ARCHIVE: Guide to Flagship Lounge Access (expanded 2017) thru 2018
#391
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,568
In this situation I would just get an AC membership as it allows access for all immediate family under 18. Is the DFW FL even going to be completed by the fall? Right now it's just a temp lounge in terminal D that's not very nice, i.e the normal AC's in DFW are just as good.
And at LHR, a few years back I was definitely denied entry to the FL with 2 family guests, sent to the normal AC (I'm a member). The agent even made a comment that I could use the FL with one guest but not both.
#392
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ATX
Programs: AA EP, USAir Chairman, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 275
Allow me to clarify. I do have an AC membership and am sitting in the AUS AC as I type this. I asked the gals at the counter when I checked in this am if they knew how strict the DFW and LHR Flagship lounges were in terms of enforcement and she just came back and told me neither are open yet. I must be confused because I thought we visited FL in both DFW and LHR this past Feb, but she called them “premium lounges”. The one in DFW was just a tiny room with nicer food/drink—no big deal, but the one in LHR was way nicer than any typical AC. So does anyone know what the guest rule access is for these clubs, whatever they’re called?
#393
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
Based on my experience, most flagship lounges will reject more than one guest and invite you to use the admirals club.
#394
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,265
Allow me to clarify. I do have an AC membership and am sitting in the AUS AC as I type this. I asked the gals at the counter when I checked in this am if they knew how strict the DFW and LHR Flagship lounges were in terms of enforcement and she just came back and told me neither are open yet. I must be confused because I thought we visited FL in both DFW and LHR this past Feb, but she called them “premium lounges”. The one in DFW was just a tiny room with nicer food/drink—no big deal, but the one in LHR was way nicer than any typical AC. So does anyone know what the guest rule access is for these clubs, whatever they’re called?
As another poster said, your chances of getting more than a +1 into these specific lounges is very low.
#395
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,261
Allow me to clarify. I do have an AC membership and am sitting in the AUS AC as I type this. I asked the gals at the counter when I checked in this am if they knew how strict the DFW and LHR Flagship lounges were in terms of enforcement and she just came back and told me neither are open yet. I must be confused because I thought we visited FL in both DFW and LHR this past Feb, but she called them “premium lounges”. The one in DFW was just a tiny room with nicer food/drink—no big deal, but the one in LHR was way nicer than any typical AC. So does anyone know what the guest rule access is for these clubs, whatever they’re called?
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp
LHR has an Admiral's Club (albeit with more substantial food offerings than a typical AC, at least than the typical AC used to offer before I think they upgraded them), as well as an International First Class Lounge (originally called the Flagship Lounge), again, with access for Exec Plats/OWE and First Class passengers with a more substantial food spread than the AC and a limited table service/menu offering. See link above for that also.
#396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
1 guest per EXP. The rules are quite clear, and are properly enforced across the network.
We've seen the Centurion Lounge crowding issues....I think OneWorld got it right. One guest. Period. Especially now that Business/PLT/SPH are allowed into Flagship as well when traveling on "international" itineraries.
We've seen the Centurion Lounge crowding issues....I think OneWorld got it right. One guest. Period. Especially now that Business/PLT/SPH are allowed into Flagship as well when traveling on "international" itineraries.
Last edited by ESpen36; Jul 23, 2018 at 7:36 am
#397
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,946
Allow me to clarify. I do have an AC membership and am sitting in the AUS AC as I type this. I asked the gals at the counter when I checked in this am if they knew how strict the DFW and LHR Flagship lounges were in terms of enforcement and she just came back and told me neither are open yet. I must be confused because I thought we visited FL in both DFW and LHR this past Feb, but she called them “premium lounges”. The one in DFW was just a tiny room with nicer food/drink—no big deal, but the one in LHR was way nicer than any typical AC. So does anyone know what the guest rule access is for these clubs, whatever they’re called?
DFW hasn’t had a Flagship Lounge in many years. The one you are thinking of was inside the A Admirals Club, adjacent to the Arrivals Lounge. They’ve both been closed for years, and we’re completely eliminated after the recent A Club refurbishment.
There is a temporary D Premium Lounge restricted to those flying in a premium cabin on qualifying flights. It is possible the new DFW Flagship Lounge could open sometime next year. So for DFW, you have the A, B and C; the D Club is temporarily closed.
The LHR Flagship Lounge was renovated not long ago, and is currently an International First Class Lounge - to be a Flagship Lounge once again in the “near” future.
See here for Flagship Lounge locations and access policies.
The chances of being allowed three teenaged guests otherwise unqualified by not having status or arriving / departing in a qualifying cabin and flight in the Flagship Lounge with an Admirals Club membership are virtually zero, as you are thinking about Admirals Club member policies and Flagship Lounge neither have extended family allowance nor flexibility to allow three guests.
If you were all flying those routes in Business Class you’d be eligible to use the DFW Premium Lounge.
You can see the oneworld lounge access policies here.
We will probably merge this into the Flagship Lounge access thread soon.
Moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Jul 23, 2018 at 7:43 am
#398
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,839
The FL lounge at JFK was pretty clear on guesting. I was guesting a friend who was travelling on DL and they weren't initially sure if that would work (that turned out to be OK). When I mentioned that I was guesting in a colleague who was on the way, the agent asked if I had already guested anybody in already and noted the one guest limitation. I mentioned that I had not and she seemed satisfied with that response.
#399
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
To maximize the value for your household travelers, instead of getting an Admirals Club membership which would still not provide enough guests in the same visit, consider the Citi Executive Card which would enable you to provide admirals club access to each of your card holders, even if you're not traveling with them (subject to club unaccompanied minor/age rules). Each of the travelers in your household would then effectively have their own Admirals Club access via the card.
#400
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
It sounds like you aren't going to be at a true Flagship Lounge so this may be a moot point but I'm curious if this could work... Does AA still do the status challenges? Can't remember the price but depending on future travel plans could be worth some consideration. I don't know all the ins/outs of this but Mrs. WiscAZ and I only have two children so it could make sense in the right situation for the Mrs. to do a status challenge to gain access. At the right time of the year she may even be able to meet the requirements. Again, this is written with absolutely zero knowledge of the policy these days.
#401
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
The FL lounge at JFK was pretty clear on guesting. I was guesting a friend who was travelling on DL and they weren't initially sure if that would work (that turned out to be OK). When I mentioned that I was guesting in a colleague who was on the way, the agent asked if I had already guested anybody in already and noted the one guest limitation. I mentioned that I had not and she seemed satisfied with that response.
#402
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,839
Guest access
1 guest (children over 2 count as a guest)
#403
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: ATX
Programs: AA EP, USAir Chairman, MR Lifetime Plat
Posts: 275
Thanks All. I guess we'll think about getting 2 of us (which 2?) into the Premium lounges at DFW and LHR while the other 3 of us slum it in the reg AC.
#404
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,568
As mentioned above, given the current situation with regards to the DFW temp premium lounge, the normal ACs at DFW are just as nice. Not to mention since you're the EXP and also the AC member it's technically against the rules to do that.
#405
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AA EXP
Posts: 136
So, if I am flying BA J from Chicago, can I check in at Terminal 5, then go to Terminal 3 and hangout at FL? No issues at security in T3? If that works, then I assume I can take the airside intra-terminal bus to Terminal 5 too, right?