ARCHIVE: 2018 HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Which, Access, Rules

Dec 11, 18, 10:38 pm - Wikipost

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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:

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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:

Quote:

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

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Dec 31, 17, 6:08 pm

JY1024

Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz

Original Poster

Join Date: Nov 2007

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ARCHIVE: 2018 HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Which, Access, Rules

Welcome to our 2018 lounge access Help Desk!

/AA Moderator Team

Last edited by JY1024; Jan 1, 18 at 3:38 pm

Dec 31, 17, 6:08 pm

Frequent flyer 101

Join Date: Oct 2004

Posts: 719

HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Access, Rules (2018)

Jfk-lax-hnl in first. Transcon is first (3 class). I plan to go landside at lax for a couple of hours. Can I use flagship check-in zone at lax? Also, do I have flagship first dining at lax upon arrival?

Jan 1, 18, 7:31 pm

cyru5

Join Date: Jan 2018

Posts: 37

Happy New Year to all of you!
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I couldn't find an answer for myself. And hope this is ok there due to OW member.

Due to the Qatar Business Class Sale I'm flying ARN-DOH-CBR and back SYD-DOH-ARN in Business. I have no special status.
Because of the ticket I would expect access to:
- ARN (on way to DOH): Arlanda Lounge
- DOH: Qatar lounges for business class
- SYD: Quantas International Business

Now I need a flight from FRA to ARN and later back from ARN to FRA. Correct me if I'm wrong: OW is saying when flying Eco from FRA to ARN and then Business to CBR, I'm able to use the OW lounge at FRA. Same would be with return flight at ARN.
Now the problem: there is no OW flight from FRA to ARN? Only SAS and Lufthansa and they are both Star Alliance.

Is there any chance to get in any lounge at FRA and on return at ARN Airport?

Thanks for your help.

Jan 1, 18, 8:15 pm

JDiver

Moderator: American AAdvantage, TAP, Mexico, Technical Support and Feedback, and The Suggestion Box

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

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Posts: 62,777

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyru5

Sorry, but not unless you’re flying a oneworld airline departing those airports.

Jan 1, 18, 8:39 pm

pandaperth

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere

Programs: QFF NB, AA

Posts: 3,227

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyru5

Welcome to FlyerTalk cyru5

For future reference, you have asked your question in the wrong forum
This forum relates to access to American Airlines lounges only

There is a OneWorld forum - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld-411/
and a Qatar Airways forum - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qata...lege-club-644/
Where your question would have been more appropriate

Having said that, sadly for you, JDiver's advice is correct

Jan 1, 18, 9:51 pm

flyingeph12

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: NYC, SFO

Programs: AY+ Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 2,840

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyru5

*A is your only option if you would like a nonstop flight from FRA to ARN, but you can fly AY through HEL if you would like to be on OW. Even still, I am not sure you would have access to the Arlanda lounge on arrival on your return.

Last edited by flyingeph12; Jan 1, 18 at 9:57 pm

Jan 2, 18, 4:40 am

Edgerfly

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AA first award CMB-AUH-JFK-SEA last segment obviously AA operated. Etihad said I cannot a was their lounge upon arrival. So I was thinking I’d go to a Flagship or AA place I could take a shower, but since Etihad isn’t in OW (though they are partners with AA) people have said I can’t access any AA lounges either. So I’m flying first class for over 25hrs and I’m not allowed into any lounge. If I had paid for this ticket I would not be a very happy camper right now.

If I had Sapphire Status can I get in? Does that change this scenario?

Jan 2, 18, 4:54 am

Global321

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Global

Posts: 4,998

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgerfly

Nope. Sorry.

Jan 2, 18, 5:33 am

Edgerfly

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Global321

Nope. Sorry.

If I’m traveling internationally, in first class, and have sapphire status, why am I not allowed into the lounge? It was my impression so long as you flew internationally you were allowed lounge access. Even when not flying with them. Also AA and EY are partners. There’s no reciprocity at their lounges at all?

Jan 2, 18, 5:54 am

#10

JJeffrey

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 6,973

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgerfly

If you have sapphire status in another oneworld program other than AA, then you can use the Admirals Clubs or Flagship Lounges (and other oneworld business lounges) whenever you fly AA, including before your JFK-SEA flight.

But if you have sapphire status through AA, i.e. you're an AA PLT, then no lounge access unless you have a qualifying international flight on a oneworld carrier. EY is not oneworld, so no access for the reasons previously mentioned.

AA and EY are mileage redeeming partners, but they do not offer any type of lounge access reciprocity or any benefits for status members, etc.

Jan 2, 18, 7:02 am

#11

flyingeph12

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: NYC, SFO

Programs: AY+ Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 2,840

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgerfly

Aren't you on the A380? Why not shower onboard before landing?

As others have said, you will not have access to AA's lounges in T8. You might be able to buy a day pass now that construction is complete, although I wouldn't count on it. The SWISS lounge in T4 also has a (pretty basic) shower room, and I believe you can still purchase a day (4-hour?) pass, although my experience is a few years old on that front.

Jan 2, 18, 7:07 am

#12

Edgerfly

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Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingeph12

I’m on the Tuesday flight, and the one that’s operated by a 777.

What if I purchase a fully refundable ticket in first class to go from JFK-LAX. I check in, use the lounge, shower, eat, then decide I no longer want to go to LAX. All of this hypothetical of course.

Could one do such a thing to gain access to the lounge Flagship lounge? Can you refund even if you check in for the flight? Or after the flight leaves? What F fare class on AA totally refundable no matter what?

Jan 2, 18, 7:09 am

#13

teemuflyer

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Austin

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

Posts: 5,391

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgerfly

I understand that you are upset with the circumstances, but you have asked about access over and over again and getting proper, accurate responses. We, who are providing those responses, do not make the rules. You have chosen to fly with an AA partner, not a OW member, and thus it has limited your options.

Personally I would be excited to fly EY F, and focus on that experience, rather than a shower @JFK.

Jan 2, 18, 7:14 am

#14

Edgerfly

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Quote:

Originally Posted by teemuflyer

Actually no I don’t keep asking the same questions. The original question was do I get access without status. The second question was if I had an international OW partner sapphire, would I then get access? Apparently that is no too.

Jan 2, 18, 7:21 am

#15

flyingeph12

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: NYC, SFO

Programs: AY+ Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Discoverist

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Edgerfly

Yes, you can cancel a refundable ticket after you have checked in for the flight. It might be weird, though, if you have a double booking (i.e., a JFK-LAX and a JFK-SEA booking).

Not sure if it is possible, but maybe see if you can change your routing from JFK-SEA to JFK-LAX-SEA. Or see if you can change to the A380 flight.

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