Jan 4, 2017, 9:24 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2017)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
PLEASE DO NOT ALTER THE CONTENT OF THIS MODERATOR NOTE
The Lounge Access Help Desk
To assist members with questions about Lounge Access Rules that they have not been able to answer on their own using the above resources, the AA Moderator team has decided to institute this thread, the third in a series of "Help Desk" threads. N.B.: If you have questions about physical access to a specific lounge (e.g., airside vs. landside, different terminal, etc.), please search for and post to the appropriate specific thread for that lounge.
New threads on this topic will be merged into this one and bumped by the moderators as necessary. As such, we do not expect that this thread will develop into a searchable database, but that it will nonetheless provide a valuable resource to members. As well, we may shed / pare down posts from time to time to a trailing thread or similar device.
Our goal is to provide a place where members can feel welcome to post such questions and expect helpful, accurate responses. In this way, we hope to accommodate the needs and desires of both new and veteran members - those who aren't sure they are interpreting the available resources correctly can ask for help without fear of snarky-appearing responses; those who do not wish to participate in such threads are invited and, indeed, encouraged, to ignore this thread.
Please be forewarned: This thread will be subject to heavy moderation. Posts that are incorrect will be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST answers unless you are 100% sure your answer is complete and correct. Posts that are unhelpful or off-topic will also be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST unless you can be friendly, helpful, concise, and salient.
Finally, a few guidelines for members posting queries to this thread:
- Please DO make an effort to review the listed resources before posting here.
- Please DO try to give as much information as possible, including your entire itinerary, with carrier for each segment and codeshares and stopovers clearly designated, your class of service and fare class purchased, whether or not you have Admirals Club or Qantas Club membership, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card (which includes full Admirals Club membership), and the number of guests and your family relationship with them, if any.
- Please DO understand it could take some time for answers (especially on holidays and weekends.)
- Please DO thank helpful members volunteering to reply to your questions.
Also see the future changes in lounges and access: Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge Changes, Renovations & Additions
Sincerely,
The American Airlines | AAdvantage forum Moderator Team
(Help Desk established by dstan)
=================end mod note===================
oneworld Lounge Access
Wizard by kduarte.
Help Desk: Lounge Access Rules / Will I Have Lounge Access?
Lounge Access can be obtained in a number of ways during travel on AA and its oneworld partner airlines. These include purchasing an Admirals Club one day pass, or via Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard (including, as of Dec 2015, authorized card users), reciprocity agreements with other airlines, traveling on certain transcon flights in F or J, or traveling internationally with Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) or Executive Platinum (oneworld Emerald) status or in F or J classes of service - except if flying solely within North America inc,Using destinations other than MEX or the Caribbean. The last is often the greatest source of confusion, despite lounge access rules being described clearly on aa.com. Threads about these are linked to in the American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD thread.
Admirals Club members paid or Executive cardholder members) are entitled guests as follows:
Up to two guests or household members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under the age of 18) may accompany the member.
For AA status-based access (PLT, PlatPro or EXP),* passengers must: (1) be traveling on an international itinerary (Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Mexico City, excluding the Caribbean and other destinations in North America (other than on certain three class transcontinental flights) including other destinations in Mexico, and (2) have an onward flight on a oneworld airline marketed and operated flight on the same day. PLT and PPRO members are eligible for access to all oneworld Business Class lounges, now including Flagship Lounges, including Admirals Clubs; EXP members are also eligible for access to all oneworld First Class lounges, including Flagship Lounges.
Lounges operated by third parties or premium lunges operating outside of oneworld rules (e.g. BA Concorde Room, Qatar Al Safwa or Al Mourjan lounges) may be excluded, and all may may refuse admittance if they claim they are crowded. There are other exceptions.
*Non-AA oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites are not subject to rule #1 above.
Emerald / EP on CX JFK-YVR are not subject to AA limitations and are issued Flagship Lounge invitations for use at JFK.
Another confusing rule relates to transcontinental access. From member FriendlySkies:
Traveling on a Non-Stop Transcontinental* Flight? http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/trans-con-access.jsp
More changes:
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
More changes:
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
The following exceptions apply:
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
In the Flagship Dining subsection, they state:
Beginning in early 2017, the Flagship Dining experience will be available in select cities with 3-class service:
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
Flagship Lounges (JFK, LAX, LHR and ORD) offer extended beverages and upscale snack services as well. See below for link.
NOTE: Some Lounges and Clubs are undergoing refurbishment.
Citi Prestige MasterCard holder Admirals Club access ended July 23, 2017.
American Express Platinum cardholder Admirals Club access ended 21 March 2014.
NOTE: It has been verified more airports are allowing multiple terminal access on one's day of departure. LAX has been one since mid-2014.
Admirals Club access is granted the day of flight for statusholders flyingone world and those flying F or J, or the following day at the first port of arrival if flying overnight and arriving by 0600.
Airports requiring Lounge users have a same day departure boarding pass include BOG, CCS, CDG, GIG, GRU, LHR, MEX, NRT, SCL, YYZ.
N.B. Qantas Lounges and Clubs require Smart Casual (sic) dress as of May 2015; those not meeting the standard may be turned away. They also require AAdvantage members be traveling on a departing AA marketed flight.
Please see the following resources for full details on Lounge Access Rules: (and see below)
. . . ● AA.com: Lounge Access Rules
. . . ● AA.com: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Access Rules
Beginning later in 2017: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ge-updates.jsp opens Flagship access to many more pax.
. . . ● AA.com: Reimaging our lounges
. . . ● AA.com: Admirals Club Membership Guide in a downloadable PDF format.
. . . ● oneworld.com: Lounge Access Rules and Search Tool
. . . ● Wiki: Lounges
. . . ● FT: American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD
For various threads on membership, access by status, transcon service, class of service, Flagship lounge access, lounges directory with links to specific lounge threads, Club member access to partner lounges, recipripocity agreements, etc.
. . . ● Last year's thread:HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2016)
ARCHIVE: HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2017)
Jul 24, 2016, 8:01 am
#32
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Also, I noticed that Expedia also uses a company to provide 48 hour (sometimes more) price locks for a relatively small fee. I locked YVR-PHX-JFK for $15 while I messed around for a few days to see if I could find anything better (like a routing through LAX with flatbeds).
I think AA is trading off the fact that people will book directly with them and not consider other booking options where hold or cancellation options ARE available under 7 days.
Jul 26, 2016, 11:31 am
#33
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
Has anyone actually used this policy yet? I booked a ticket on the 18th and cancelled it less than 12 hours later, but as AA is different from the other airlines I didn't realize I actually had to request a refund separately (the other airlines offer it to you right away).
Now I'm terrified I've lost all of that money because they might refuse my refund request...
Now I'm terrified I've lost all of that money because they might refuse my refund request...
Last edited by hkcj; Jul 27, 2016 at 9:47 am Reason: typo
Jul 30, 2016, 3:39 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 21
Has anyone actually used this policy yet? I booked a ticket on the 18th and cancelled it less than 12 hours later, but as AA is different from the other airlines I didn't realize I actually had to request a refund separately (the other airlines offer it to you right away).
Now I'm terrified I've lost all of that money because they might refuse my refund request...
Now I'm terrified I've lost all of that money because they might refuse my refund request...
Clearly, by requiring this 2nd step and not automatically refunding the fare back to the CC or offering a credit, AA is violating the spirit if not the letter of DOT's 24-hour cancellation rule, which states:
For any online cancellation that is covered by the 24-hour reservation requirement, in deciding whether to pursue enforcement action, the Enforcement Office considers it to be a violation of 14 CFR 259.5(b)(4) and an unfair and deceptive practice for a carrier not to offer consumers the option of receiving a full refund in the original form of payment before the cancellation request is submitted.
Drew
Aug 18, 2016, 7:16 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: American AAdvantage
Posts: 1,046
After cancelling a ticketed booking within 24 hours, do I need to apply for a refund?
EDIT: It appears it's not automatic and I had to submit a refund. This has been the first time I purchased after April 1st.
EDIT: It appears it's not automatic and I had to submit a refund. This has been the first time I purchased after April 1st.
Last edited by Sant; Aug 19, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Aug 20, 2016, 11:31 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC, UA, IHG, SPG, Carlson
Posts: 193
Different cards will process differently depending upon the rules set up by the cards and their bank. Yes, if AA delays submitting the transaction (charge or credit), that will add to the time before the customer sees it but isn't the only deciding factor. Just like what caused this thread in the first place, just because one does it one way doesn't mean they all do it the same way.
If you want to test this with your card, try a charge and credit from the same merchant (someone like a retailer would be best where they process the credit at the register) and see how long it takes. Very good chance AA's transactions would take the same time once submitted to their CC processor. Any difference would be how long it takes AA to process.
Maybe there are some transactions that AA determines need to be eye-balled before being approved. If that department is not staffed up to handle the extra load then delays will happen. And that is something AA can change.
Maybe putting this into multi-city example would work. AA-MA-CC-CB routing. Where AA is AA, MA is their Merchant Account, CC is the credit card network (MC/Visa/etc), and CB is cardholder's bank. Each one of those has there own set of rules. And to break it down further charges travel F and get off the plane sooner than the credits in Y. Some may use only one jetway, some may use two so credits can clear at the same time as charges.
My point is it may not be under AA's control to get the credits through any quicker regardless how UA does it.
If you want to test this with your card, try a charge and credit from the same merchant (someone like a retailer would be best where they process the credit at the register) and see how long it takes. Very good chance AA's transactions would take the same time once submitted to their CC processor. Any difference would be how long it takes AA to process.
Maybe there are some transactions that AA determines need to be eye-balled before being approved. If that department is not staffed up to handle the extra load then delays will happen. And that is something AA can change.
Maybe putting this into multi-city example would work. AA-MA-CC-CB routing. Where AA is AA, MA is their Merchant Account, CC is the credit card network (MC/Visa/etc), and CB is cardholder's bank. Each one of those has there own set of rules. And to break it down further charges travel F and get off the plane sooner than the credits in Y. Some may use only one jetway, some may use two so credits can clear at the same time as charges.
My point is it may not be under AA's control to get the credits through any quicker regardless how UA does it.
I know for a fact it's AA and not my bank. Why? Because it has been over a week and AA's prefund page still says "Pending Review". How is it my bank (or anyone else)'s problem when the refund is still pending review and hasn't been sent by AA yet?
If it had said "Processed" but still doesn't show on my card, then I can understand it might be delayed somewhere in the middle. But the "Pending Review" display is AA's own ackowledgement that they are the hold-up.
On the contrary, when I did a 24 hour refund with UA, first off they didn't require a second step to request refund (refund is automatic when you cancel), second the refund happened by way of releasing the initial charge so the charge didn't even post. That's how UA does it.
So yea, it's not AA's fault.
Last edited by roubaolic; Aug 20, 2016 at 11:56 am
Aug 22, 2016, 8:36 am
#37
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: American AAdvantage
Posts: 1,046
On the contrary, when I did a 24 hour refund with UA, first off they didn't require a second step to request refund (refund is automatic when you cancel), second the refund happened by way of releasing the initial charge so the charge didn't even post. That's how UA does it.
EDIT: When a ticket is purchased using a combination of gift card and credit card, does the refund credit the gift card?
Last edited by Sant; Aug 22, 2016 at 10:46 am
Aug 26, 2016, 5:56 am
#38
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
I'd like to know this also. I scrolled through the last few pages of the thread and see several posters mentioned they had to go through an online refund-request process after canceling a ticket. But nobody has said their refund ever got approved and credited back to their credit card.
Aug 26, 2016, 8:56 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2003
Programs: AA Plat Pro, United Silver, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,120
Aug 26, 2016, 9:04 am
#40
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 699
I'd like to know this also. I scrolled through the last few pages of the thread and see several posters mentioned they had to go through an online refund-request process after canceling a ticket. But nobody has said their refund ever got approved and credited back to their credit card.
In my case, my husband called about 28 hours after ticketing. He was told by the agent that he was "within the cancellation period" and she canceled the booking and told him to go online and request the refund. It's showing as pending review. He needs to book the new dates for his flights but I'm nervous that we've completely lost the value of the original ticket by handling it this way.
In my case, my husband called about 28 hours after ticketing. He was told by the agent that he was "within the cancellation period" and she canceled the booking and told him to go online and request the refund. It's showing as pending review. He needs to book the new dates for his flights but I'm nervous that we've completely lost the value of the original ticket by handling it this way.
may i ask does the refund status actually say "pending review" or does it say "your request is in progress"? will definitely report back when hopefully my refund goes through
Dec 31, 2016, 10:59 pm
#41
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,419
HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2017)
Help Desk: Lounge Access Rules / Will I Have Lounge Access?
Jan 1, 2017, 7:24 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2012
Location: HNL
Programs: AA PP 1.8MM, PC Spire, Hertz 5*, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,030
I am EXP and have 2 separate reservations for the same day. CLT -> YYZ (Toronto) on AA and YYZ -> LHR on Finnair reservation flying BA metal in Business class (6 hour layover in Toronto).
I should have lounge access in CLT. Do I need a physical boarding pass to enter or can it be something else?
1) A printout of my itinerary?
2) Check in online and show the phone boarding pass on my
3) I have to get a physical boarding pass, Check in online, go to BA desk in CLT and get physical boarding pass? (Ooops, no BA desk at CLT)
I should have lounge access in CLT. Do I need a physical boarding pass to enter or can it be something else?
1) A printout of my itinerary?
2) Check in online and show the phone boarding pass on my
Last edited by nutwpinut; Jan 7, 2017 at 11:53 am Reason: Edited #3
Jan 7, 2017, 10:43 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 7
With the following itinerary: HKG-JFK (in F on an award ticket) and then JFK-BOS (in Y on a separate paid ticket) will I have access to the AC in JFK based off of CX flight?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 7, 2017, 3:47 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
I am EXP and have 2 separate reservations for the same day. CLT -> YYZ (Toronto) on AA and YYZ -> LHR on Finnair reservation flying BA metal in Business class (6 hour layover in Toronto).
I should have lounge access in CLT. Do I need a physical boarding pass to enter or can it be something else?
1) A printout of my itinerary?
2) Check in online and show the phone boarding pass on my
3) I have to get a physical boarding pass, Check in online, go to BA desk in CLT and get physical boarding pass? (Ooops, no BA desk at CLT)
I should have lounge access in CLT. Do I need a physical boarding pass to enter or can it be something else?
1) A printout of my itinerary?
2) Check in online and show the phone boarding pass on my
Jan 7, 2017, 3:49 pm
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
Yes, based on your CX F flight, you can access the Flagship Lounge as well as the ACs at JFK. Make sure to save your CX boarding pass for entry.