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 Americans 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 Americans 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)
Jan 7, 2017, 9:47 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Hi all. I have an upcoming trip all on an award ticket as follows:
HAN-NRT with JAL in business
NRT-LAX with JAL in economy (10 hour layover)
LAX-LAS with AA in economy (13 hour layover)
LAS-CLT with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 1 hour layover)
CLT-JFK with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 5 hour layover)
I do not have any kind of status at all. What will my lounge access situation look like at each airport?
HAN-NRT with JAL in business
NRT-LAX with JAL in economy (10 hour layover)
LAX-LAS with AA in economy (13 hour layover)
LAS-CLT with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 1 hour layover)
CLT-JFK with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 5 hour layover)
I do not have any kind of status at all. What will my lounge access situation look like at each airport?
Last edited by jchanpaper; Jan 7, 2017 at 10:12 pm
Jan 8, 2017, 6:25 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Hi all. I have an upcoming trip all on an award ticket as follows:
HAN-NRT with JAL in business
NRT-LAX with JAL in economy (10 hour layover)
LAX-LAS with AA in economy (13 hour layover)
LAS-CLT with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 1 hour layover)
CLT-JFK with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 5 hour layover)
I do not have any kind of status at all. What will my lounge access situation look like at each airport?
HAN-NRT with JAL in business
NRT-LAX with JAL in economy (10 hour layover)
LAX-LAS with AA in economy (13 hour layover)
LAS-CLT with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 1 hour layover)
CLT-JFK with AA in first (2 cabin flight, 5 hour layover)
I do not have any kind of status at all. What will my lounge access situation look like at each airport?
Jan 8, 2017, 6:47 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 10
Just remembered that I had a Priority Pass Select membership as well is there any lounge available at NRT for international connecting flights?
Jan 8, 2017, 9:11 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SBA and LAX
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 334
Not sure if this belongs here, but I do not want to create a new thread.
I am flying AA out of LAX. I have a priority pass. There is no PP lounge in T4. KAL lounge in TBIT isn't open before Noon. Is there a T3-T4 connector that I can take to VX Loft?
I am flying AA out of LAX. I have a priority pass. There is no PP lounge in T4. KAL lounge in TBIT isn't open before Noon. Is there a T3-T4 connector that I can take to VX Loft?
Jan 8, 2017, 9:24 pm
#50
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Or you can use PP at the Alaska Airlines Board Room in T-6 and use the pedestrian tunnel or shuttle bus to T-4.
Jan 8, 2017, 10:12 pm
#51
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SBA and LAX
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 334
Alaska Board room sounds good now. So I can clear security in T4, take the pedestrian tunnel to T6 and back?
Jan 8, 2017, 10:57 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
theres a shuttle bus to terminal 6 as well if you don't wanna walk. when they ask where oyu are going just tell them you want to go to terminal 6. If they give you lip and insist on a destination just say you're flying on AS.
Jan 8, 2017, 11:21 pm
#53
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,419
Jan 9, 2017, 9:58 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 18
OW Sapphire travelling on AA out of Portland (OR) - Do I get Alaska Board Room Access
OW Sapphire travelling on AA out of Portland (OR) - Do I get Alaska Board Room Access?
Jan 9, 2017, 10:31 pm
#55
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Everywhere you wanna be
Programs: AA EP | UA 1K
Posts: 1,657
Jan 9, 2017, 11:58 pm
#56
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Jan 10, 2017, 11:35 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 39
Transcon connecting flight lounge access?
Hi guys, I'm travelling on the return portion of a domestic itinerary with flight segments MIA - JFK - SFO. The first segment is in 2 class F connecting to 3 class J for the transcon. I'm an EXP applying SWUs for what it's worth.
In the past I have flown on very similar itineraries (the LAX - PTY itinerary, but with a longer than 24 hour stopover in Miami on the return, so the remaining segments were essentially the same) and *have* been granted Admirals Club access in Miami given that I was connecting to the transcon on the same ticket. Today I was denied access to the lounge in Miami.
I've reviewed the website and as far as I can tell this is the current policy and I shouldn't be allowed access here. Is that correct?
I could have sworn that at one point this specific case was called out on the website but I don't see anything about it now. I'd like to know for future reference which is the case: the agents screwed up and incorrectly granted me access in the past, they should have granted me access today, or the policy actually did change at some point recently?
Thanks!
In the past I have flown on very similar itineraries (the LAX - PTY itinerary, but with a longer than 24 hour stopover in Miami on the return, so the remaining segments were essentially the same) and *have* been granted Admirals Club access in Miami given that I was connecting to the transcon on the same ticket. Today I was denied access to the lounge in Miami.
I've reviewed the website and as far as I can tell this is the current policy and I shouldn't be allowed access here. Is that correct?
I could have sworn that at one point this specific case was called out on the website but I don't see anything about it now. I'd like to know for future reference which is the case: the agents screwed up and incorrectly granted me access in the past, they should have granted me access today, or the policy actually did change at some point recently?
Thanks!
Jan 10, 2017, 1:10 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Hi guys, I'm travelling on the return portion of a domestic itinerary with flight segments MIA - JFK - SFO. The first segment is in 2 class F connecting to 3 class J for the transcon. I'm an EXP applying SWUs for what it's worth.
In the past I have flown on very similar itineraries (the LAX - PTY itinerary, but with a longer than 24 hour stopover in Miami on the return, so the remaining segments were essentially the same) and *have* been granted Admirals Club access in Miami given that I was connecting to the transcon on the same ticket. Today I was denied access to the lounge in Miami.
I've reviewed the website and as far as I can tell this is the current policy and I shouldn't be allowed access here. Is that correct?
I could have sworn that at one point this specific case was called out on the website but I don't see anything about it now. I'd like to know for future reference which is the case: the agents screwed up and incorrectly granted me access in the past, they should have granted me access today, or the policy actually did change at some point recently?
In the past I have flown on very similar itineraries (the LAX - PTY itinerary, but with a longer than 24 hour stopover in Miami on the return, so the remaining segments were essentially the same) and *have* been granted Admirals Club access in Miami given that I was connecting to the transcon on the same ticket. Today I was denied access to the lounge in Miami.
I've reviewed the website and as far as I can tell this is the current policy and I shouldn't be allowed access here. Is that correct?
I could have sworn that at one point this specific case was called out on the website but I don't see anything about it now. I'd like to know for future reference which is the case: the agents screwed up and incorrectly granted me access in the past, they should have granted me access today, or the policy actually did change at some point recently?
Jan 11, 2017, 5:14 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 139
Hello there. I have some questions about the Admirals Club acess.
As an EXP, do I have the access to the Admirals Club when I'm flying Alaska's flight (marketed & operated by AS) with an onward AA international flight on the same day? Thank you.
As an EXP, do I have the access to the Admirals Club when I'm flying Alaska's flight (marketed & operated by AS) with an onward AA international flight on the same day? Thank you.
Jan 11, 2017, 11:30 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
should wiki re Flagship lounge access be updated?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ge-updates.jsp
it is noted:
Expanded access
In the new Flagship® Lounges, eligible customers will be:
First and Business Class customers (on qualifying international flights or 3-class transcontinental markets)*
AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members in any cabin (on qualifying international flights)*
oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members in any cabin on all flights**
Since in most of my past visits to JFK's Flagship lounge in the late afternoon, the lounge is packed to capacity, where essentially only FC, EXPs and Emeralds were allowed, they seem to have added lots more to the entry list--lots of pax will wind up being turned away.
it is noted:
Expanded access
In the new Flagship® Lounges, eligible customers will be:
First and Business Class customers (on qualifying international flights or 3-class transcontinental markets)*
AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members in any cabin (on qualifying international flights)*
oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members in any cabin on all flights**
Since in most of my past visits to JFK's Flagship lounge in the late afternoon, the lounge is packed to capacity, where essentially only FC, EXPs and Emeralds were allowed, they seem to have added lots more to the entry list--lots of pax will wind up being turned away.