I'm sure it's debatable whether "midnight Tuesday" is technically 00:00 Tuesday or 00:00 Wednesday, however in this case I think it's clear the OP is arriving into JFK on Monday and departing at 00:00 Tuesday morning (so really late Monday night).

As noted at JFK you can enter any terminal with any same day boarding pass.

I didn't think it was clear since the OP is going to a hotel in town and why I pointed it out. Regardless, if there isn't a need to check baggage, it is moot. If there is, then access airside afterwards will depend on whether the Tuesday flight is 00:00 am or 11:55 pm.

I know you can access any terminal at JFK just as you can at SFO with a same-day boarding pass. I have done it many times. AF flights JFK-CDG depart at 11:30 pm & 11:55 pm.

James

It wouldnt matter if a flight was 11:55pm or 12am (5 minutes apart) as to getting airside. It would be allowed as the 12am flight is considered the "day before". I think we were looking at this differently though. I thought the OP was saying Tuesday midnight to mean just what it says which is Tuesday at 12am which is Monday night. And you were thinking 12am Tuesday to mean Tuesday night/early Wednesday. In that scenario of course he could not return Monday airside.

In the end I think getting 2 bags by as carry on wont be a problem at all, especially at LAX. So it will all be moot.

In regards to the hotel reference, I assumed he meant for the day. I've done that a couple times. Just found a cheap room in the city and got there at 8am coming off a red eye and left at 8pm or so for a night flight. I can have bagels, pizza, see a matinee & walk around a bit. The shower reference at Chelsea made me think he/she was arriving on a red eye thus they could have 12 hours in the city if they wanted to but maybe wouldnt be able to get into the room right away hence the shower first. You may be right though that this was a whole overnight in the city in which case no way on entering airside.

All moot I think though due to carry on being fine and also can just do a ticket to Boston to clear security and then cancel.

James, you're correct on my situation. Sorry to all the others for not being clear. I would arrive Monday on AA as a Flagship First passenger (assuming an arrival at Terminal 8), and would like to visit the Chelsea Lounge for a couple hours before going to baggage claim and on to my hotel - then spend the night and following day in the city, and visit the Air France Lounge in Terminal 1 for dinner before my 11:55 pm Tuesday night flight to Paris on AF.

It eases my mind a bit that I might not have to check a bag! Thanks for the suggestions on sneaking through! But if I do, and if I notify AA ahead of time that I will be delayed picking up my luggage for my visit to the FL lounge, do you think they would hold my bag in a safe place until I can pick it up?

Then I stand corrected and Flying for Fun was correct on the timing, it seemed like the goal of spending an extended period in Chelsea was to pass the time before the AF flight later that night.

Anyways, OP, there's really no realistic way here of notifying AA that you're going to be delayed in picking up your bag, and no special service that's going to claim your bag and keep it in a safe place or anything like that.

The best case scenario is one of the JFK baggage reps will grab your bag after it has sat on the belt unclaimed for 30 mins and it will be placed with the other (potentially hundreds) of unclaimed/misplaced bags at JFK that evening. Worst case scenario someone steals it, or the baggage reps grab it but then it gets lost in the mix or it's in the back room when you try to claim it and no one can find it, etc.

I have little experience with AA and lounges, sorry.

I have a BA Avios ticket MIA-SDQ in J with AA (I willl arrive on SK957 from ARN in the late afternoon; separate ticket). Flagship lounge access will not be possible as SDQ is not an eligible int. destination - or?

Correct, business class to the Caribbean doesn't come with FL access. It does come with AC access though, so you can use either of the AC's at MIA before the flight.

Thank you, and thanks to everyone else. I guess I'll just "wing it" and see if I make it through without checking a bag. Happy New Year, everyone - safe and healthy travels to all.

This is coming from someone who analyzes everything and over worries but you are def putting too much thought into this. You're going to be just fine and get your 2 bags on at LAX where gate agents are much more friendly & lenient than at JFK for example. Additionally the $150 coach ticket to Boston and clear security and cancel it is your work around and it will not get you in trouble. You arent using a fake ticket to access a lounge but just to get by security. I actually did it last month to take my Grandmother up to the gate, help with bags, sit with her, etc (she doesnt like flying). Bought a ticket to Vegas from the parking lot at LAX, cancelled it 10 min later after clearning security.

On this whole midnight thing, the same thing just recently caused some major confusion for when an email needed to be submitted by for work. I think if someone says Friday midnight it should mean literally what it says, Friday midnight (Thursday night). If someone wants to refer to the actual Saturday midnight they can say Friday 11:59pm. Actually using 11:59pm as the example time makes it so much easier w/ no confusion.

Hope you have a nice trip and do report back on Chelsea.. I am due there for the first time in 2 weeks but am disappointed to read that they are out of the all the good champagne all the time it seems.

Good suggestion about booking/canceling JFK-BOS for getting through security. I'll tuck that one away for future reference. Honestly, it never even occurred to me that "midnight Tuesday" could be interpreted as one minute past 11:59 pm on Monday. Lesson learned, also tucked away for future reference!

I've also heard of hiccups in the Chelsea Lounge service on the champagne front. One reviewer reported that they asked for the "premium selection of the day", but was told they were all out. After asking for the manager, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot was "discovered" and s/he had a nice glass of bubbly. It's not a good sign that the wait staff seemed clueless. I'll give a report if I do end up going to the Lounge, but you'll be there before I will, so please report back yourself. Cheers and happy travels.

I have a question about flagship first dining access in MIA if flying from MIA to JFK (in AA domestic F) and then from JFK same-day to LHR in BA F. I understand I will have access to the Chelsea lounge in JFK and to the Flagship Lounge in MIA, but will I also have access to flagship first dining in MIA? Thanks.

The answer is yes.

If the flight is on the same ticket, you would be automatically given the FFD invitation at Miami. If it's not you would need to show your F boarding pass at MIA to the agents at the Flagship Lounge entry so that they could provide you an invitation.

Also bear in mind that the FFD in MIA opens at 1pm at this stage ( opening times could change when you're traveling ) so if your flight to JFK departs before 2:30pm, you would be likely to enjoy the Flagship Lounge rather than the FFD.

Thanks! I'll be flying at 4:12 pm. There is one person also on that 4:12 pm flight who will not be on the international flight (just flying to JFK). I think I can bring him as a guest to the dining, right?

Yes, as an int'l F pax you can bring one guest into the FL and FFD.