Minor: Rejected for LAX Flagship Lounge Access
Jul 19, 2018, 7:52 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
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Posts: 5,234
I'll second the dress for success theme.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Jul 19, 2018, 7:53 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: BA G CX S AS G DL PM
Posts: 127
I should clarify that I am NOT advocating that you attempt to violate AA lounge eligibility policies, which exist for good reason. You will need to wait until you turn 18 or 21 to access lounges by yourself. But on board aircraft in premium cabins...by all means—see if they think you are older if you dress up!
Jul 19, 2018, 7:59 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: BA G CX S AS G DL PM
Posts: 127
I'll second the dress for success theme.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Jul 19, 2018, 8:17 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
Not to go off topic, but I wonder how it works for foreign carriers operating on US soil. For ex, BA flying JFK-LHR. While on the ground at JFK, they would need to follow NY state law (21+). Once in the air, would UK laws apply, since BA is a UK flagged carrier. What about at the Galleries lounges and Concorde Room at JFK, which are fully operated by BA, as is the entire terminal where they are located?
Even though BA have the lease from the Port Authority T7 it is still US soil so US laws apply. It’s not a little enclave of the UK!
as far as I know BA don’t give vouchers to under age passengers who would otherwise be eligible for lounge access because of status or cabin class.
At JFK T4 the VS clubhouse is also waiter service but at BOS hard liquor is waiter service but they have bottles of beer in fridges for pax to access themselves (Maybe the same at JFK but it’s been a while since I was there). Im not sure what does for allowing under 21 access!
Jul 19, 2018, 8:23 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I'll second the dress for success theme.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Walk in with khakis and a blazer, check in with the agent, and say "Good evening, I'm flying on AA 123 but I'm a Cathay Diamond number" and odds are (unless you look really young) you'll be hanging in the Flagship Lounge. It's all a matter of walking with quiet authority but not pretentious. A 22 year old who looks like a skateboarder will get stopped while an 18 year old who looks like an investment analyst will not.
Consider watching the movie Wedding Crashers.
I doubt AA has changed its policies regarding Flagship Lounge access but if you're obviously 16, you'll be stopped.
Jul 19, 2018, 8:30 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: TK*G
Posts: 267
I have several upcoming travel plans and will do some experiments next tuesday @ AC and early August @ JFK FL/FD. Last time in Suites during random chat the FAs were so surprised when I told them I was 16. They thought I was 22. Guess dressing slightly formal does help a lot. haha
Jul 19, 2018, 8:45 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA
Posts: 609
Makes sense to me. According to the law, minors (under 18) cannot be held legally responsible for their actions, behavior, or well-being. In a lounge setting where customers are expecting a place of rest, relaxation, or productivity, minors should not be present without a supervising adult.
Furthermore, if a person under 18 were to become injured or ill while in a club, the airline could be sued if there were nobody supervising or attending to the needs of the minor. It's not the same as having status or flying premium cabins, which minors can do on their own (including the OP). Here's why. While travelers of all ages are proceeding through the airport terminal, there are employees specifically looking out for them (agents, security, police, TSA, etc) as well as on board (crew members). However, the same does not apply in the secluded conditions of a lounge. If you were having a medical problem, you could find a quiet corner of a lounge and it's possible nobody would notice for hours. If the person were an unaccompanied minor, it could be the airline's liability.
IMHO, for good reason, AA does not sell Admirals Clubs memberships to persons under 18, nor allow anyone under 18 into the clubs unless accompanied by a supervising adult. (I remember purchasing my first year of AC membership just a few days after I turned 18 and became eligible!)
The Flagship Lounge rule prohibiting access to unaccompanied persons under 21 is probably because of the self-service alcohol. The 50 states of the USA have enacted state laws that prohibit alcohol purchase/possession by persons under 21, with very few exceptions.
Furthermore, if a person under 18 were to become injured or ill while in a club, the airline could be sued if there were nobody supervising or attending to the needs of the minor. It's not the same as having status or flying premium cabins, which minors can do on their own (including the OP). Here's why. While travelers of all ages are proceeding through the airport terminal, there are employees specifically looking out for them (agents, security, police, TSA, etc) as well as on board (crew members). However, the same does not apply in the secluded conditions of a lounge. If you were having a medical problem, you could find a quiet corner of a lounge and it's possible nobody would notice for hours. If the person were an unaccompanied minor, it could be the airline's liability.
IMHO, for good reason, AA does not sell Admirals Clubs memberships to persons under 18, nor allow anyone under 18 into the clubs unless accompanied by a supervising adult. (I remember purchasing my first year of AC membership just a few days after I turned 18 and became eligible!)
The Flagship Lounge rule prohibiting access to unaccompanied persons under 21 is probably because of the self-service alcohol. The 50 states of the USA have enacted state laws that prohibit alcohol purchase/possession by persons under 21, with very few exceptions.
or FL. LOL, ever been in one!?
Jul 19, 2018, 8:54 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
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Jul 20, 2018, 7:44 am
#39
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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Jul 20, 2018, 8:26 am
#40
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
If you pass through MIA, look for a Jamaican woman with a starving child making cell phone videos........she'll go in with you.
Jul 20, 2018, 8:30 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,620
I actually had the complete opposite experience when I wanted to access an airline lounge under 21.
Oddly, dressed in more formal attire, ID'ed every time, jeans a t-shirt and snakers, nary a word.
Most people found the opposite was true and to this very day I look younger in formal attire than I do in jeans,shorts, t-shirts, etc..
Oddly, dressed in more formal attire, ID'ed every time, jeans a t-shirt and snakers, nary a word.
Most people found the opposite was true and to this very day I look younger in formal attire than I do in jeans,shorts, t-shirts, etc..
Jul 20, 2018, 9:15 am
#42
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Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
1. The drinking age in all US states is 21 and is set by the state legislature or authorized by the legislature.
2. State and local laws apply to air carrier lounges just as to any other facility.
3. In most states, California is one, if alcohol his available directly to the customer, e.g., no bartender to ID the customer, those <21 must be accompanied by a responsible adult,
4. AA, as a private business, is free to adopt uniform rules for access and has done so.
Finally, the fact that CX issues a voucher in those situations is up to CX. OP was not flying CX, so it is irrelevant why CX did it for him. Not everything is the same in life. Something perhaps OP will learn as he becomes an adult.
2. State and local laws apply to air carrier lounges just as to any other facility.
3. In most states, California is one, if alcohol his available directly to the customer, e.g., no bartender to ID the customer, those <21 must be accompanied by a responsible adult,
4. AA, as a private business, is free to adopt uniform rules for access and has done so.
Finally, the fact that CX issues a voucher in those situations is up to CX. OP was not flying CX, so it is irrelevant why CX did it for him. Not everything is the same in life. Something perhaps OP will learn as he becomes an adult.
Jul 20, 2018, 10:25 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Jul 20, 2018, 10:50 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
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Posts: 1,757
AA is allowed to set any (legal) lounge access policy they'd like, and they've chosen to do so based on particular lounge offerings.
Jul 20, 2018, 11:00 am
#45
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Previously, some states did allow alcohol at 18 (NY and DC for example) and some allowed only beer or only 3.2% alcohol beer (Ohio, IIRC Wisconsin), while there were a few examples of the drinking age being 19 or 20.