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 Americans 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 Americans 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)
May 2, 2024, 9:42 am
#1516
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,935
Yes. I don't know whether it has a schedule but I have seen it both in action and unoccupied when I have been through, though I haven't logged the times!
May 2, 2024, 2:52 pm
#1517
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,107
Can I access the MIA flagship as a BA gold at about 9pm the night before a 10am flight to SJU the next day,I will be incoming from a DUB CLT MIA connecting flight but will have my SJU boarding pass at that stage
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
May 2, 2024, 2:58 pm
#1518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,599
Can I access the MIA flagship as a BA gold at about 9pm the night before a 10am flight to SJU the next day,I will be incoming from a DUB CLT MIA connecting flight but will have my SJU boarding pass at that stage
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
May 2, 2024, 3:08 pm
#1519
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Dublin,Ireland and Nice France
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,107
May 2, 2024, 4:57 pm
#1521
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 6,020
Can I access the MIA flagship as a BA gold at about 9pm the night before a 10am flight to SJU the next day,I will be incoming from a DUB CLT MIA connecting flight but will have my SJU boarding pass at that stage
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
what kind of food will be available at that time and what time does it close?
Thank you
Zero issues:
Get access if youre departing, arriving or connecting to any same-day flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld airline (regardless of cabin).
May 12, 2024, 7:58 am
#1522
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 5
We are considering booking the following flight on American: LGA -> MIA -> SCL (last is Santiago Chile). We would be in first class from LGA->MIA and business class from MIA->SCL. Obviously, we have access to the lounge in MIA, but what about at LGA? I have looked on the AA website, and it does not mention lounge access for a domestic flight connecting to an international flight. For example, the Delta website is totally clear on this point: "Customer traveling on Delta One on an international flight or on a domestic flight connecting to/from a same-day international Delta One flight [has lounge access]." We do not have any special frequent flyer status with AA nor a special credit card.
May 12, 2024, 8:23 am
#1523
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,103
We are considering booking the following flight on American: LGA -> MIA -> SCL (last is Santiago Chile). We would be in first class from LGA->MIA and business class from MIA->SCL. Obviously, we have access to the lounge in MIA, but what about at LGA? I have looked on the AA website, and it does not mention lounge access for a domestic flight connecting to an international flight. For example, the Delta website is totally clear on this point: "Customer traveling on Delta One on an international flight or on a domestic flight connecting to/from a same-day international Delta One flight [has lounge access]." We do not have any special frequent flyer status with AA nor a special credit card.
Not sure how much clearer this can be (from AA.com):
"Get access if you’re traveling in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international, transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld airline or marketed by Aer Lingus* and operated by American.**"
Obviously, if you are checked in and have boarding passes for the itinerary you have stated, then by definition you have a same day international flight. Thus you have access.
Regards
May 12, 2024, 8:46 am
#1524
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 5
Yes, you will have access to the Admiral's Club in LGA and the Flagship Lounge in MIA.
Not sure how much clearer this can be (from AA.com):
"Get access if youre traveling in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international, transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld airline or marketed by Aer Lingus* and operated by American.**"
Obviously, if you are checked in and have boarding passes for the itinerary you have stated, then by definition you have a same day international flight. Thus you have access.
Regards
Not sure how much clearer this can be (from AA.com):
"Get access if youre traveling in First or Business on a qualifying same-day international, transcontinental or other domestic flight marketed and operated by American, a oneworld airline or marketed by Aer Lingus* and operated by American.**"
Obviously, if you are checked in and have boarding passes for the itinerary you have stated, then by definition you have a same day international flight. Thus you have access.
Regards
May 12, 2024, 9:37 am
#1525
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,103
Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry, but it is not at all obvious to me, since the domestic leg itself, is not an international flight. I interpreted the "same day" meaning that you couldn't enter the lounge the day before your international flight, and the "domestic flight" it mentions are just certain cross-country flights if you read further. Frankly, I can't see how the statement you quoted, and I studied carefully before posting, could cover the case I am talking about. So I am more interested to hear from people with personal experience who flew on a similar ticket, whether we would or would not have lounge access before the domestic segment.
Now, the piece of information you did not share in your initial question which is relevant to the answer, is if your domestic leg is the day before, but you didn't say that in your post, so I chose not to muddy the waters in my answer, since most folks have their flights all on the same day. If the LGA-MIA segment is the day before your MIA-SCL segment, it can get into a bit of a "gray" area depending on the time of day and somewhat to the lounge attendants discretion. Technically, if the domestic segment is the day before then yes, you may be denied access at LGA because, obviously, you do not have a "same day international segment" in that case (you would, of course, have access in MIA going to SCL). If the international segment is within 24 hours the lounge attendant in LGA may let you in, but you probably should plan for not getting in and then be pleasantly surprised if they allow access.
I'm not sure how to help you build confidence in the statement I quoted, but I can assure you that is how it works. If you have a "same day international flight," (and that is the key, same day) you have access all along the way. If you have a boarding pass in hand for an international flight then that is the criteria. They actually don't even have to be on the same reservation. For example, if you had separately purchased ticket for LGA-MIA, you just show your boarding pass for MIA-SCL at the LGA Admiral's Club and you will be allowed entry (again, assuming same day).
There are still more in's and out's to this (i.e. AA definition of "international," etc.) but again, I'm going to avoid muddying the waters and just answer the question you asked, rather than broadening the scope to all scenarios.
Regards
May 12, 2024, 10:43 am
#1526
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT - 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,227
Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry, but it is not at all obvious to me, since the domestic leg itself, is not an international flight. I interpreted the "same day" meaning that you couldn't enter the lounge the day before your international flight, and the "domestic flight" it mentions are just certain cross-country flights if you read further. Frankly, I can't see how the statement you quoted, and I studied carefully before posting, could cover the case I am talking about. So I am more interested to hear from people with personal experience who flew on a similar ticket, whether we would or would not have lounge access before the domestic segment.
May 12, 2024, 10:57 am
#1527
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 5
Thanks scubadu and Madison Guy for confirming from your personal experience. BTW, in our case the domestic flight and international flights are indeed the same day.
May 12, 2024, 11:14 am
#1528
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Panam
Programs: AY+ Platsku, CM Silver, Frontier Elite 100K, Marriott Gold and LT Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador.
Posts: 382
My hunch is that the statement is specific to AA elites or those on qualifying flights. Per the OW lounge finder page (underline is mine):
I’d give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge).
I’d give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge).
'I’d give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge)' - This is exactly my case, always access it as non-AA OWS/E at all of the locations (mainly at ORD), on arrival, without any issue, but haven't been since March this year. It scares me a bit now that you say that the very same agent at ORD that let you in a week ago now denies entry. In my case I'd stand my ground showing the above mentioned paragraph from the AA website
Last edited by Venezuela-Miami; May 12, 2024 at 11:19 am
May 12, 2024, 11:45 am
#1529
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,103
Thanks scubadu and Madison Guy for confirming from your personal experience. BTW, in our case the domestic flight and international flights are indeed the same day.
Enjoy your trip.
Regards
May 12, 2024, 12:35 pm
#1530
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM CK, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,230
'My hunch is that the statement is specific to AA elites' - I don't get this reasoning, AA Elites don't get any Lounge access privilege per status alone (save for CK), for me this is all that counts and I have the webpage tab always in my phone (not that I ever had to show it yet): 'Get access if youre departing, arriving or connecting to any same-day flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld airline (regardless of cabin).'
'Id give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge)' - This is exactly my case, always access it as non-AA OWS/E at all of the locations (mainly at ORD), on arrival, without any issue, but haven't been since March this year. It scares me a bit now that you say that the very same agent at ORD that let you in a week ago now denies entry. In my case I'd stand my ground showing the above mentioned paragraph from the AA website
'Id give it a go and see what happens. Last week was the second time in ~20 visits to the FL between non-AA OWS/E where I was told this (the other being the LAX OW business lounge)' - This is exactly my case, always access it as non-AA OWS/E at all of the locations (mainly at ORD), on arrival, without any issue, but haven't been since March this year. It scares me a bit now that you say that the very same agent at ORD that let you in a week ago now denies entry. In my case I'd stand my ground showing the above mentioned paragraph from the AA website
From the OW Lounge site:
Access is available on the day of travel (or before 06:00am the following day), at the airport from which the oneworld flight on which the eligible customer is travelling departs.