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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 Nov 27, 2018, 5:40 pm
  #661  
 
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
Originally Posted by serfty
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.
Ah. Good to know the source of the confusion...
no2chem is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 10:41 am
  #662  
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
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Posts: 6,798
EXP flying JFK-CUN in J...Flagship lounge?

Or still relegated to an Admirals Club?
GetSetJetSet is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 10:47 am
  #663  
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Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
AC only (and you need to be a member too).....if you're going to MEX you'd get FL access though. CUN by itself doesn't give any lounge access. I think Delta would as they don't have AA's weird, MEX only distinction.
AANYC1981 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 10:50 am
  #664  
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Originally Posted by AANYC1981
AC only (and you need to be a member too).....if you're going to MEX you'd get FL access though. CUN by itself doesn't give any lounge access. I think Delta would as they don't have AA's weird, MEX only distinction.
Lame. So other OW Emeralds can use the Flagship but AA's own can't...makes sense. I assume can't use Flagship check in either.
GetSetJetSet is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 10:51 am
  #665  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
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Other emerald don't get free upgrade
pbd456 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 11:07 am
  #666  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,760
Originally Posted by pbd456
Other emerald don't get free upgrade
Neither do AA elites

Would rather have status with another OW airline for sure.
arlflyer is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 1:28 pm
  #667  
 
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AA exec plat get upgrade on AA short haul
pbd456 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 3:47 pm
  #668  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Originally Posted by pbd456
AA exec plat get upgrade on AA short haul
I think the point (or joke) is that free upgrades are becoming increasingly rarewhat with premium fares being more reasonable, more people outright paying for first/business, and AA generally reducing the size of premium cabins.
flyingeph12 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 4:40 pm
  #669  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,024
Originally Posted by flyingeph12


I think the point (or joke) is that free upgrades are becoming increasingly rarewhat with premium fares being more reasonable, more people outright paying for first/business, and AA generally reducing the size of premium cabins.
it is not so rare for me....
if one cares about lounge access so much, become oneworld sapphire in another program too.
(i have AA emerald and keeps oneworld sapphire in non-AA for lounge access myself).
pbd456 is offline  
Old Nov 29, 2018, 5:02 pm
  #670  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 227
I was in the flagship lounge at LAX, and really enjoyed it.

Thank you to those in this thread who helped me out clarifying access.

Also did the JAL lounge at HND. Nice, but preferred the flagship. What i did like about HND was the viewing area on the top floor. Nice to be able to see out on an airport these days. I dont remember anywhere in the US or Europe that has similar.
thedeeg is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2018, 8:28 am
  #671  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,760
Originally Posted by flyingeph12


I think the point (or joke) is that “free” upgrades are becoming increasingly rare—what with premium fares being more reasonable, more people outright paying for first/business, and AA generally reducing the size of premium cabins.
Indeed!
arlflyer is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2018, 9:08 am
  #672  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chiang Mai
Programs: HH Diamond IHG Spire Amb MR PLAT
Posts: 228
ORD lounge question? [connecting from JL J to AA F] (to merge)

Hi All

I have a question that maybe someone can help me with. I fly from Narita to ORD in business class then i fly from ORD to RDU in First. But i have a 5 hour layover in ORD. Is there any lounge i can use or do i have to pay 59 dollars to get into the admirals club?

Thank You

Sorry i booked it on American Airlines i fly JAL metal from Japan then AA from Chicago in first

Last edited by NewbieRunner; Dec 1, 2018 at 10:20 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same member
robnc35 is offline  
Old Dec 1, 2018, 3:55 pm
  #673  
 
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You will be allowed access to the ORD Flagship lounge by virtue of your JAL J flight.
ECKOA6 is offline  
Old Dec 2, 2018, 5:14 am
  #674  
 
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thank you
robnc35 is offline  
Old Dec 11, 2018, 6:13 pm
  #675  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 20
I have an Admirals Club membership through my Citi Mastercard. I am hanging around SEA for a few hours after my flight lands waiting for a coworker to arrive. I know that SEA doesn't have Admirals club but they have the Alaskan Airlines lounge and it says that I can access it with an onward ticket. To confirm since I am arriving that day I won't have access to the lounge while I wait or will they let me in since I landed on AA metal? I know I should have access before my return flight.

Thank you!
Da67 is offline  

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