Agreed, that's unfortunate. Did your ticket say OW Sapphire or did you have any other documentation? I get how they wouldn't take someone's word for it but they shouldn't make such a song and dance about looking it up.

Later this month I'm flying DOH-DFW, then DFW-CLE both in biz, but on separate PNR. Same day. Will this still allow flagship lounge access?

Yes you would get into DFW FL no problem because of the QR J flight. You just need a way to get airside/onward flight on a OW carrier which you have with your DFW-CLE flight.

If it’s similar to how I use my RAM status (EXP on the actual ticket), then yeah you need to use the virtual card / instruct the agent to key it into the computer using “AT” as the identifier. I’ve learned to state that I have non-AA OWS when trying to enter clubs (ex. ACs) on domestic tickets to get in front of the inevitable comment that I can’t access the club.

Only places where I’ve had significant pushback were the LAX TBIT Business lounge (agent didn’t believe RAM was a real airline until we both went thru the computer screen) and the BA PHL lounge, where the agent tried to enforce their own rules. Haven’t had a chance to use it at the ORD / MIA / DFW FLs.

AC question, my wife is flying alone with a 3 hour layover at DFW. I have an AX Aspire with a $250 AA credit which, now 500 mile upgrades are out, we will only use for AC day passes (she is Gold so was able to secure a decent seat/carry on luggage). Do I have to be with her if she carries the AX card?

I've used RAM OWS status to access LAX T4, ORD and JFK; no trouble getting into any of them (including on arrival at JFK) although I did have to tell the ORD agent what the RAM carrier code is lol.

Day pass availability is hit or miss.

W/r/r the credit card — I’d say it comes down to whether the agent will check if she is the cardholder. It looks like passes can be purchased online here so you may want to consider purchasing in advance with your card while logged into her account.

This is great, I never knew you could buy day passes in advance - I always bought 500 mile upgrades with any credit left over.
So I should login to my account, buy 3 passes, than log in to my wife’s account to buy the 4th pass, of course, charge to the Aspire?

I think that should work. You may want to test one to ensure that the coding of the charge is such that the reimbursement automatically goes through.

Will be traveling DFW-JFK-LHR in J. This will be an overnight connection in JFK.
As i read the rules, this will preclude me from Flagship lounge access departing DFW, as I will not be on a "same-day" flagship-eligible flight, correct?

By the rules yes, but assuming everything is on the same itinerary I've never been denied FL access in cases like this where the connecting flight is the day before/after the qualifying flight.

When you check in just had them your BP and say something like "on the way to London", they will scan it and should wave you in.

Same. I finally ordered a physical card from BA as using the electronic BA card for entry was cumbersome when combined with my electronic BP. But I've found stating that I'd like to use my BA Emerald benefits for FL entrance, as I scan my BP, makes all the difference.

Hmm, I’ve flown a bunch of domestic and North American intl routes lately and have had no problem accessing ACs and FLs (albeit I’ve only used the JFK and DFW FLs lately so can’t attest to MIA, LAX, and ORD) with my QR OWE attached to my itinerary. No questions or anything. Both using paper and digital BPs as well.

I'm sorry, I should have clarified, I am still using my AAdvantage number on domestic flights, so my statement to FL staff is when I present a BP with the EXP number attached. But you are correct, JFK and DFW are very accommodating, and really now that I have a physical card I don't need to say anything. Force of habit I guess. Cheers!

I had a recent experience where BA canceled my flight and AA rebooked me on another BA flight. My OWS was omitted for that leg. Just had to show my app status which took a bit for the agent to verify the OW lounges in LHR. But all good.