Jan 1, 2018, 2:40 pm
Last edit by: coolcoil
HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2018)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
PLEASE DO NOT ALTER THE CONTENT OF THIS MODERATOR NOTE
The Lounge Access Help Desk
To assist members with questions about Lounge Access Rules that they have not been able to answer on their own using the above resources, the AA Moderator team has decided to institute this thread, the third in a series of "Help Desk" threads. N.B.: If you have questions about physical access to a specific lounge (e.g., airside vs. landside, different terminal, etc.), please search for and post to the appropriate specific thread for that lounge.
New threads on this topic will be merged into this one and bumped by the moderators as necessary. As such, we do not expect that this thread will develop into a searchable database, but that it will nonetheless provide a valuable resource to members. As well, we may shed / pare down posts from time to time to a trailing thread or similar device.
Our goal is to provide a place where members can feel welcome to post such questions and expect helpful, accurate responses. In this way, we hope to accommodate the needs and desires of both new and veteran members - those who aren't sure they are interpreting the available resources correctly can ask for help without fear of snarky-appearing responses; those who do not wish to participate in such threads are invited and, indeed, encouraged, to ignore this thread.
Please be forewarned: This thread will be subject to heavy moderation. Posts that are incorrect will be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST answers unless you are 100% sure your answer is complete and correct. Posts that are unhelpful or off-topic will also be subject to deletion without notice - DO NOT POST unless you can be friendly, helpful, concise, and salient.
Finally, a few guidelines for members posting queries to this thread:
- Please DO make an effort to review the listed resources before posting here.
- Please DO try to give as much information as possible, including your entire itinerary, with carrier for each segment and codeshares and stopovers clearly designated, your class of service and fare class purchased, whether or not you have Admirals Club or Qantas Club membership, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card (which includes full Admirals Club membership), and the number of guests and your family relationship with them, if any.
- Please DO understand it could take some time for answers (especially on holidays and weekends.)
- Please DO thank helpful members volunteering to reply to your questions.
- Please DO understand it could take some time for answers (especially on holidays and weekends.)
- Please DO try to give as much information as possible, including your entire itinerary, with carrier for each segment and codeshares and stopovers clearly designated, your class of service and fare class purchased, whether or not you have Admirals Club or Qantas Club membership, a Citi AAdvantage Executive card (which includes full Admirals Club membership), and the number of guests and your family relationship with them, if any.
Note: Members interested in arranging AA lounge meet-ups or offer guesting in should use this thread: Admirals Club / Flagship Lounge Meet Up & Guest Offer (master thread)
Also see the future changes in lounges and access: Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge Changes, Renovations & Additions
Sincerely,
The American Airlines AAdvantage forum Moderator Team
(Help Desk established by dstan)
=================end mod note===================
The kduarte Lounge Access tool page is unavailable
Help Desk: Lounge Access Rules / Will I Have Lounge Access?
Lounge Access can be obtained in a number of ways during travel on AA and its oneworld partner airlines. These include purchasing an Admirals Club one day pass, or via Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard (including, as of Dec 2015, authorized card users), reciprocity agreements with other airlines, traveling on certain transcon flights in F or J, or traveling internationally with Platinum (oneworld Sapphire) or Executive Platinum (oneworld Emerald) status or in F or J classes of service - except if flying solely within North America inc,Using destinations other than MEX or the Caribbean. The last is often the greatest source of confusion, despite lounge access rules being described clearly on aa.com. Threads about these are linked to in the American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD thread.
Admirals Club members paid or Executive cardholder members) are entitled guests as follows:
Up to two guests or household members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under the age of 18) may accompany the member.
For AA status-based access (PLT, PlatPro or EXP),* passengers must: (1) be traveling on an international itinerary (Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Mexico City, excluding the Caribbean and other destinations in North America (other than on certain three class transcontinental flights) including other destinations in Mexico, and (2) have an onward flight on a oneworld airline marketed and operated flight on the same day. PLT and PPRO members are eligible for access to all oneworld Business Class lounges, now including Flagship Lounges, including Admirals Clubs; EXP members are also eligible for access to all oneworld First Class lounges, including Flagship Lounges.
Lounges operated by third parties or premium lunges operating outside of oneworld rules (e.g. BA Concorde Room, Qatar Al Safwa or Al Mourjan lounges) may be excluded, and all may may refuse admittance if they claim they are crowded. There are other exceptions.
*Non-AA oneworld Sapphire and Emerald elites are not subject to rule #1 above.
Emerald / EP on CX JFK-YVR are not subject to AA limitations and are issued Flagship Lounge invitations for use at JFK.
Another confusing rule relates to transcontinental access. From member FriendlySkies:
Traveling on a Non-Stop Transcontinental* Flight? http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/trans-con-access.jsp
More changes:
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
More changes:
If you are traveling in the First or Business class cabin (on flights sold as three classes) in one of the following non-stop markets, we welcome you to visit the lounge as indicated below.
The following exceptions apply:
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access. one world lounge access page - link
Important Note: Though this announcement excluded Northern South America and Central America, those travelling to or from those destinations in J/F or whom hold OWE or OWS, including AA elites, do indeed have access to the Flagship Lounge. See the link below for Flagship Lounge access rules for details.
In the Flagship Dining subsection, they state:
Beginning in early 2017, the Flagship Dining experience will be available in select cities with 3-class service:
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
● New York (JFK)
● Miami (MIA)
● Los Angeles (LAX)
First Class customers on American’s 3-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining in 2017
Flagship Lounges (JFK, LAX, LHR and ORD) offer extended beverages and upscale snack services as well. See below for link.
NOTE: Some Lounges and Clubs are undergoing refurbishment.
Citi Prestige MasterCard holder Admirals Club access ended July 23, 2017.
American Express Platinum cardholder Admirals Club access ended 21 March 2014.
NOTE: It has been verified more airports are allowing multiple terminal access on one's day of departure. LAX has been one since mid-2014.
Admirals Club access is granted the day of flight for statusholders flyingone world and those flying F or J, or the following day at the first port of arrival if flying overnight and arriving by 0600.
Airports requiring Lounge users have a same day departure boarding pass include BOG, CCS, CDG, GIG, GRU, LHR, MEX, NRT, SCL, YYZ.
N.B. Qantas Lounges and Clubs require Smart Casual (sic) dress as of May 2015; those not meeting the standard may be turned away. They also require AAdvantage members be traveling on a departing AA marketed flight.
Please see the following resources for full details on Lounge Access Rules: (and see below)
. . . ● AA.com: Lounge Access Rules
. . . ● AA.com: American Airlines Flagship Lounge Access Rules
Beginning later in 2017: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ge-updates.jsp opens Flagship access to many more pax.
. . . ● AA.com: Reimaging our lounges
. . . ● AA.com: Admirals Club Membership Guide in a downloadable PDF format.
. . . ● oneworld.com: Lounge Access Rules and Search Tool
. . . ● Wiki: Lounges
. . . ● FT: American Airlines LOUNGE DASHBOARD
For various threads on membership, access by status, transcon service, class of service, Flagship lounge access, lounges directory with links to specific lounge threads, Club member access to partner lounges, recipripocity agreements, etc.
. . . ● Last year's thread:https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2017-a.html
ARCHIVE: 2018 HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Which, Access, Rules
Jan 5, 2018, 3:33 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
Technically, you only need to be 18 years of age to enter an Admiral's Club. I am not sure about the Flagship Lounge, since, as stated above, there is self-serve alcohol in the FL.
Jan 5, 2018, 3:51 pm
#32
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Is there really an age restriction. My 18 year old daughter was just denied entry at the Flagship Lounge in Miami close to Gate 30 but was allowed into the Admirals Club by D15 --- she is travelling alone.
Told by the Flagship that she has to be 21 --- I can't see this in the rules.
Told by the Flagship that she has to be 21 --- I can't see this in the rules.
Jan 6, 2018, 7:42 am
#33
Join Date: May 2007
Location: London and Madrid
Programs: BA Gold, UA 2MM, Hyatt Globalist, Columbia Record & Tape Club Triple Diamond VIP
Posts: 580
Does onward travel have to be on the same PNR?
I'm sure this question has been asked before but I can't find an answer.
I'm traveling from HND to LAX on AA in J. I'm also a OW Emerald. I have a flight booked from LAX to SFO on AA. That flight departs three hours after my arrival at LAX, but the booking is on a separate PNR.
Will i I be able to talk my way into a OW lounge for a shower? Or does onward travel as part of an international trip require that all flights be on the same PNR?
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
I'm traveling from HND to LAX on AA in J. I'm also a OW Emerald. I have a flight booked from LAX to SFO on AA. That flight departs three hours after my arrival at LAX, but the booking is on a separate PNR.
Will i I be able to talk my way into a OW lounge for a shower? Or does onward travel as part of an international trip require that all flights be on the same PNR?
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
Jan 6, 2018, 7:47 am
#34
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
I'm sure this question has been asked before but I can't find an answer.
I'm traveling from HND to LAX on AA in J. I'm also a OW Emerald. I have a flight booked from LAX to SFO on AA. That flight departs three hours after my arrival at LAX, but the booking is on a separate PNR.
Will i I be able to talk my way into a OW lounge for a shower? Or does onward travel as part of an international trip require that all flights be on the same PNR?
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
I'm traveling from HND to LAX on AA in J. I'm also a OW Emerald. I have a flight booked from LAX to SFO on AA. That flight departs three hours after my arrival at LAX, but the booking is on a separate PNR.
Will i I be able to talk my way into a OW lounge for a shower? Or does onward travel as part of an international trip require that all flights be on the same PNR?
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.
Jan 6, 2018, 7:55 am
#35
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Jan 6, 2018, 8:00 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Last time my domestic segment upgrade was not clear (of course at DFW), so it was a rough domestic connection.
Jan 6, 2018, 8:10 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Good point. I personally am exhausted every time after coming back from Asia, so I usually just go for the nearest lounge. TBIT might require a little bit of walk.
Last time my domestic segment upgrade was not clear (of course at DFW), so it was a rough domestic connection.
Last time my domestic segment upgrade was not clear (of course at DFW), so it was a rough domestic connection.
Jan 6, 2018, 7:17 pm
#38
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
Just for educational purposes. If I buy a fully refundable F ticket, check-in, use the lounge, then decide I'm too sick to go on the trip. So then I just get home without saying anything to anyone at the airport. Can I not show up at the flight, go home, and request a refund online at AA.com?
American specifically prohibits practices commonly known as: (emphasis added by controller1)
- Fraudulent, fictitious and abusive bookings: Fraudulent, fictitious and/or abusive bookings are prohibited. These types of bookings are defined as any bookings made without having been requested by or on behalf of the named passenger. Additionally, creating bookings to hold or block seats for the purpose of obtaining lower fares, AAdvantage award inventory, or upgrades that may not otherwise be available, or to gain access to airport facilities, or to circumvent any of American Airlines' fare rules or policies, is prohibited without prior authorization from American Airlines.
Jan 6, 2018, 8:19 pm
#39
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Enough! Using fully refundable AA tickets when not intending to travel to access Lounges is fraudulent, AA can refuse to refund a fully refundable ticket purchased for fraudulent purposes. Discussing such is prohibited by FlyerTalk Rules.
We have had a number of members who believed their approach to circumvent CofC or AAdvantage T&C in various ways was sufficiently clever to avoid trouble get caught out by AA and hung out to dry over the years. AA Corporate Security - AAdvantage Fraud have demonstrated they can be inventive and dogged in their dedication in reducing fraud, and FlyerTalk does not wish to get burned.
/Moderator
Supporting, encouraging or promoting illegal activity or fraud upon an individual or company is prohibited. Link
/Moderator
Jan 6, 2018, 8:53 pm
#40
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
That thread was not about emergencies, and the responses were condemning such behavior. I believe your question was answered: strictly against CoC, pay for the lounge access fees, get blacklisted by the airline.
I still don't buy the theory of getting sick between security and boarding, or a 11:59:59 change. Either 1)have no time for lounge, or 2)never make it to the airport - my opinion so don't need to argue, and I'll stop the topic here.
I still don't buy the theory of getting sick between security and boarding, or a 11:59:59 change. Either 1)have no time for lounge, or 2)never make it to the airport - my opinion so don't need to argue, and I'll stop the topic here.
Jan 8, 2018, 5:22 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: spg plat, AA PLAT, Hertz 5 star
Posts: 205
There are strict alcohol consumption laws in most USA states, so if there’s self-serve alcohol persons under 21 may not be permitted to enter unless accompanying an “adult”21 or over. It’s not an AA rule, it rather state law. Similarly, some Lounges may be prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages at certain times or even certain days. (The Admirals Club at DCA - Washington wised to allow members - mostly legislators, lobbyists and other influential people, in those days - to keep their liquor there and serve setups. The area was “dry” or “semi-dry” and alcohol couldn’t be had otherwise. It was similar in Texas, where my family were “members of the club” at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, ordered setups and used alcohol from their lockers to be able to drink.)
Jan 8, 2018, 2:23 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
Next week I'm traveling JFK/LAX in F, arriving after midnight, then connecting LAX/SFO later in the morning (9:30am). I asked AA on Twitter if I'd have Flagship Lounge access before the LAX/SFO leg and they confirmed I did, but because of my Emerald status - not the F connecting itinerary. This seemed wrong as I am Emerald, but with AA as an EXP. So then I asked if I'll have access during my LAX/SFO flight tomorrow night and they said I will. Going to try to get in but not expecting to. Anybody have any idea if there's been a change in policy? AFAIK AA Emerald members don't get access on North American itineraries. 
Jan 8, 2018, 3:53 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
You are correct in relation to the basis of access; in that it is not status based. EXP based Emerald does not give lounge access on most solely North American itineraries.
JFK/LAX on AA F gives Flagship Lounge access before and after the flight - this is Class of Service based access.
JFK/LAX on AA F gives Flagship Lounge access before and after the flight - this is Class of Service based access.
Jan 8, 2018, 4:29 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,438
Admirals Club Membership and Alaska Air
I have a trip to Alaska upcoming, and I'll be in SEA, ANC, and YVR. I know Alaska Airlines has lounges at ANC and SEA. My Admirals Club membership is via the Citi Executive credit card, so will I be able to access the AS lounges?? The flights are all on AS and AA.
What are my options, if any, at YVR? Thank you!
What are my options, if any, at YVR? Thank you!
Jan 8, 2018, 6:03 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
You are correct in relation to the basis of access; in that it is not status based. EXP based Emerald does not give lounge access on most solely North American itineraries.
JFK/LAX on AA F gives Flagship Lounge access before and after the flight - this is Class of Service based access.
JFK/LAX on AA F gives Flagship Lounge access before and after the flight - this is Class of Service based access.