GUIDE: AA Flagship Check-In at JFK, LAX, LHR, MIA, ORD (rev)

Nov 28, 19, 3:09 am - Wikipost

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Wiki Link

GUIDE to Flagship® First Check-In - Who, When, Where

At JFK New York, LAX Los Angeles, LHR London Heathrow, MIA Miami, ORD Chicago

Link to Flagship® First Check-In on aa.com.

(DFW Dallas-Ft. Worth is said to be coming, but is not open at this time.)

What is Flagship Check-in?

"Let our Flagship® Check-In service help you start your journey on the right foot. This exclusive service offers customers a private check-in experience, including:

[Customer service representatives who can personally assist with your individual travel requirements - from check-in and baggage check to seat or itinerary changes as well as dedicated self-service kiosks
An expedited security line, offering you premium access through security checkpoints" (does not include TSA PreCheck unless you’re qualified)

Access / Who can use

Qualifying First class* (long haul international and transcontinental on three class First Class - see below)

ConciergeKeySM (any AA flight, any class of service)

Qualifying AAdvantage® Executive Platinum* (on qualifying flights, regardless of class of service cabin - American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship® First Check-In access. North America is defined as the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except MEX), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.)

oneworld® EmeraldSM other than AAdvantage Executive Platinum (any AA flight, any class of service)

Five Star ServiceSM customers (regardless of destination or class of service - but not available for Coach)

* Qualifying international flights: Flights between the U.S. and:

Asia
Australia
Central America
Europe
Mexico City (MEX) (not other México airports)
New Zealand
South America

Qualifying transcontinental flights: 3-class non-stop flights between:

New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)
JFK and San Francisco (SFO)
LAX and Boston (BOS) – traveling on A321T aircraft only
LAX and Miami (MIA) – traveling on B777-300 aircraft only (through October 26, 2019)

Where You'll Find It - Airport, Location

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD): Near the First Class Check-In at Checkpoint 8 on upper level of Terminal 3

London Heathrow Airport (LHR): Terminal 3, Zone D, shared space with British Airways. Look for signage. (as of 27 Nov 2019; access rules now the same as all other Flagship First Check-in facilities.)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Curbside entrance, exclusive to Flagship Check-In customers, in Terminal 4, just east of American Priority.

Miami International Airport (MIA): Look for designated signage in Concourse D of the North Terminal

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): Departure level closest to the AirTrain access and look for a sign right outside the entrance[/indent]
These offer kiosk and personal services, and expedited TSA security access.

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For previous posts, please see: ARCHIVE: All About AA Flagship Check-In at JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD (master thread) — link

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Jan 7, 18, 10:08 am

San Gottardo

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2005

Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub

Posts: 6,540

Surely it's buried somewhere in the previous 50 pages of this thread, but allow me the question nevertheless: for a departure from MIA, does the Flagship check-in area lead to a dedicated security lane or a shortcut to security check (like in JFK)? Or is Flagship check-in just a set of dedicated counters in the middle of all others, and for security Flagship pax just join the "normal" (priority? TSAPre?) queue and stand in line behind other non-Flagship passengers?

Since I'll be arriving at the airport with no luggage to check and a boarding pass on my phone, is there any point in passing by the Flagship check-in area?

Thank you.

Last edited by San Gottardo; Jan 7, 18 at 10:56 am

Jan 7, 18, 2:51 pm

Global321

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Global

Posts: 4,868

Quote:

Originally Posted by San Gottardo

No it is not a separate security. They walk you to the front of the Pre-check line (or priority line if you don't have PC.)

Jan 7, 18, 3:55 pm

fedechat

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: South Florida

Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium

Posts: 1,247

Quote:

Originally Posted by San Gottardo

You will shortcut the line at Miami, is advise to use the Flagship Check-in if the PreCheck line is long, otherwise go directly to PreCheck line at Checkpoint #2 .

Jan 7, 18, 6:45 pm

San Gottardo

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2005

Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub

Posts: 6,540

Thank you very much fedechat and Globa321! Very useful information, just what I was looking for. ^

Jan 7, 18, 10:30 pm

dciolli

Join Date: May 2015

Location: LAX

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 157

The wiki and aa.com state that EXPs can using Flagship check in on eligible international flights. I'm assuming I can use this when flying LAX-MIA-EZE even though my first flight is domestic, right?

I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into the verbiage saying "flights" instead of "itineraries".

Jan 8, 18, 7:14 am

GaryD

Join Date: May 2009

Location: LGA, JFK

Posts: 1,001

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdullhk88

Anyone tried doing this at JFK to cut the PreCheck line, now that AA and CX are both in T8? Since CX F gets access to Flagship Dining maybe they might as well get access to Flagship Check-in?

Quote:

Originally Posted by andersonCooper

Have to be AA-operated. So no Flagship check-in for CX-operated flights. AA can't check in CX's system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Global321

I suppose you could try. I am not sure if AA can check you in without an AA flight. On connecting CX flights, such as in MIA, if you are connecting to CX first via AA flight, you can use Flagship check-in and they do print you CX BPs. But, I think the key is the first flight is AA. (I have never tried a direct check-in at NYC/LAX/etc.)

JFK T8 will have a First Class check in for CX pax. They need some lovin too.

Jan 8, 18, 8:42 am

zpaul

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: DEN, SCL

Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold, UA 1K

Posts: 1,885

Hi everyone, I think I know the answer to this question but I'd like to confirm - if I have access to Flagship Check-In as a Oneworld emerald, can I take a guest who is not on the same PNR but on an AA flight through with me?

Jan 8, 18, 8:28 pm

San Gottardo

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2005

Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub

Posts: 6,540

Yes you can. Just did exactly that at Flagship check-in In Miami today. And it wasn’t even really for me, as I already had my boarding pass, but the person I was travelling with needed to check in. Not a problem at all.

zpaul likes this.

Jan 9, 18, 2:08 pm

fedechat

Join Date: Dec 2005

Location: South Florida

Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium

Posts: 1,247

Quote:

Originally Posted by dciolli

You should be able to use it, they may ask you for the final destination or a printed itinerary/electronic BP to confirm you are eligible, at least in MIA it depends of the agent.

dciolli likes this.

Jan 11, 18, 6:42 am

#10

zpaul

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: DEN, SCL

Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold, UA 1K

Posts: 1,885

Quote:

Originally Posted by dciolli

Yes, you can.

dciolli likes this.

Jan 11, 18, 9:25 am

#11

dp4m

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: NYC

Programs: AA EXP, 1865 Voyager, *G

Posts: 112

I've been "turned away" (I probably could have pushed but not worth the hassle) at JFK before because I'm "not on the list" as EXP flying JFK/LAX/HKG -- so I'm not sure you end up on the "list" (what the checker at the Flagship Check-In area has as a printed list of the day's Flagship folk), even if you have qualified access if you originally check-in at the domestic leg...

So be prepared just in case!

Jan 11, 18, 9:31 am

#12

zpaul

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: DEN, SCL

Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold, UA 1K

Posts: 1,885

Quote:

Originally Posted by dp4m

This is consistent with my experience in JFK, but nowhere else.

I have been denied access to Flagship Check-In at JFK exactly 50% of the times that I was eligible for it. At LAX, ORD, and MIA I have never had a problem, so it's specific to JFK. One of the times I was denied entry I was flying JFK-MIA-SCL in F, and I wasn't on the list, and the other three were for trying to access it via my Oneworld Emerald status with LATAM, but again I "wasn't on the list." I don't know why they can't get it right there when everywhere else functions without a hitch.

dp4m likes this.

Last edited by zpaul; Jan 11, 18 at 11:46 am