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)
Mar 1, 2022, 12:35 pm
#586
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,024
Going back and reading the rules and posts here, it seems like I will NOT get Flagship access as an AS MVP75 on a LAX-SJO (Costa Rica) itinerary. Is that correct? Alternatively, would I have access to the QF F lounge in TBIT? Would it make a difference if I am upgraded to First?
An AA/AS elite would never have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route (LAX-SJO), even if in business (there is technically no F on that route, even if sold as such, the booking/fare code is business). However, a non-AA/AS OneWorld Emerald, would indeed have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route, under OW entry requirements.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Mar 1, 2022, 3:15 pm
#587
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 539
An AA or AS elite never has access to the Flagship Lounge for LAX-SJO. That route is not considered international, for lounge access purposes. AA did temporarily change Admirals Club access to allow people in First/Business (but not in economy, this is class of service based entry, not OW status based entry) traveling to the Caribbean/Central America to access the AC, but honestly, it's a bit unclear whether that extends to FL access as the FL's were closed when AA made that change. The change is temporary, but AA hasn't put a date when this will change back to the regular entry requirements.
An AA/AS elite would never have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route (LAX-SJO), even if in business (there is technically no F on that route, even if sold as such, the booking/fare code is business). However, a non-AA/AS OneWorld Emerald, would indeed have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route, under OW entry requirements.
Hope that helps.
Regards
An AA/AS elite would never have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route (LAX-SJO), even if in business (there is technically no F on that route, even if sold as such, the booking/fare code is business). However, a non-AA/AS OneWorld Emerald, would indeed have access to the QF F lounge when flying this route, under OW entry requirements.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Mar 1, 2022, 3:24 pm
#588
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,024
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...lub-access.jsp
Scroll down to "Qualifying First and Business" and you'll see the following sentence: "For a limited time: Starting April 1, 2021, qualifying international flights will include flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico."
This should cover your LAX-SJO trip, if you get upgraded (you can click the "Details" pull down for specifics)
However, note in the Flagship Lounge access requirements here:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...rstandbusiness
they did not add that same language. My gut tells me that the FL check-in agent will likely follow that guidance and deny access, but certainly never hurts to ask/try.
Regards
Mar 2, 2022, 7:17 am
#590
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
Flying to and from Hawaii in business via DFW. On the way back, our red eye has a 90 minute layover at DFW (first flight arriving just after 7 AM). Wondering if it is worth taking a later second leg (2 hours later) to give us time to access the Flagship Lounge, maybe get a shower and some good food.
Mar 2, 2022, 11:29 am
#591
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,024
Flying to and from Hawaii in business via DFW. On the way back, our red eye has a 90 minute layover at DFW (first flight arriving just after 7 AM). Wondering if it is worth taking a later second leg (2 hours later) to give us time to access the Flagship Lounge, maybe get a shower and some good food.
Regards
Mar 2, 2022, 11:47 am
#592
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
Mar 2, 2022, 11:52 am
#593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,426
Really a personal decision, but for me 90 mins would be plenty especially as you're arriving in the early AM off a relatively quick overnight flight (at presumably the end of the trip). The FL's are nice and all but at that point the last thing I would want is to spend another 2 hours there instead of just getting home. 1.5 hours is ample time for a shower and bite to eat.
Mar 2, 2022, 11:55 am
#594
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,024
So, for me it's a no. YMMV.
Regards
Mar 2, 2022, 11:38 pm
#595
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 2,672
I second exactly what Scubadu said. The shower at my house and the food at my local food truck will both always be better... Also, if DFW water will be set at the JFK/MIA temps then the shower is nothing . LAX is good, it gets hot. The food at FL is decent but I would never go out of my way for it. Plus, its never hot from sitting out. Its not bad. I am way tougher on FFD b/c of the expectations.
Shower and food at home (or on the way home for sure)
Mar 3, 2022, 7:47 am
#596
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 79
Use Both AC and FL in same visit?
Friend of mine has AC membership and Oneworld Emerald with BA.
Went to MIA yesterday, was given FL pass. He wanted to go into AC first to grab the new BBQ sliders since FL food has been the same since January. Agent upstairs told him (with his FL pass in hand) that he could not enter AC and FL. Had to choose one.
Given that he has access to both, is this true?
Went to MIA yesterday, was given FL pass. He wanted to go into AC first to grab the new BBQ sliders since FL food has been the same since January. Agent upstairs told him (with his FL pass in hand) that he could not enter AC and FL. Had to choose one.
Given that he has access to both, is this true?
Mar 3, 2022, 11:44 am
#599
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,346
Flying to and from Hawaii in business via DFW. On the way back, our red eye has a 90 minute layover at DFW (first flight arriving just after 7 AM). Wondering if it is worth taking a later second leg (2 hours later) to give us time to access the Flagship Lounge, maybe get a shower and some good food.
