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)
Dec 30, 2017, 9:26 pm
#826
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 39
Flying IAD-LAX-NRT on AA. The IAD to LAX (on AA) segment is evening before but less than 24 hours on a separate PNR from the LAX-NRT (AA codeshare with JAL). As an AA Plat, would I be able to get access to the BA club at IAD?
Dec 31, 2017, 1:17 am
#827
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
My recent experience in this type of situation (domestic flight evening before, connecting to an international flight the next day departing after 6am, everything on same PNR) was that getting into an AA lounge (Flagship lounge at LAX) was quite easy, but getting into a partner lounge (QF F lounge at LAX) was a no go. Technically, I believe the rule is that you must be connecting to a flight that leaves the same day, or by 6:00am the next morning.
Dec 31, 2017, 6:32 am
#828
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
In addition to the above, BA is notorious for restricting access to their lounges in the states to eligible members on the respective BA metal flights only. In your scenario (qualifying flight is next day and not on BA) I certainly wouldn't expect to gain access.
Dec 31, 2017, 6:43 am
#829
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483
I do not have any oneworld status. I’m in first class going AUH-JFK-SEA. My connection to Seattle leaves two hours after I arrive JFK, and I would like to take a shower. This is a Tuesday and I’m on a EY777 they operate that day so no onboard showers. But EY says I cannot use their lounge upon arrival in JFK unless I pay $75. If they don’t allow arriving pax to use the lounge, which they could because the flight lands as a domestic plane because of the preclearance facility in AUH, I’m not really even sure why they have showers to begin with... whatever.
Since EY isn’t a OW member, in the main lounge thread “will I have access” nobody was certain if I could access an AA lounge either. In addition they’re also doubting if I will have lounge access at any AA lounges, let alone ones with shower facilities. But nobody could really answer my question with certainty or give me a concrete answer, it was all speculation. Hence why I created a thread specifically about lounge access and Etihad since no one can answer this question in the main lounge thread of “will I have access?” Anyone know of a lounge I’m entitled entry into I could visit in JFK on my layover to take a shower? I’m also a Priority Pass member, and it looks like some of the PP lounges in terminal 1 have showers. But of course I’d have to give my boarding pass, and not sure TSA will let me go through security at terminal 1.
Since EY isn’t a OW member, in the main lounge thread “will I have access” nobody was certain if I could access an AA lounge either. In addition they’re also doubting if I will have lounge access at any AA lounges, let alone ones with shower facilities. But nobody could really answer my question with certainty or give me a concrete answer, it was all speculation. Hence why I created a thread specifically about lounge access and Etihad since no one can answer this question in the main lounge thread of “will I have access?” Anyone know of a lounge I’m entitled entry into I could visit in JFK on my layover to take a shower? I’m also a Priority Pass member, and it looks like some of the PP lounges in terminal 1 have showers. But of course I’d have to give my boarding pass, and not sure TSA will let me go through security at terminal 1.
And unless there are specific arrivals lounges, most international carriers grant lounge access based on your departing flight, so you'd need to be departing on JFK-AUH in order to get into the EY lounge (without paying).
So without having to clear security twice to try and access a PP lounge in another terminal, your options seem to be pay $75 to use the EY lounge, or check with AA to see if they will sell or accept a day pass for the ACs at JFK.
Dec 31, 2017, 6:43 am
#830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,393
This seems to be the correct answer, posted in response to your original question:
You are not entitled to OW Lounge access since your international flight is not a IW flight. EY’s rules are their own.
You are not entitled to OW Lounge access since your international flight is not a IW flight. EY’s rules are their own.
Dec 31, 2017, 7:36 am
#831
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
What about accessing EY’s lounge at JFK in terminal 4? Isn’t that where we’ll be deplaning? Alternatively I could play dumb and try to get access to a lounge with a shower? Definitely gonna wanna shower after AUH Flight. If there really is no option which seems ridiculous to me, I have PP. I assume EY uses terminal 4 at JFK and I need to get to T8 for the SEA Flight?
Please refrain from cross posting; it’s not allowed on FlyerTalk, and your question won’t likely get better answers in a new thread on the same topic. We have merged your posts here in the proper thread.
/Moderator
Dec 31, 2017, 9:10 am
#832
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
The rules are clear as noted above. According to the rules, your international flight must be leaving before 6am the next day. However, in practice, many people have reported gaining access to the AC/FL the day before when part of an international itinerary. YMMV.
Dec 31, 2017, 9:20 am
#833
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,488
Do they still allow same-day lounge access with separate OW tickets?
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
Dec 31, 2017, 9:28 am
#834
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Do they still allow same-day lounge access with separate OW tickets?
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
Dec 31, 2017, 11:17 am
#835
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Do they still allow same-day lounge access with separate OW tickets?
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
I'm EXP and flying AA AUS-JFK (coach, unless upgraded), then a separate ticket AY JFK-HEL (biz). Would I have access to the AA lounge at AUS? The AY communications I've received tell me that I'll get into the AA Flagship lounge at JFK.
The lounge agents at AUS are always super nice, so I figure I'll probably try it, and have a printout of my AY itinerary handy, just in case.
Jan 1, 2018, 2:42 pm
#836
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,418
Happy 2018! We'll now archive this thread and refer discussion to our new 2018 version of this Help Desk.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2018-a.html
Thanks! /AA Moderator Team
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2018-a.html
Thanks! /AA Moderator Team
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 2, 2018 at 8:28 am Reason: Link Check - all ok