Hacking lounge access
 

(Hacking in the true sense: exploring the corners of the system without breaking it.)

I've got a coming trip with my wife and two friends, SAN-MIA-SDQ and return. Booked F, but AA's weird definition of "international" means that doesn't add lounge access.

I have
- Amex PLT (probably cancelling, but will keep through this trip)
- Citi Prestige with Admiral's access
- Chase Sapphire Reserve with Priority Pass
- AA life Gold, which (as usual) doesn't seem to help anything

I think I've got SAN knocked: the SAN Airspace lounge is an AA contract lounge, so I can go to the AA desk with the Citi card and guest in the two friends. Then, two steps further is the Airspace desk, where I can use the Amex to guest in my wife.

Q: Any experience with checking yourself into the same lounge twice under two different legitimate programs? I don't see why it wouldn't work and be perfectly fair... but it is a little bit of a hack.


SDQ is easy: there's two different Priority Pass lounges, and the Chase CSR PP card is unlimited guests. If anybody has a recommendation there, or tips and hints, let me know.


MIA is the trickier one. There's three Admiral's clubs that are convenient to the various AA gates -- but I don't see a way to get three guests in. There's two Priority Pass lounges, but they appear to be pretty inconvenient to the AA gates, and one of our friends is not much of a trekker. Q: Any suggestions for handing MIA?


Thanks.

not really?

whenever various terms and conditions include 'we can revoke at any time' many of us feel it is an easy risk assessment to 'not do it' regardless of whether or not more and more people doing it will lead to big permanent changes for everyone

if it might get you kicked out of club, but youre fine risking that, then sure no problem trying to exploit loopholes

biggest question with these things is whether staff pay attention / care (or not)
and whether they follow procedures correctly, in the event there are loopholes
or if they do not even know procedures or simply refuse to take correct action

Really? This one doesn't even seem like a loophole -- this seems like legit use of two different legit programs. Unusual, but correct. At SAN at least, there's even different check-in desks and staff between Airspace and AA.

It's not like I'm guesting people in, then sneaking out and trying to guest more people in -- that would be illegitimate (and way past my personal line, even if it worked.)

then that is something you can attempt to use

questions can be >
what is print / fine print
what do staff do, how does one deal with them

also, knowing how/when to ask for exceptions
and when to not 'tell staff' what one is doing
(even if one is right, and staff may be wrong)

suggestion to many : less use of "hacking" terms

MIA has the Amex centurion lounge but only would allow either spouse or 2 guests, not both. Good lounge but can be crowded.

Ayup -- that's what I'd do if it was just us, but not this time. I could add my wife as an authorized user -- but the cost of that exceeds just buying an entry (or even a few entries).

Please continue to follow this thread in the AA Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

The Amex Centurion lounge in Mia is great and right on the D concourse in the middle of the Aa gates. Two guests and then for $50 you can get an additional guest in. Puts the Admirals club to shame and if you want to have lunch they serve a real meal that is as good or better than anything you can buy in the terminal. Also, drinks are free and all the top shelve brands are included. Not going to be a way to sneak that fourth person in though.

Are these connections long enough for lounge access to matter? If so, I'd do the Centurion lounge...well worth it.

(Not sure why we got moved to AA for a thread about lounge access, Centurion, Priority Pass, etc., but okay.)

Yes, Centurion and buying one in appears to be the best choice.

Still curious if anyone has had the experience of using two different lounge memberships at the same time.

As one who Was There for a lot of the true origin of the term, it seemed to fit quite well -- but sadly, it has been corrupted so. You're probably right.

Not at the same time exactly, but I was recently in LAX and had both Priority Pass and Admiral's Club access thru Citi Prestige. I went to the KAL lounge in the TBIT (Priority Pass) and thought it was a complete dump. So I left the KAL lounge (never to return, hopefully), went over to T4, and used the Admiral's Club. No issues at all.

Centurion Lounge is overrated.

Airspace SAN serves two purposes. It is considered a full Admirals Club for access purposes, including OWS and OWE access, as well as being an independent lounge that takes AMEX Platinum cards as an entry method. Basically, when Terminal 2 was built and AA moved there from Terminal 1, where they had an AC, AA was given an AC space. AA decided to sublet this to Airspace and keep access. AMEX Platinum access gives more benefits, as you get a F&B credit to go with access to the lounge.

The MIA one can be, as it gets insanely crowded and the bartenders aren't elite like at SFO. That said, their massages are amazing and the services are there.

With the Cent Lounge, you can always get your wife a secondary card and get everyone in without the $50.

I'm hard pressed to identify a better lounge in the US including but not limited to the flagship lounges. Sure compare it to some of the international first lounges and you may find one you like more but in MIA there is no such animal.

I'm going to have to chime in and agree with abk. I have flown through MIA several times this year from Europe and usually poke my head in the Admiral's Lounge each time just to see how they are getting on with the big refurb. Last time (August), I heard a couple loudly complaining about the unflattering lighting and unwelcoming ambience of the entrance way ... Being the busybody I am, I volunteered that "it'll probably be much better once the refurb is completed" ... to which they replied in disgusted unison: "this IS the refurb!" ... *gulp. And that's before you get your little drink chit and stand around for your cube of pepper jack cheese and spoonful of ranch dressing (although I do rather like pepper jack and ranch)...

In MIA, the Centurion Lounge gives the feel of the much better option.