Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > American Airlines | AAdvantage
Reload this Page >

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

Old Jan 1, 2018, 2:40 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 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

Print Wikipost

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

Old Sep 12, 2018, 11:29 am
  #556  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,278
Originally Posted by jlemon
If I purchase a one day AC pass for $59, would I be able to access the AC in two different airports during travel on AA on the same day/date?

Or would I have to purchase two (2) one day passes, one for the AC at each airport?
Yep, one pass will get you into any location on that day.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Sep 13, 2018, 9:31 am
  #557  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LFT
Programs: AA Plat, lots of AA, AS, DL, UA miles, former top level CO Elite (sigh...)
Posts: 10,790
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
Yep, one pass will get you into any location on that day.
Thank you, sir!
jlemon is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 8:15 am
  #558  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,826
I will be flying from LHR to JFK next weekend. The flight is booked through AA but on a BA codeshare, so I am expecting to fly out of T5. I am in World Traveler Plus, and have an Admirals Club membership. I am only gold on AA.

I don't believe I will have access to any of the BA lounges based on this (please tell me I am wrong!). However, since I have Admirals Club, is there any way to get to T3 post security so I could use the AA lounge there?
Cloudship is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 9:11 am
  #559  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,096
Originally Posted by Cloudship
I will be flying from LHR to JFK next weekend. The flight is booked through AA but on a BA codeshare, so I am expecting to fly out of T5. I am in World Traveler Plus, and have an Admirals Club membership. I am only gold on AA.

I don't believe I will have access to any of the BA lounges based on this (please tell me I am wrong!). However, since I have Admirals Club, is there any way to get to T3 post security so I could use the AA lounge there?
Nope. You can try posting in the meetup thread on the BA forum.
LupineChemist is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 9:12 am
  #560  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Originally Posted by Cloudship
I will be flying from LHR to JFK next weekend. The flight is booked through AA but on a BA codeshare, so I am expecting to fly out of T5. I am in World Traveler Plus, and have an Admirals Club membership. I am only gold on AA.

I don't believe I will have access to any of the BA lounges based on this (please tell me I am wrong!). However, since I have Admirals Club, is there any way to get to T3 post security so I could use the AA lounge there?
Yes there are shuttle buses going through T3 and T5, but please be aware of time.

See full details here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1321109-guide-lhr-london-heathrow-connection-mct-inc-t3-ba-ib-t5.html

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1321109-guide-lhr-london-heathrow-connection-mct-inc-t3-ba-ib-t5-44.html

See post #660 - you will incur unnecessary security check as well.

Personally I don't think it's worth at all for a slightly-better-than-domestic-AC lounge.

Last edited by andersonCooper; Sep 18, 2018 at 9:26 am
andersonCooper is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 9:19 am
  #561  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,057
Originally Posted by Cloudship
I will be flying from LHR to JFK next weekend. The flight is booked through AA but on a BA codeshare, so I am expecting to fly out of T5. I am in World Traveler Plus, and have an Admirals Club membership. I am only gold on AA.

I don't believe I will have access to any of the BA lounges based on this (please tell me I am wrong!). However, since I have Admirals Club, is there any way to get to T3 post security so I could use the AA lounge there?
Realistically, no, unless the flight is indeed from T3 (but highly unlikely). There are some anecdotal stories about getting into a terminal at LHR that you don't have a departing flight from, but these are rare. Somebody might correct me, but I wouldn't count on getting airside access to T3 and the AC.
teemuflyer is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2018, 9:30 am
  #562  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,826
I was hoping there was a simple shuttle bus between the terminals post security. I just hate UK airports, but I will suck it up.
Cloudship is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2018, 4:26 pm
  #563  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NY, NY
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K
Posts: 124
Domestic connection to transcon F

Im going to be flying DEN-LAX-JFK, with the second leg in transcon F. Ill probably need to get to DEN early, any chance my LAX-JFK F ticket will get me admirals club access in DEN?
wjbesh is offline  
Old Sep 25, 2018, 5:16 pm
  #564  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SNA
Posts: 928
Originally Posted by wjbesh
Im going to be flying DEN-LAX-JFK, with the second leg in transcon F. Ill probably need to get to DEN early, any chance my LAX-JFK F ticket will get me admirals club access in DEN?
Yes, it will.
wjbesh likes this.
pmblinn is offline  
Old Sep 26, 2018, 9:15 am
  #565  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 159
Hi,

I'm a BA Gold (OWE), flying DCA-JFK (T8) on AA in F, then onwards JFK-LHR with BA (departing JFK T7) in J. I've got a long layover at JFK; given that the BA T7 lounges are currently a mess, am I able/allowed to use the Admirals Club in T8 on arrival at JFK before getting the air train over to T7?

Thanks
jk156 is offline  
Old Sep 26, 2018, 9:49 am
  #566  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Originally Posted by jk156
Hi,

I'm a BA Gold (OWE), flying DCA-JFK (T8) on AA in F, then onwards JFK-LHR with BA (departing JFK T7) in J. I've got a long layover at JFK; given that the BA T7 lounges are currently a mess, am I able/allowed to use the Admirals Club in T8 on arrival at JFK before getting the air train over to T7?

Thanks
BA Gold has access to AC regardless of cabin.
andersonCooper is offline  
Old Sep 26, 2018, 9:50 am
  #567  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,278
Originally Posted by jk156
Hi,

I'm a BA Gold (OWE), flying DCA-JFK (T8) on AA in F, then onwards JFK-LHR with BA (departing JFK T7) in J. I've got a long layover at JFK; given that the BA T7 lounges are currently a mess, am I able/allowed to use the Admirals Club in T8 on arrival at JFK before getting the air train over to T7?

Thanks
Yes, but forget about the Admirals Club and go to the Flagship Lounge at JFK.
JDiver, serfty and wrp96 like this.
JJeffrey is offline  
Old Sep 28, 2018, 1:11 pm
  #568  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 99
Admirals Club membership plus EXP status

Two trips I have questions about:

Tomorrow (and next week for the return) flying PDX > DFW > FRA > DFW > PDX. Currently in Coach and PE, waitlisted for upgrades. What lounge access will I have in DFW? What lounge access will I have in FRA for my return flight? Which lounge do I actually want to be in?

In a couple of weeks, PDX > LAX > LHR > LAX > PDX. Same thing - SWU's waitlisted, so currently in coach for all flights. It's myself and a no-status family member on the same reservation. Have long layovers at LAX, plus would like a nice lounge before we leave LHR.

Thanks

Last edited by infinite97; Sep 28, 2018 at 1:27 pm
infinite97 is offline  
Old Sep 28, 2018, 2:15 pm
  #569  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Originally Posted by infinite97
Admirals Club membership plus EXP status

Two trips I have questions about:

Tomorrow (and next week for the return) flying PDX > DFW > FRA > DFW > PDX. Currently in Coach and PE, waitlisted for upgrades. What lounge access will I have in DFW? What lounge access will I have in FRA for my return flight? Which lounge do I actually want to be in?

In a couple of weeks, PDX > LAX > LHR > LAX > PDX. Same thing - SWU's waitlisted, so currently in coach for all flights. It's myself and a no-status family member on the same reservation. Have long layovers at LAX, plus would like a nice lounge before we leave LHR.

Thanks
Since two trips both involved international segments, your AC membership does not matter anymore (i.e. You have access to AC regardless)

1) DFW has no FL yet, so your best bet is the premium lounge. If you have AMEX there are AMEX lounge as well, but note that there are new restrictions. 1 Guest is ok.
2) LAX has FL, but you cannot access FFD; LHR has Arrival but unfortunately no guest. When departing LHR, T3 your best bet is CX F or QF lounge. 1 Guest is ok.
andersonCooper is offline  
Old Sep 28, 2018, 2:58 pm
  #570  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 99
Originally Posted by andersonCooper
Since two trips both involved international segments, your AC membership does not matter anymore (i.e. You have access to AC regardless)

1) DFW has no FL yet, so your best bet is the premium lounge. If you have AMEX there are AMEX lounge as well, but note that there are new restrictions. 1 Guest is ok.
2) LAX has FL, but you cannot access FFD; LHR has Arrival but unfortunately no guest. When departing LHR, T3 your best bet is CX F or QF lounge. 1 Guest is ok.
Is "premium lounge" part of the AC? I had some flagship dining or something last time I flew international biz out of DFW, but it was a couple of years ago - can't remember.

What's FFD? Definitely not interested in arrivals lounge at LHR, just for an hour or two before our 11am departure.

Thanks!
infinite97 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.