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)
Feb 11, 2022, 8:53 am
#497
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,024
to me the FL brings only one benefit over a regular AC and that's free drinks and beers, and self serve to boot. I guess I'm still amazed by people who eat there only to get on a plane and eat again. Wow.
Feb 11, 2022, 12:22 pm
#498
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
Feb 11, 2022, 2:40 pm
#500
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
But AA does have serious issues, I am just trying to bring them to the attention of FT. I mean I used to love AA until joining on here tbh and reading the countless bad things AA does.
Feb 11, 2022, 2:42 pm
#501
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
Feb 11, 2022, 2:47 pm
#502
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
2 PNR's
Does anyone have any way to help me show or prove that 2 PNR's gets you in?? I am going back and forth with a nice lady at AC customer service and she is trying to help but she says they wont refund my $150 b/c she checked and under NO circumstances is 2 PNR's allowed.
Thats actually a bit of a general statement b/c no doubt 2 PNR's fine for OW rules so if it was LAX-JFK-LHR then LAX has to let you in even if its on a separate ticket as the qualifying ticket to FL is from the OW rules as to an International flight.
However, this gal might be right for my LAX-SFO-JFK denial b/c these Transcon routes are obviously an AA thing. I have read many times on here posts from some of the long time posters saying 2 separate tickets doesnt matter so i was wondering does it say that anywhere or is there anything else I can do to try to prove 2 tickets is right. Or is it possible those comments about 2 tickets being ok were in regards to the qualifying same day flight being international and not AA' s special Transcon routes??
My denial at LA thought was nothing to do with it being on 2 tickets. It was just them saying over and over again you must be on a non stop. And I was trying to tell them yes I am , from SF. Just like it says there at the rules they were showing me, SFO-JFK. They denied me b/c the qualifying flight wasnt from LAX.
If the No 2 PNR's thing is what it is then fine I wasted $150 but at the very least I have asked them to please contact FL LAX so they can explain to them that LaX-SFo-Jfk is allowed access, if on 1 ticket. I hope they will do that or if not this will continue to happen. Seems like a lot of new agents there. Its just going to continue like all the problems with FFCI.
Thats actually a bit of a general statement b/c no doubt 2 PNR's fine for OW rules so if it was LAX-JFK-LHR then LAX has to let you in even if its on a separate ticket as the qualifying ticket to FL is from the OW rules as to an International flight.
However, this gal might be right for my LAX-SFO-JFK denial b/c these Transcon routes are obviously an AA thing. I have read many times on here posts from some of the long time posters saying 2 separate tickets doesnt matter so i was wondering does it say that anywhere or is there anything else I can do to try to prove 2 tickets is right. Or is it possible those comments about 2 tickets being ok were in regards to the qualifying same day flight being international and not AA' s special Transcon routes??
My denial at LA thought was nothing to do with it being on 2 tickets. It was just them saying over and over again you must be on a non stop. And I was trying to tell them yes I am , from SF. Just like it says there at the rules they were showing me, SFO-JFK. They denied me b/c the qualifying flight wasnt from LAX.
If the No 2 PNR's thing is what it is then fine I wasted $150 but at the very least I have asked them to please contact FL LAX so they can explain to them that LaX-SFo-Jfk is allowed access, if on 1 ticket. I hope they will do that or if not this will continue to happen. Seems like a lot of new agents there. Its just going to continue like all the problems with FFCI.
Feb 11, 2022, 2:52 pm
#503
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
I suppose the lesson is move to the ME and fly QR all the time.
Feb 11, 2022, 2:54 pm
#504
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
But for the record I never called them these things in person to them. Just on here to report how bad it was and relay my experience.
Feb 11, 2022, 2:56 pm
#505
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,043
Well, just that you all were right that AA has major issues. Some of things on here dont bother me but having a menu say sundaes, cheese plate & butter cake and giving me that stupid lemon tart is just not acceptable. And lack of understanding of rules for check in and lounges too drives me nuts.
I suppose the lesson is move to the ME and fly QR all the time.
I suppose the lesson is move to the ME and fly QR all the time.
Regards
Feb 11, 2022, 3:21 pm
#506
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,374
The rules are clear that a same day boarding pass for a qualifying flight is your ticket to admittance. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find anything official allowing the 2 PNR thing. IMO, you were clearly entitled to admittance.
It sucks, I know as I was denied admittance to the old LAX IFL as a guest of someone who clearly had guesting privileges. Not even the station manager would budge, simply because she wouldn't own up to the mistake.
Sometimes there isn't justice, and it was good that you called this out, but at some point your frustration will hurt you more than just letting this go.
It sucks, I know as I was denied admittance to the old LAX IFL as a guest of someone who clearly had guesting privileges. Not even the station manager would budge, simply because she wouldn't own up to the mistake.
Sometimes there isn't justice, and it was good that you called this out, but at some point your frustration will hurt you more than just letting this go.
Feb 11, 2022, 11:29 pm
#507
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
The rules are clear that a same day boarding pass for a qualifying flight is your ticket to admittance. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll find anything official allowing the 2 PNR thing. IMO, you were clearly entitled to admittance.
It sucks, I know as I was denied admittance to the old LAX IFL as a guest of someone who clearly had guesting privileges. Not even the station manager would budge, simply because she wouldn't own up to the mistake.
Sometimes there isn't justice, and it was good that you called this out, but at some point your frustration will hurt you more than just letting this go.
It sucks, I know as I was denied admittance to the old LAX IFL as a guest of someone who clearly had guesting privileges. Not even the station manager would budge, simply because she wouldn't own up to the mistake.
Sometimes there isn't justice, and it was good that you called this out, but at some point your frustration will hurt you more than just letting this go.
The thing is LA was denying with out once mentioning 2 PNR's. It was just 40 minutes of them trying to say you can only be leaving or arriving from this airport.
At any rate, I guess it was like you said, not wanting to admit a mistake but I am still putting my money on sheer freaking incompetence.
Feb 11, 2022, 11:31 pm
#508
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,703
If menu says sundaes, cheese plate, butter cake and they throw you a rock hard disgusting lemon tart its pretty freaking annoying. That flight was a rev. ticket I bought, for my mom also. Spent a lot. And that was same flight where entrees were marked wrong and the pasta i ordered was fish and the fish was Beef. It was a total joke out of MIA that flight.
Feb 12, 2022, 12:32 am
#509
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: new york, ny
Posts: 1,373
Arrival lounge is after immigration and picked up your checked luggage, right? I have only use arrival lounge once in HKG
Feb 12, 2022, 12:34 am
#510
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: new york, ny
Posts: 1,373