Jan 1, 2018, 2:40 pm

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HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2018)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.

Quote:

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.

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:

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Up to two guests or household members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under the age of 18) may accompany the member.

* Note that AA no longer offers a 30-day membership as of July 25 2016.

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:

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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.

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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

On February 17 2016, AA announced an addition to the above. As stated on their Reimagining our lounges page, in the Flagship Lounges section, "Starting in 2017, lounge access will be extended to customers booked in Business and First Class on A321T, Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Pacific and deep South American flights."
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:

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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

All Admirals Club visitors receive free Wi-Fi access at Admirals Clubs (password is available at front desk and throughout the Club on signs), some non-alcoholic and "well" (lower price tier) alcoholic beverages and counter snacks (fruit, some kind of snack mix, cheese cubes, hot cereal mornings and soup evenings are the most common - recent additions have been made); free computer terminals are available for all passengers, and many Clubs have Business Centers and tethered Samsung Galaxy tablets in seating areas. Passengers accessing Admirals Clubs based on status or class of service on international travel are entitled to free drinks coupons usable for higher-tier non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and bottles of water.

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

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Nov 11, 2018, 12:45 pm

#646

teemuflyer

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Austin

Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond

Posts: 6,086

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheaptom

Last time I was at LAX, got into the Admirals Club with a International Business ticket, but could not get into the Flagship area; that was for First only...not Business. Looks like Flagship now allows J Int'l in ?

Correct. It's been this way for awhile now. The Flagship First Dining, which is a dedicated higher end dining area within the Flagship Lounge, is for Int'l and 3 Class Transcon F only.

Nov 11, 2018, 1:03 pm

#647

cheaptom

Join Date: Jan 2013

Posts: 1,435

Quote:

Originally Posted by teemuflyer

Correct. It's been this way for awhile now. The Flagship First Dining, which is a dedicated higher end dining area within the Flagship Lounge, is for Int'l and 3 Class Transcon F only.

Interesting, thanks. I re-visited the page, and found why I was confused. They list the Flagship amenities for J, but then there is a separate link for F, and all the extra goodies included. Looking forward to the "chef-inspired meals."

Nov 26, 2018, 9:03 pm

#648

longtimereader firstimeposter

Join Date: Jan 2014

Posts: 687

Hypothetical scenario which may come true for me soon:

I am flying LHR-DFW on AA as an OWE and my guest is flying LHR-ATL on Delta and ATL-LAX on AA the same day.

Will I be able to bring in my guest to the lounge in LHR since they are flying on a OneWorld carrier the same day but not from LHR? The OW rules are very ambiguous if they can come in with me or not.

longtimereader firstimeposter is online now

Nov 26, 2018, 10:53 pm

#649

longmanzz

Join Date: Jun 2010

Posts: 210

EXP lounge access for companion

I know that the EXP needs to be on oneworld international flight, but what about the companion? Can he be on an AA domestic flight? Particularly for the LAX Qantas F lounge

Nov 27, 2018, 12:43 am

#650

no2chem

Join Date: Nov 2010

Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First

Posts: 1,414

Quote:

Originally Posted by longmanzz

I know that the EXP needs to be on oneworld international flight, but what about the companion? Can he be on an AA domestic flight? Particularly for the LAX Qantas F lounge

The companion only needs to be departing same-day as you on a oneworld flight, domestic or international (standard oneworld guesting rules). So you're good as long as you are on a qualifying international flight (or -JFK in F).

I've done this recently, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Nov 27, 2018, 2:03 am

#651

flyingeph12

Join Date: Jan 2012

Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 2,846

Quote:

Originally Posted by longtimereader firstimeposter

Based on my reading, the rules are quite clear that your guest also needs to be traveling on a flight "operated and marketed by a oneworld carrier."
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access#tier

That said, it never hurts to try and see if one of the several OW lounges at T3 will give you access to both you and your guest.

Nov 27, 2018, 2:49 am

#652

LupineChemist

Join Date: May 2013

Location: MAD

Programs: IB+, BAEC

Posts: 3,105

I'd definitely give it a shot and there's a good chance someone has AC membership, sees your plight and invites you in? I've gotten in to ACs a few times when I had an AA flight later in the day and go to ask and they inform me it has to be departing from that airport.

Nov 27, 2018, 2:54 am

#653

longtimereader firstimeposter

Join Date: Jan 2014

Posts: 687

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingeph12

Based on my reading, the rules are quite clear that your guest also needs to be traveling on a flight "operated and marketed by a oneworld carrier."
https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access#tier

That said, it never hurts to try and see if one of the several OW lounges at T3 will give you access to both you and your guest.

The rule is a bit ambiguous, as they would be traveling on a OW flight that day however not from LHR. I wish the language was a bit clearer in the rules

Nov 27, 2018, 3:47 am

#654

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: AU

Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)

Posts: 14,405

Quote:

Originally Posted by longtimereader firstimeposter

The rule is a bit ambiguous, as they would be traveling on a OW flight that day however not from LHR. I wish the language was a bit clearer in the rules

I think the ambiguity is only there if you try and make it so! Otherwise what if your guest was travelling OW next week (rather than later that day?)

At the time of entry to the lounge is your guest travelling on a OW carrier? Answer: no.

Still anything is worth a try

Nov 27, 2018, 7:59 am

#655

C17PSGR

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach

Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET

Posts: 5,234

Last time I did this, the qf lounge wouldn't let us in.

I was going through lax with a girlfriend. I was going to Mexico City and she had a domestic AA connection. The QF guy wouldn't let us in together because we weren't travelling together on the last leg.

I returned to the qf lounge later and he was apologetic saying the rules are confusing and the lounge was crowded so he may have made a mistake.

Nov 27, 2018, 10:36 am

#656

flyingeph12

Join Date: Jan 2012

Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 2,846

Quote:

Originally Posted by C17PSGR

The QF lounge at LAX is known for making such “mistakes,” or for interpreting the rules especially strictly.

Nov 27, 2018, 10:49 am

#657

no2chem

Join Date: Nov 2010

Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First

Posts: 1,414

Quote:

Originally Posted by C17PSGR

Was this recent?

I too had this issue which I reported in the QF lounge thread (which BTW, is monitored by QF LAX staff), and they did rectify it after some serious complaints. In that case the other person was flying international (LAN) and I was flying BA

But I recently (<1 week ago) entered with a friend flying domestic with no problems, so curious as if these issues are still cropping up again.

Last edited by no2chem; Nov 27, 2018 at 5:38 pm

Nov 27, 2018, 12:57 pm

#658

serfty

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2004

Location: Melbourne

Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver

Posts: 21,993

Qantas try to have a rule regarding their own members having guests needing to be on the same flight.

oneworld rules are differnce and the guest needs to be travelling onany oneworld operated and marketed flight.

Qantas lounge staff often confuse the two.

Nov 27, 2018, 5:33 pm

#659

longmanzz

Join Date: Jun 2010

Posts: 210

Quote:

Originally Posted by no2chem

thanks, so to be absolute sure, the companion can be on an American Eagle, right?

Nov 27, 2018, 5:39 pm

#660

no2chem

Join Date: Nov 2010

Programs: AA EXP (owe), BA Silver (ows), AB Silver (owr), WN A+/CP, IHG Spire AMB, Avis First

Posts: 1,414

Quote:

Originally Posted by longmanzz

thanks, so to be absolute sure, the companion can be on an American Eagle, right?

Yes, that would be a oneworld flight.