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 Americans 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 Americans 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
#586
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA 1MM, Platinum
Posts: 33
FL access before TATL connection?
I just booked a one-way AA award ticket from ORD to MAD. Routing is ORD-LGA in F, then a 4 hour layover connecting to JFK-MAD in J.
I'm pretty sure I will get FL access in JFK. Will I also get FL access in ORD?
I'm pretty sure I will get FL access in JFK. Will I also get FL access in ORD?
#587
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,986
I would have thought a Sapphire flying a QF codeshare on AA metal on such an itinerary whould get lounge access at MIA (including F/L).
It seems strange PAX in Business class on QF/AA*TN would not access to the lounge TN uses at LAX purely on a class of service basis. (Not that the "International Lounge" is much 'chop'.)
Last edited by serfty; Oct 14, 2018 at 8:37 pm
#588
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 227
Yes, as an AA PLT (OWS) you always have lounge access on eligible international itineraries regardless of your class of service.
At LAX, you can use either the AA Flagship Lounge in T4 or the oneworld Business lounge in TBIT. At HND, I see no reason to stay from the JL business lounge.
At LAX, you can use either the AA Flagship Lounge in T4 or the oneworld Business lounge in TBIT. At HND, I see no reason to stay from the JL business lounge.
#589
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
Emerald and Sapphire members may invite one guest to join them in the lounge. The guest must also be travelling on a flight operated and marketed by a oneworld carrier.
#591
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,278
#592
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,278
Does the fact that @bdmarc is on TN invalidate an "international" itinerary?
I would have thought a Sapphire flying a QF codeshare on AA metal on such an itinerary whould get lounge access at MIA (including F/L).
It seems strange PAX in Business class on QF/AA*TN would not access to the lounge TN uses at LAX purely on a class of service basis. (Not that the "International Lounge" is much 'chop'.)
I would have thought a Sapphire flying a QF codeshare on AA metal on such an itinerary whould get lounge access at MIA (including F/L).
It seems strange PAX in Business class on QF/AA*TN would not access to the lounge TN uses at LAX purely on a class of service basis. (Not that the "International Lounge" is much 'chop'.)
#593
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
Does the fact that @bdmarc is on TN invalidate an "international" itinerary?
I would have thought a Sapphire flying a QF codeshare on AA metal on such an itinerary whould get lounge access at MIA (including F/L).
It seems strange PAX in Business class on QF/AA*TN would not access to the lounge TN uses at LAX purely on a class of service basis. (Not that the "International Lounge" is much 'chop'.)
I would have thought a Sapphire flying a QF codeshare on AA metal on such an itinerary whould get lounge access at MIA (including F/L).
It seems strange PAX in Business class on QF/AA*TN would not access to the lounge TN uses at LAX purely on a class of service basis. (Not that the "International Lounge" is much 'chop'.)
I’ve personally flown AA codeshare on TN in Business and my Access was 1) as an Admirals Club member, to the Admirals Club, and 2) as a Priority Pass cardholder, to the Priority Pass Lounge. In PPT, that includes the TN International lounge:
Papeete Airport at Faa’a, Terminal 1, Airside, International Boarding Area, Upper Level. It does accept Priority Pass, though I’ve been told by TN personnel at checkin that it does not and I was ineligible because I was flying an AA marketed flight. I went in with my PP and used the shower. But, the lounge only opens 150 minutes prior to TN flight departure, and doesn’t open for LA or HA flights.
I hope someone with customer orientation will some day reverse this poor TN lounge access policy. Perhaps the OP will return to let us know that with the introduction of the Dreamliner TN has changed direction on this issue.
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 15, 2018 at 7:17 pm
#594
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,986
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...lub-access.jsp
Interestingly, that page does not list international flights to Pacific Islands. It's a bit moot as AA does not fly to any.
#595
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
OK, it's an AAdvantage thing, other oneworld elites would have no issue (at least at MIA).
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...lub-access.jsp
Interestingly, that page does not list international flights to Pacific Islands. It's a bit moot as AA does not fly to any.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...lub-access.jsp
Interestingly, that page does not list international flights to Pacific Islands. It's a bit moot as AA does not fly to any.
From the page you linked to:
Includes customers traveling in First or Business on a qualifying international or transcontinental flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld airline.*
AA operated by TN is not qualifying.
The oneworld lounge access page stipulates
To be eligible, you must be departing on a flight that is both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline.
And yes, you are correct as the the oneworld lounge access page further stipulates about the member’s AAdvantage derived Sapphire status:
The following exceptions apply:
American Airlines and Qantas offer programmes enabling customers to pay to gain access to their lounges. These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement.
American Airlines AAdvantage members, regardless of their tier status or class of travel, are not eligible for lounge access when travelling solely on North American flights within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
...
American Airlines and Qantas offer programmes enabling customers to pay to gain access to their lounges. These programmes are not part of the oneworld agreement, and members of these programmes are not entitled to access lounges under the oneworld agreement.
American Airlines AAdvantage members, regardless of their tier status or class of travel, are not eligible for lounge access when travelling solely on North American flights within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
...
Last edited by JDiver; Oct 15, 2018 at 7:20 pm
#596
Now I'm curious, do you know when MIA-LAX stopped qualifying for AC/Flagship access? I remember it previously doing so, and a Wayback Machine archive from June 2017 indicates the same, but at some point AA seems to have made the change.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170616...rstandbusiness
https://web.archive.org/web/20170616...rstandbusiness
Last edited by Beltway2A; Oct 15, 2018 at 7:26 pm Reason: I misspelled change
#597
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
Now I'm curious, do you know when MIA-LAX stopped qualifying for AC/Flagship access? I remember it previously doing so, and a Wayback Machine archive from June 2017 indicates the same, but at some point AA seems to have made the chance.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170616...rstandbusiness
https://web.archive.org/web/20170616...rstandbusiness
#598
That would do it, thanks. I actually hadn't realized AA ended three class service on the route, which just shows how often I'm in MIA. I appreciate the insight.
#599
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver
Posts: 1,626
I am flying into ORD in Iberia Business (presume T5) and then flying out later that day in American First to LAX from Terminal 3. Will I be able to access Admirals Club in T3 with the Iberia business class boarding pass? The tickets were booked separately and the Iberia flight booked directly through Iberia. I do not have status.
I have a long 8 hour laylower. If Admirals Club is not possible, can I use the T5 BA lounge on arrival/connecting?
I have a long 8 hour laylower. If Admirals Club is not possible, can I use the T5 BA lounge on arrival/connecting?
#600
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,393
I am flying into ORD in Iberia Business (presume T5) and then flying out later that day in American First to LAX from Terminal 3. Will I be able to access Admirals Club in T3 with the Iberia business class boarding pass? The tickets were booked separately and the Iberia flight booked directly through Iberia. I do not have status.
I have a long 8 hour laylower. If Admirals Club is not possible, can I use the T5 BA lounge on arrival/connecting?
I have a long 8 hour laylower. If Admirals Club is not possible, can I use the T5 BA lounge on arrival/connecting?