travelers. For me...
0% at LAX
JFK - not sure how to score it... lets you out near the front, but no escort and no real wait for me.

S80

I'm curious if it has anything to do with class of service? My only flights from I've used it in LAX have been in Flagship First international. My data points are also small, somewhere between 3 and 5.
I'll have to make a mental note to check at ORD when I use it (I rarely do when international)

Global321

If it helps, at LAX, FF domestic for me. Maybe 4 this year in LAX.

laxflyer47

I’ve had an escort to security 100% of the time at LAX (about 12-15 flights this year), mix of everything from domestic economy to international F.