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)
Apr 30, 2017, 12:49 pm
#301
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,507
So I call and cancel a ticket within 24 hours of purchase, and am told by the Agent to apply for a refund at prefunds.aa.com
Now you can do a status check for the refund, but it shows "your request could not be found".
Any idea as to whether I should re-apply for a refund?
Now you can do a status check for the refund, but it shows "your request could not be found".
Any idea as to whether I should re-apply for a refund?
Decided to wait and see what happened. Ended up taking 3-4 days for refund to process. Also received confirmation email when it happened.
May 1, 2017, 3:10 am
#302
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southern Europe/USA
Posts: 661
The BA lounge in IAH is pretty nice - used it recently on a BA flight, IAH-LHR.
If flying a Oneworld carrier in business class, TATL, you should be admitted, per Oneworld rules quoted at the end of this post.
In practice, the BA lounge has been hard to access, multiple reports of folks denied entry on the basis of BA's lounge being in a different terminal than AA flights. Less common is denial based on limited capacity of the lounge.
AA might provide a lounge invitation at check-in, if they don't suggest go to the BA club and see if you'll be admitted.
Hope you'll try and report back how you make out!
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-...eaccess/IAH/-1
oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class customers
Indulge yourself before departure in a wider range of airport lounges when you fly First Class or Business Class with any oneworld member airline.
Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. First Class passengers may use a Business Class or frequent flyer lounge if a First Class lounge is not available.
First Class passengers may invite one guest to join them in the lounge. The guest must also be travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.
Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.
If flying a Oneworld carrier in business class, TATL, you should be admitted, per Oneworld rules quoted at the end of this post.
In practice, the BA lounge has been hard to access, multiple reports of folks denied entry on the basis of BA's lounge being in a different terminal than AA flights. Less common is denial based on limited capacity of the lounge.
AA might provide a lounge invitation at check-in, if they don't suggest go to the BA club and see if you'll be admitted.
Hope you'll try and report back how you make out!
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-...eaccess/IAH/-1
oneworld lounge access for First Class or Business Class customers
Indulge yourself before departure in a wider range of airport lounges when you fly First Class or Business Class with any oneworld member airline.
Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status. First Class passengers may use a Business Class or frequent flyer lounge if a First Class lounge is not available.
First Class passengers may invite one guest to join them in the lounge. The guest must also be travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld airline.
Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.
Because of the distance between my AA departure gate and the INT'L terminal, I decided not to seek out the BA lounge.
May 1, 2017, 1:38 pm
#303
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
LAX Lounges in T5 ?
I have J tickets for a flight tomorrow and was assuming I'd be flying out of T4. Just found out it's T5. Is there an Alaska lounge in T5, or an airside walkway from 5 to 4?
thank you
thank you
May 1, 2017, 1:48 pm
#304
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,437
Alaska Lounge is at T6, not T5. At T5 it is Delta Sky Club only. Your destination will determine if your J class travel will have class of service admittance to Admirals Club or not. I think Alaska Lounge admittance is by Admirals Club member ship only, no admittance to Alaska Lounge due to class of service flown.
May 1, 2017, 1:52 pm
#305
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Yeah, it's LAX-LHR, plus I have AC membership. I hear a new AC is taking over Delta's T5 lounge, but I guess I'm too early.
May 1, 2017, 1:58 pm
#306
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,735
Um, I don't think AA is using T5 for any of it's widebody flights. Also, looking at tomorrow's schedule one LAX-LHR is scheduled from T4, the other is from TBIT. Where did you see T5?
May 1, 2017, 2:16 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,735
Ah, makes more sense. Then just use the airside walkway to T4, or if you have a lot of extra time, continue on to TBIT using the airside connector and use the OW lounge.
May 1, 2017, 2:22 pm
#309
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Great, thanks. So used to going thru LHR that I instinctively wrote that by mistake. Anyway, I haven't been in T5 in years. Is it a pretty easy, short walk from 5 to 4?
May 2, 2017, 5:28 pm
#310
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,022
Hey guys,
I am booked to fly LAX-JFK rt First Class both ways. One of my friends is now looking to join me, but they will be flying in Y. Will they be able to access the IFCL/FL at LAX and JFK with me, or are guests not permitted?
I am booked to fly LAX-JFK rt First Class both ways. One of my friends is now looking to join me, but they will be flying in Y. Will they be able to access the IFCL/FL at LAX and JFK with me, or are guests not permitted?
May 2, 2017, 7:58 pm
#311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,481
May 2, 2017, 8:09 pm
#312
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,022
Unfortunately there's no guest privileges if you're accessing the lounge via an eligible transcon flight in F or J (acording to the aa.com lounge access page).
May 5, 2017, 12:09 pm
#313
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 254
Situation: Arriving in business class to ORD on Aer Lingus metal, but a BA booking and flight number. I'm connecting to an AA flight, but it's a separate booking and the two are not tied together. The connecting AA domestic flight is also a Y booking. I have no status. Do I have access to AC in ORD?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 5, 2017, 12:42 pm
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,735
Situation: Arriving in business class to ORD on Aer Lingus metal, but a BA booking and flight number. I'm connecting to an AA flight, but it's a separate booking and the two are not tied together. The connecting AA domestic flight is also a Y booking. I have no status. Do I have access to AC in ORD?
Thanks!
Thanks!