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

Old 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.

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:

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:

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.


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:

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

Old Aug 5, 2018, 7:51 pm
  #511  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by rocyvr
I am considering purchasing the one-day pass at check in flying ROC-ORD-PHL this Wednesday evening and then connecting from PHL-MIA-STX the following morning, all on the same award ticket itinerary. Wondering if the pass will still be valid for the final layover in MIA? Or will it time out after departing PHL? With a 5:00AM departure from PHL there won't really any time to make use of the pass there, but the 4-plus hours I have in MIA would be where I would want to use it the most.

Thanks!
Im sorry to say it appears not. A One Day Pass is good for one specific day. It could be good for PHL if youd been traveling in on a redeye, but definitely not for MIA. Excerpts from the aa.com page:

$59 day pass valid for one day. If you are traveling through multiple cities with lounges, you may use the same day pass to access more than one lounge that day (if traveling overnight, pass is also valid at the first point of arrival the following day). Admirals Club lounges in Canada, Europe, Asia, Central and South America located beyond passport control may not be accessible due to airport restrictions.

Day pass is non-refundable, non-changeable, non-transferable, and valid only on date of visit. Day pass is only valid for use by the named pass-holder as printed on the pass.
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Old Aug 5, 2018, 8:42 pm
  #512  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
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Posts: 1,449
Originally Posted by JDiver
Bula! (Fijian for health!, also the most common greeting.) Overnight offers lots of hotels near LAX, often at competitive prices. For more, see sleepinginairports.net listings for LAX here.

But as FJ isnt oneworld (it is set to become the first oneworld Connect partner in the future, but its not yet that; no access to Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge, unfortunately. If you're flying in Fiji Airways business class, you should have access to the the TBIT oneworld Business Class lounge at LAX, as its doors are now open to travellers on Fiji Airways, but FJ contract stipulates only up to three hours prior to your FJ flight departure.

... FJ uses their new Fiji Airways Premier Lounge in Nadi, but iirc its landside.
Looks like our options at ORD are pretty dismal, no PP lounge in Terminal 3.
I decided to splurge a bit in LA burning 95k points for the WA, since as you say no sense getting to LAX before 7 pm Ill probably just hang at the hotel until they kick us out, store our luggage and explore the area around the hotel (hopefully it wont be raining).
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Old Aug 5, 2018, 10:52 pm
  #513  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 7
BRU Arrival

I will be arriving in BRU on a transcontinental flight. I have Priority Pass, which lists a Diamond Lounge in BRU in terminal B (international). Would I be able to get in and use the showers at this lounge upon arrival prior to immigration and customs?
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Old Aug 5, 2018, 11:17 pm
  #514  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
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Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by Vola
I will be arriving in BRU on a transcontinental flight. I have Priority Pass, which lists a Diamond Lounge in BRU in terminal B (international). Would I be able to get in and use the showers at this lounge upon arrival prior to immigration and customs?
It doesnt seem so, since it looks like this is a departure lounge to non-Schengen destinations- but this is not the forum for the best answer.

Airside - pass through Customs and Security. The lounge is located after Security and after the shops, above the terminal. Access to the lounge is via stairs approximately 20 meters ahead on the left hand side, to the left of the walking pad. Non-Schengen flights only.
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Old Aug 8, 2018, 11:53 am
  #515  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 19
ORD access

Flying Finn Air Hel-JFK in J then AA first JFK- ORD -TUC I know i can use the AA lounge at JFK, but can I use the lounge at ORD ? I have no airline status
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Old Aug 8, 2018, 12:01 pm
  #516  
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Originally Posted by railhog
Flying Finn Air Hel-JFK in J then AA first JFK- ORD -TUC I know i can use the AA lounge at JFK, but can I use the lounge at ORD ? I have no airline status
Assuming everything is on the same day then yep, just hang on to your HEL-JFK boarding pass to show at ORD just in case.
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Old Aug 8, 2018, 12:06 pm
  #517  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 19
yes everything is same day.
thank you for the reply
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Old Aug 10, 2018, 8:54 am
  #518  
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Admirals Club access question (to merge)

Hi,

I am flying DFW-LHR tonight in Y class.I am oneworld Sapphire though BA, and will be traveling with wife and 30 months old daughter. I know I can bring a guest to the Admirals Club given my status, but will I be able to bring my daughter in as well?

Thanks!
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Old Aug 10, 2018, 8:57 am
  #519  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by oneworld82
Hi,

I am flying DFW-LHR tonight in Y class.I am oneworld Sapphire though BA, and will be traveling with wife and 30 months old daughter. I know I can bring a guest to the Admirals Club given my status, but will I be able to bring my daughter in as well?

Thanks!
Yes, very likely. (In my experience as a Club member since 1986, Club employees will let a few months slide.) But the D Admirals Club is closed for refurbishment, and the D interim Premium Lounge is both no great shakes and iirc restricted to those flying in a premium cabin, so your best bet is the Terminal A Admirals Club, with the train to get to D prior to the start of boarding.

We will move this and merge it into the access help desk thread soon.

Moderator

Last edited by JDiver; Aug 10, 2018 at 11:20 am
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Old Aug 10, 2018, 9:30 am
  #520  
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Originally Posted by oneworld82
Hi,

I am flying DFW-LHR tonight in Y class.I am oneworld Sapphire though BA, and will be traveling with wife and 30 months old daughter. I know I can bring a guest to the Admirals Club given my status, but will I be able to bring my daughter in as well?

Thanks!
Possible, but I will mention this:
"1 guest (children over 2 count as a guest)"
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...lub-access.jsp
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Old Aug 11, 2018, 6:08 am
  #521  
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Originally Posted by JDiver
... the D interim Premium Lounge is both no great shakes and iirc restricted to those flying in a premium cabin ...
Non AA Emerald and Sapphire flying *O in any cabin from DFW have access to this lounge.

Still, that does not alter the issue of the third guest, albeit 30 month old.
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Old Aug 11, 2018, 7:52 am
  #522  
Moderator: American AAdvantage
 
Join Date: May 2000
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Posts: 62,948
Originally Posted by serfty
Non AA Emerald and Sapphire flying *O in any cabin from DFW have access to this lounge.

Still, that does not alter the issue of the third guest, albeit 30 month old.
Thanks.

Most AA agents IME will allow a 30month old, unless things have changed substantially. (I dont understand AAs reasononing, myself. 2 year olds okay, three or five etc. not? But thats another discussion.)
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Old Aug 11, 2018, 8:37 am
  #523  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
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Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Owner of 2,000 TWA shares
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Flying J on AA HKG-LAX. I have an AC membership but the reviews for those lounges aren't very impressive. Any other options (this is my EXP qualifier so not OWE yet)?

Last edited by Uncle Nonny; Aug 11, 2018 at 10:07 am Reason: Added AA
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Old Aug 11, 2018, 9:39 am
  #524  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
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Posts: 1,371
Originally Posted by Uncle Nonny
Flying J HKG-LAX. I have an AC membership but the reviews for those lounges aren't very impressive. Any other options (this is my EXP qualifier so not OWE yet)?
In HKG, the CX Pier J lounge is quite nice (although recently underwent changes in lounge operator from Plaza Premium to Sodexo, with a noticeable downgrade in catering), but I prefer the QF Lounge. Fresh food, never crowded at the times of the AA flights, good beverage selection, great staff.
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Old Aug 17, 2018, 5:10 am
  #525  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 156
I am flying domestic First Class between two stopover (each of >72 hours) on an international business class itinerary. (I.e. LHR-JFK on Monday, JFK-ORD today, ORD-LHR next week). Do I get admirals club access today?
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