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
Jun 26, 2018, 5:10 am
#451
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
Jun 26, 2018, 10:24 am
#452
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,311
No Lounge access anymore at TBIT one world lounge for LAX-JFK or LAX-MIA no matter what class. In spite of showing them the posted one world rules. And in spite of them showing me a piece of paper that said “AA access for LAX-JFK vice versa only no access LAX -MIA vice versa” (all caps, no punctuation). Which clearly says Jfk yes, Mia no but they insisted both were prohibited by AA (“that’s what vice versa means”, which is when I gave up (this was after a supervisor joined us).
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
Jun 26, 2018, 10:33 am
#453
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
No Lounge access anymore at TBIT one world lounge for LAX-JFK or LAX-MIA no matter what class. In spite of showing them the posted one world rules. And in spite of them showing me a piece of paper that said “AA access for LAX-JFK vice versa only no access LAX -MIA vice versa” (all caps, no punctuation). Which clearly says Jfk yes, Mia no but they insisted both were prohibited by AA (“that’s what vice versa means”, which is when I gave up (this was after a supervisor joined us).
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
Jun 26, 2018, 11:27 am
#454
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
No Lounge access anymore at TBIT one world lounge for LAX-JFK or LAX-MIA no matter what class. In spite of showing them the posted one world rules. And in spite of them showing me a piece of paper that said “AA access for LAX-JFK vice versa only no access LAX -MIA vice versa” (all caps, no punctuation). Which clearly says Jfk yes, Mia no but they insisted both were prohibited by AA (“that’s what vice versa means”, which is when I gave up (this was after a supervisor joined us).
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
I wouldn’t of cared except my flight was from TBIT
But LAX-JFK has been allowed historically, as it’s a three class flight. Unfortunately, when the QF hired lounge personnel are stubborn, they dig in. The only way that has been dealt with successfully previously is by formalizing complaints.
The question is, has AA actually prohibited TBIT lounge access, or is this the rogue b.s. crap back again? Perhaps formally asking at the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge (or calling the Club number?) they follow up, provide a definitive answer and if needed memo QF about this if the QF staff are yet again misinterpreting?
Jun 26, 2018, 12:21 pm
#455
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,745
So as OWE (AY Platinum) on a domestic AA LAX-DFW, would I gain entry without problems to the QF F lounge? Would you recommend I go through security at T4 or TBIT?
Jun 26, 2018, 3:06 pm
#456
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,992
You should gain entry and your answer for the second is a YMMV, some considerations being on how/where/when you arrive at LAX.
Last edited by serfty; Jun 26, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Jun 26, 2018, 3:12 pm
#457
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Posts: 21,992
...
The question is, has AA actually prohibited TBIT lounge access, or is this the rogue b.s. crap back again? Perhaps formally asking at the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge (or calling the Club number?) they follow up, provide a definitive answer and if needed memo QF about this if the QF staff are yet again misinterpreting?
The question is, has AA actually prohibited TBIT lounge access, or is this the rogue b.s. crap back again? Perhaps formally asking at the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge (or calling the Club number?) they follow up, provide a definitive answer and if needed memo QF about this if the QF staff are yet again misinterpreting?
The vice-versa in the context simply confirms arrivals access being available after coming off first/business on JFK-LAX. No access at all for MIA flights.
Jun 26, 2018, 3:12 pm
#458
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,311
This has been discussed previously. AA had a three class 77W (sold as three classes, iirc); that flight was treated as a qualifying flight (not other two class flights) for Qantas-operated oneworld lounges at TBIT. Soon after that flight was discontinued, TBIT lounge access for LAX-MIA was discontinued.
But LAX-JFK has been allowed historically, as it’s a three class flight. Unfortunately, when the QF hired lounge personnel are stubborn, they dig in. The only way that has been dealt with successfully previously is by formalizing complaints.
The question is, has AA actually prohibited TBIT lounge access, or is this the rogue b.s. crap back again? Perhaps formally asking at the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge (or calling the Club number?) they follow up, provide a definitive answer and if needed memo QF about this if the QF staff are yet again misinterpreting?
But LAX-JFK has been allowed historically, as it’s a three class flight. Unfortunately, when the QF hired lounge personnel are stubborn, they dig in. The only way that has been dealt with successfully previously is by formalizing complaints.
The question is, has AA actually prohibited TBIT lounge access, or is this the rogue b.s. crap back again? Perhaps formally asking at the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge (or calling the Club number?) they follow up, provide a definitive answer and if needed memo QF about this if the QF staff are yet again misinterpreting?
based on what I saw written ,it should allow LAX-JFK but they said no.
AA has changed the written rules a few times in the last 12 months, it’s understnadanle that they can’t figure it out.
Jun 26, 2018, 3:21 pm
#459
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Posts: 21,992
Three class language is gone but there still is this:
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.
Jun 26, 2018, 3:23 pm
#460
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Jun 26, 2018, 9:30 pm
#461
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
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Question - want lounge access at LGA in a couple weeks. I have no credit card lounge access or priority pass options. I have no OW status. I'm connecting off EK long haul, so no OW eligibility through class of service. I'm thinking of buying a day pass for $59 (it's a 5 hour layover) - before I do that are there any tricks for discounted access I should know about? It's rare to see passes on ebay, and even then the postage won't reach me in time from the US.
Jun 26, 2018, 9:37 pm
#462
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Question - want lounge access at LGA in a couple weeks. I have no credit card lounge access or priority pass options. I have no OW status. I'm connecting off EK long haul, so no OW eligibility through class of service. I'm thinking of buying a day pass for $59 (it's a 5 hour layover) - before I do that are there any tricks for discounted access I should know about? It's rare to see passes on ebay, and even then the postage won't reach me in time from the US.
Jun 26, 2018, 9:55 pm
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,403
Jun 26, 2018, 9:58 pm
#464
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
Jun 27, 2018, 1:53 am
#465
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 3
Confused on FF Dining access
Hi! I’m confused about access to the FF Dining. I will be traveling MIA>DFW in domestic first on 772... connecting on to LHR in first on 773.
Does anyone know if I can access FF dining in Miami before departing to my DFW international connection? Especially considering DFW has no FF Dining as of yet.
many thanks.
Does anyone know if I can access FF dining in Miami before departing to my DFW international connection? Especially considering DFW has no FF Dining as of yet.
many thanks.