Jan 1, 2018, 2:40 pm
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 American’s 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 American’s 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
Feb 22, 2018, 10:25 am
#181
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Yeah! I will certainly do that (ask)! It's a bit of a blow as we had chosen the routing we did for this F award trip to have "leisurely" connections (2 at around 3 hours). All the alternatives were too tight for our liking (40 mins and less) and such connections would have made us nervous wrecks when we didn't need to be! We'd just assumed we'd somehow get access to a lounge at the connecting hubs of DFW and CLT, particularly looking forward to spending more time in the old Envoy lounge in the latter where we managed a brief cup of coffee on the way to DCA last trip. I read that the planned reopening of the DFW lounge was for the Summer, and I don't think the first week in May qualifies! So I'll have to assume it will still be closed.
We will blow the $$s on passes, even though we may only get into CLT. Our regular biennial trips from Europe for 5+week vacations in the US are funded by my allocating my meagre state pension from the UK for this! So the extra few dollars are a marginal cost and, if it enhances our trip, we'll do it! With that in mind, are there any commercial lounges at DFW that would fit the bill?
Re 5* service: yes, but we would have qualified for lounge access on our inwards flight anyway for our connection to PHX at DFW as we are in paid J from MAD. And on the return from JFK will we get to sample for the first time the Flagship lounge there.
Thanks. I do appreciate the input.
We will blow the $$s on passes, even though we may only get into CLT. Our regular biennial trips from Europe for 5+week vacations in the US are funded by my allocating my meagre state pension from the UK for this! So the extra few dollars are a marginal cost and, if it enhances our trip, we'll do it! With that in mind, are there any commercial lounges at DFW that would fit the bill?
Re 5* service: yes, but we would have qualified for lounge access on our inwards flight anyway for our connection to PHX at DFW as we are in paid J from MAD. And on the return from JFK will we get to sample for the first time the Flagship lounge there.
Thanks. I do appreciate the input.
Also in D is The Club at DFW. Normally, day pass access is $40, but... it’s not available online in advance and their suggestion is to stop by and inquire if they’re offering day pass access. Link
Feb 22, 2018, 4:02 pm
#182
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
This is actually no longer true. AMEX restricts access to Centurion and Platinum card members, and each is allowed to bring in two guests for free. Additional day passes can be purchased ONLY by Centurion and Platinum card members. Any other AMEX, no access.
Feb 22, 2018, 8:44 pm
#183
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks for bringing good me up to snuff. I’ve been a Platinum cardholder for many years, and I didn’t know the $50 Pass couldn’t be purchased by non-Plat / Cent members. (OTOH, I shouldn’t be overly surprised - I’ve visited some very crowded Cent Lounges where it’s difficult to even find a seat.
Feb 23, 2018, 7:19 am
#184
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,372
Thanks for bringing good me up to snuff. I’ve been a Platinum cardholder for many years, and I didn’t know the $50 Pass couldn’t be purchased by non-Plat / Cent members. (OTOH, I shouldn’t be overly surprised - I’ve visited some very crowded Cent Lounges where it’s difficult to even find a seat.
Feb 23, 2018, 8:54 am
#185
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
If you have American Express Platinum (or Centurion), the Centurion Lounge in Terminal D is gratis; with any other AMEX card, it’s $50 iirc. It can get crowded, they offer showers and a buffet.
Also in D is The Club at DFW. Normally, day pass access is $40, but... it’s not available online in advance and their suggestion is to stop by and inquire if they’re offering day pass access. Link
Also in D is The Club at DFW. Normally, day pass access is $40, but... it’s not available online in advance and their suggestion is to stop by and inquire if they’re offering day pass access. Link
The only other option I came up with were the Minute Suites. But don't think we'd fancy those. Having discussed it with my better half, if we can't get in to the Admirals club we'll find somewhere for a good and leisurely breakfast (I came up with the Cool River Cafe?). We will have to get up very early that morning as the flight out of RAP is at 6am with just a "refreshments" service on board! A nice breakfast will plug the gap in several ways!
Feb 23, 2018, 9:04 am
#186
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks, but no, I'm afraid no Platinum anything cards. Not something we could justify. Yes, I found The Club and also saw pretty bad reviews of it. Lounge club members (eg Priority Pass) were kept waiting for admittance for ages, only to find, not surprisingly, the lounge to be crammed, with little food and limited facilities. I wondered if one was paying cash up front, whether you would get priority over club members.... or not?
The only other option I came up with were the Minute Suites. But don't think we'd fancy those. Having discussed it with my better half, if we can't get in to the Admirals club we'll find somewhere for a good and leisurely breakfast (I came up with the Cool River Cafe?). We will have to get up very early that morning as the flight out of RAP is at 6am with just a "refreshments" service on board! A nice breakfast will plug the gap in several ways!
The only other option I came up with were the Minute Suites. But don't think we'd fancy those. Having discussed it with my better half, if we can't get in to the Admirals club we'll find somewhere for a good and leisurely breakfast (I came up with the Cool River Cafe?). We will have to get up very early that morning as the flight out of RAP is at 6am with just a "refreshments" service on board! A nice breakfast will plug the gap in several ways!
Feb 23, 2018, 1:12 pm
#187
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Murcia, Spain
Programs: AADVANTAGE, Iberia Plus, BA Exec Blue, Hertz #1Gold, HHonors Gold, AS, Paradores Amigos
Posts: 505
You’ve done your research; that’s good. I’ve my routine at DFW, so some of the locations mentioned aren’t part of it. (Btw, for me the AMEX Platinum Card works - there’s not a year I don’t get at least $1,000 or more back from AMEX.) A good brekkie is a good idea. Here’s a full listing of places to dine at DFW, with links to menus, etc. (Unfortunately, poor design, so incomplete information.)
Feb 24, 2018, 12:41 pm
#188
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 100
Hello everyone,
This seems like a basic access question, but I didn't find a definitive answer by googling/AA.com/wiki. We will be flying in J on the A321T transcon redeye from LAX->JFK. Do we get access to the Flagship lounge on arrival? Hoping to grab a quick breakfast before heading into the city. Neither of us have any status and no ongoing itinerary that same day. Looks like several posts indicated they got access on arrival but they had some sort of AA/OW status. Thanks.
This seems like a basic access question, but I didn't find a definitive answer by googling/AA.com/wiki. We will be flying in J on the A321T transcon redeye from LAX->JFK. Do we get access to the Flagship lounge on arrival? Hoping to grab a quick breakfast before heading into the city. Neither of us have any status and no ongoing itinerary that same day. Looks like several posts indicated they got access on arrival but they had some sort of AA/OW status. Thanks.
Feb 24, 2018, 12:46 pm
#189
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Hello everyone,
This seems like a basic access question, but I didn't find a definitive answer by googling/AA.com/wiki. We will be flying in J on the A321T transcon redeye from LAX->JFK. Do we get access to the Flagship lounge on arrival? Hoping to grab a quick breakfast before heading into the city. Neither of us have any status and no ongoing itinerary that same day. Looks like several posts indicated they got access on arrival but they had some sort of AA/OW status. Thanks.
This seems like a basic access question, but I didn't find a definitive answer by googling/AA.com/wiki. We will be flying in J on the A321T transcon redeye from LAX->JFK. Do we get access to the Flagship lounge on arrival? Hoping to grab a quick breakfast before heading into the city. Neither of us have any status and no ongoing itinerary that same day. Looks like several posts indicated they got access on arrival but they had some sort of AA/OW status. Thanks.
Feb 25, 2018, 7:53 pm
#190
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Hi All,
Quick question. My mom is flying AA ROC-ORD (Y) and then AS ORD-ANC (F) on separate tickets. If I purchase an Admirals Club day pass, will she be able to access the ORD Admirals Club after her AA flight?
Thanks!
Quick question. My mom is flying AA ROC-ORD (Y) and then AS ORD-ANC (F) on separate tickets. If I purchase an Admirals Club day pass, will she be able to access the ORD Admirals Club after her AA flight?
Thanks!
Feb 25, 2018, 8:06 pm
#191
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
A one day pass allows access to all Clubs one can access in one day.
Feb 25, 2018, 8:15 pm
#192
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
Hi JDiver,
Much appreciated. I reviewed that page before asking. I am just making sure that since travel will have already concluded on AA, she could still gain access through the day pass on arrival. I wouldn't want her to encounter any difficulty with the agents.
Thanks
Much appreciated. I reviewed that page before asking. I am just making sure that since travel will have already concluded on AA, she could still gain access through the day pass on arrival. I wouldn't want her to encounter any difficulty with the agents.
Thanks
Feb 25, 2018, 8:19 pm
#193
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The only caveat about one day passes is they can deny access for capacity reasons - they can actually deny anyone with access for capacity reasons. This is more common where Clubs are being refurbished, such as at DFW right now (A is under refurbishment, putting pressure particularly on C.)
At ORD she’ll arrive and depart from Terminal 3, the primary H-K Club has been refurbished and they’ve opened another. Hopefully she will be fine. To double check call 1-800-237-7971.
Feb 28, 2018, 9:23 am
#194
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KHH, FUK, SNA
Programs: BR, UA 1k, CX
Posts: 1,181
Can use JFK Flagship Lounge upon arrival in Business
Flying LAX-JFK-BOS in business class, can I use lounge at JFK upon arrival or only at LAX on departure? Did not find info on arrival in JFK?
Feb 28, 2018, 9:29 am
#195
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP, SPG / Marriott GLD, HHonors GLD
Posts: 520
You can use it at both. AA allows use of the FL when you arrive on the transcon, even if you were ending your trip at JFK