Feb 16, 2017, 2:34 pm
Last edit by: seawolf
NOTE: Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining closed March 20, 2020. They will begin reopening in September of 2021, as discussed in this thread (link). This thread will reboot as the Premium facilities begin reopening and as AA announces any changes including access rules.
Beginning in spring 2017, AA began introducing their completely renovated or new, larger Flagship® Lounges – completely redesigned for qualifying First and Business Class customers.
Rules for expanded access to Flagship Lounges were published June 2017.
Features
As well, Flagship Lounge access policies changed.
American Airlines has expanded access to the Flagship® Lounges (but reduced access to Flagship® Dining within the Flagship® Lounges):
Expanded access
In the new Flagship® Lounges (not to be confused with Flagship® Dining), eligible customers are:
1 guest (children over 2 count as a guest)
*Qualifying international flights are those between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America (excluding Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela) only. Qualifying transcontinental flights are defined as non-stop between New York Kennedy (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO). All other international destinations are excluded from this benefit. Departing flight must be the same-day (or before 6 a.m. the following day).
**AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members traveling solely on North American itineraries (other than flights mentioned immediately above) will not qualify. North America is defined as the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
: An exception usually exists for First and Business passengers on AA Flagship (three class aircraft actually sold as three classes), such as the seasonal MIA-LAX 77W and LAX-BOS A321T.
NOTE: Flagship® First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive, complimentary access to Flagship® First Dining. Qualifying international passengers may bring one guest; qualifying domestic passengers are not allowed any guests.
NOTE: Flagship® First Class and Flagship® Business Class passengers traveling on 3-cabin transcontinental flights between JFK and LAX/SFO are allowed entry to the Flagship Lounge both upon departure and upon arrival (e.g. A passenger traveling business class nonstop from JFK to LAX will have access to the JFK Lounge and the LAX Lounge). However, passengers on this itinerary will not be allowed to bring in a guest if they are not also in the Flagship® cabin
Link to relevant "Flagship Lounge" aa.com page
Link to 2017 and 2018 posts archived from this thread.
Beginning in spring 2017, AA began introducing their completely renovated or new, larger Flagship® Lounges – completely redesigned for qualifying First and Business Class customers.
Rules for expanded access to Flagship Lounges were published June 2017.
Features
- More room for you to spread out and relax
- Larger buffet with premium, fresh meals
- Premium beer, wine and spirits
- Updated interiors with additional power and privacy options
- More staff in each lounge for the highest level of service
As well, Flagship Lounge access policies changed.
American Airlines has expanded access to the Flagship® Lounges (but reduced access to Flagship® Dining within the Flagship® Lounges):
Expanded access
In the new Flagship® Lounges (not to be confused with Flagship® Dining), eligible customers are:
- First and Business Class customers (on qualifying international flights or 3-class transcontinental markets*)
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum (including Concierge Key), Platinum Pro and Platinum members in any cabin (on qualifying international flights*)
- oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members in any cabin (on all qualifying flights**)
Qualifying transcontinental flights
3-class non-stop flights between:
- New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)
- JFK and San Francisco (SFO)
- JFK and Orange County (SNA)
- LAX and Miami (MIA)
- LAX and Boston (BOS)
Qualifying other domestic filghts
Flights with seats ticketed as Flagship® between:
- Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Honolulu (HNL)
- DFW and Kona (KOA)
- DFW and Maui (OGG)
- Chicago (ORD) and HNL
- Charlotte (CLT) and HNL
1 guest (children over 2 count as a guest)
*Qualifying international flights are those between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America (excluding Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela) only. Qualifying transcontinental flights are defined as non-stop between New York Kennedy (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO). All other international destinations are excluded from this benefit. Departing flight must be the same-day (or before 6 a.m. the following day).
**AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members traveling solely on North American itineraries (other than flights mentioned immediately above) will not qualify. North America is defined as the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
: An exception usually exists for First and Business passengers on AA Flagship (three class aircraft actually sold as three classes), such as the seasonal MIA-LAX 77W and LAX-BOS A321T.
NOTE: Flagship® First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive, complimentary access to Flagship® First Dining. Qualifying international passengers may bring one guest; qualifying domestic passengers are not allowed any guests.
NOTE: Flagship® First Class and Flagship® Business Class passengers traveling on 3-cabin transcontinental flights between JFK and LAX/SFO are allowed entry to the Flagship Lounge both upon departure and upon arrival (e.g. A passenger traveling business class nonstop from JFK to LAX will have access to the JFK Lounge and the LAX Lounge). However, passengers on this itinerary will not be allowed to bring in a guest if they are not also in the Flagship® cabin
Link to relevant "Flagship Lounge" aa.com page
Link to 2017 and 2018 posts archived from this thread.
Guide to Flagship Lounge Access (in revision)
Jul 26, 2019, 5:01 pm
#76
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA-EXP, Flying Blue-Silver
Posts: 727
Access to Flagship Lounge Arriving from MEX?
It's clear to me that departing for MEX from MIA or DFW in F, I can access the Flagship Lounge, however, will I also have access to it arriving from MEX in F and connecting domestically in F? Trying to figure out how much connection time I want on the return flight. Any input would be most appreciated.
Jul 26, 2019, 5:38 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
It's clear to me that departing for MEX from MIA or DFW in F, I can access the Flagship Lounge, however, will I also have access to it arriving from MEX in F and connecting domestically in F? Trying to figure out how much connection time I want on the return flight. Any input would be most appreciated.
Jul 26, 2019, 5:40 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
It's clear to me that departing for MEX from MIA or DFW in F, I can access the Flagship Lounge, however, will I also have access to it arriving from MEX in F and connecting domestically in F? Trying to figure out how much connection time I want on the return flight. Any input would be most appreciated.
Jul 27, 2019, 11:05 am
#80
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
.
Jul 27, 2019, 11:36 am
#82
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
yeah I was not allowed access on arrival because I didn’t have onward flight on oneworld at ORD. They told me I could access admirals club but only because i have Exec Citi cars that gives you access
Jul 27, 2019, 11:54 am
#83
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SIN
Programs: AS MVPG75k, AA Plat
Posts: 741
Actually more concerned about a delay out of ORD than anything.
Jul 27, 2019, 11:55 am
#84
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
Jul 27, 2019, 12:58 pm
#85
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I can confirm that while flying from DFW-ORD in J on AA and then onward to LHR from ORD in F on BA on the same PNR on the same-day, I was granted access to Flagship First dining at DFW and the Flagship Lounge at ORD.
I was told by the lounge agent that it's AA policy to allow this type of access to my type of itinerary. Sorry if this is a repeat of an earlier post, but wanted to make sure this was noted here for all.
I was told by the lounge agent that it's AA policy to allow this type of access to my type of itinerary. Sorry if this is a repeat of an earlier post, but wanted to make sure this was noted here for all.
Jul 31, 2019, 1:50 pm
#86
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Plat,
Posts: 284
Is this true for those only flying the first leg, JFK-YVR? My understanding was that Canada is not “international”
Jul 31, 2019, 1:55 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Plat,
Posts: 284
Aug 10, 2019, 4:42 pm
#89
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 531
Three access scenarios I'm wondering about:
Recently I was able to get in in scenario 3 (onwards on Delta F) but I had to argue for it.
As an aside, I mostly wanted to access the lounge to take a shower, and I was very unimpressed with the shower setup. There was no attendant around so I just had to knock on doors until I found one that was open and stocked with clean towels.
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards in Y on OneWorld same PNR
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards in Y on OneWorld different PNR
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards on non-OneWorld airline
Recently I was able to get in in scenario 3 (onwards on Delta F) but I had to argue for it.
- Originally I was on a paid ticket on CX, with a connection to a separate reservation Avios award on AA.
- A few months ago, AA fully cancelled all flights on the JFK-DCA route, so I booked a Delta ticket instead (~4 hour layover at JFK)
- I have AA Platinum status
- Originally I was denied entry to the Flagship, but I pleaded my case that I originally was booked to fly AA onwards but they cancelled the route.
- They let me in, claiming it was an exception they were making for me.
As an aside, I mostly wanted to access the lounge to take a shower, and I was very unimpressed with the shower setup. There was no attendant around so I just had to knock on doors until I found one that was open and stocked with clean towels.
Aug 10, 2019, 5:04 pm
#90
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Three access scenarios I'm wondering about:
Recently I was able to get in in scenario 3 (onwards on Delta F) but I had to argue for it.
As an aside, I mostly wanted to access the lounge to take a shower, and I was very unimpressed with the shower setup. There was no attendant around so I just had to knock on doors until I found one that was open and stocked with clean towels.
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards in Y on OneWorld same PNR
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards in Y on OneWorld different PNR
- CX F arriving at JFK, onwards on non-OneWorld airline
Recently I was able to get in in scenario 3 (onwards on Delta F) but I had to argue for it.
- Originally I was on a paid ticket on CX, with a connection to a separate reservation Avios award on AA.
- A few months ago, AA fully cancelled all flights on the JFK-DCA route, so I booked a Delta ticket instead (~4 hour layover at JFK)
- I have AA Platinum status
- Originally I was denied entry to the Flagship, but I pleaded my case that I originally was booked to fly AA onwards but they cancelled the route.
- They let me in, claiming it was an exception they were making for me.
As an aside, I mostly wanted to access the lounge to take a shower, and I was very unimpressed with the shower setup. There was no attendant around so I just had to knock on doors until I found one that was open and stocked with clean towels.
1&2 - Yes. Always.
3 - No.
Yes, I think they made an exception for you. By the rules, no you would not have access, but, given the cancelled flights it makes sense to allow you in. The showers are self-service and kept in good shape. Finding one that is open (and clean) is the procedure.