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===================
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)
#736
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Is it all on one ticket? It shouldn't matter given the actual rules for access, but I've found it's easier for the agent if it's on one ticket, since all they have to do is scan the boarding pass. It would be good to ask the CX agent in HKG to print a lounge invitation for the FL in ORD, and just give them that.
As I mentioned, this is all just to make it totally seamless, but if it is a different ticket, if you explain the itinerary to the agent, they should let you in.
#738
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 106
Have checked AA.com and through a few threads here and am still unclear. Flying POS-MIA-SFO in economy (Q) on 12/9 and am AA Plat. Have an 8 hour layover and not sure which lounges Ill be able to access (OW, Flagship, etc.). Also not sure if POS counts as South America.
#739
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
POS is considered Caribbean, so you will not have lounge access in MIA.
#740
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The Wikipost seems pretty clear - flights between North America and N. America, other than MEX and a few designated transcons, and the Caribbean, do not allow status or class of service based access. A $59 day Pass will allow Admirals Club access all day (LAX and SFO). Safe travels.
#741
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
The Wikipost seems pretty clear - flights between North America and N. America, other than MEX and a few designated transcons, and the Caribbean, do not allow status or class of service based access. A $59 day Pass will allow Admirals Club access all day (LAX and SFO). Safe travels.
#742
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Good question; I should have inquired Thursday when I visited the much expanded D15 lounge (not crowded when I visited, though the Centurion got to SRO for a while) in Miami. (D30 is closed, the E Premium Lounge is Open).LAX the 4 Club is fully open (but gets poor and the Eagles Nestand T-5 Clubs are fully open as well. Id call the Club number Monday at .(800) 237-7971.
#743
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 106
The Wikipost seems pretty clear - flights between North America and N. America, other than MEX and a few designated transcons, and the Caribbean, do not allow status or class of service based access. A $59 day Pass will allow Admirals Club access all day (LAX and SFO). Safe travels.
#744
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Lounge access question
Hi,
A friend of mine is BA silver and flying AA DFW-ORD later today. He's boarding pass reflects his ADV number, but not his BA one. If he shows at the lounge with his BA Silver Card, will he be granted access to the lounge?
Thanks!
A friend of mine is BA silver and flying AA DFW-ORD later today. He's boarding pass reflects his ADV number, but not his BA one. If he shows at the lounge with his BA Silver Card, will he be granted access to the lounge?
Thanks!
#745
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
Should have no problem using the BA silver card for access
#746
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: SJC (AA PLT 2MM - Marriott LTT - Avis Preferred)
Posts: 2,025
I think all that matters is that you are flying on a OW operated / marketed flight and you are a OW Sapphire member (which BA Silver is).
From https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access:
From https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access:
- You must be prepared to show your boarding pass and frequent flyer membership card, with oneworld Emerald or Sapphire tier status, to access a lounge.
#747
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
I will be flying into Madrid airport with AA on business class in January and thinking of getting a y ticket to Granada via IB. Will I get lounge access for the second flight? I don't see any OneWorld arrival lounge, so I'm assuming that's not possible.
It seems like I should be able to if I'm PLT or EXP?
It seems like I should be able to if I'm PLT or EXP?
#748
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NorCal
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott GLD, HH PLT, Hertz 5*
Posts: 766
Do the FL guardian AAngels frown upon getting drinks in the FL and bringing them into the AC?
I'm EXP with Exec AA mcard (daughter is also card member)
Flying LAX-LHR with eVIP cleared (wife and daughter back in coach)
Instead of running out of chits might want to nip into the FL for water and premium liquor.
I'm EXP with Exec AA mcard (daughter is also card member)
Flying LAX-LHR with eVIP cleared (wife and daughter back in coach)
Instead of running out of chits might want to nip into the FL for water and premium liquor.
#749
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,075
Do the FL guardian AAngels frown upon getting drinks in the FL and bringing them into the AC?
I'm EXP with Exec AA mcard (daughter is also card member)
Flying LAX-LHR with eVIP cleared (wife and daughter back in coach)
Instead of running out of chits might want to nip into the FL for water and premium liquor.
I'm EXP with Exec AA mcard (daughter is also card member)
Flying LAX-LHR with eVIP cleared (wife and daughter back in coach)
Instead of running out of chits might want to nip into the FL for water and premium liquor.
#750
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I will be flying into Madrid airport with AA on business class in January and thinking of getting a y ticket to Granada via IB. Will I get lounge access for the second flight? I don't see any OneWorld arrival lounge, so I'm assuming that's not possible.
It seems like I should be able to if I'm PLT or EXP?
It seems like I should be able to if I'm PLT or EXP?