Jan 3, 19, 6:26 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2019)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.

Link to aa.com Admirals Club, Flagship Lounge Access rules.

Also see Admirals Club rates increasing, new restrictions: 2019

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 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===================

NOTE: The kduarte Lounge Access tool page has become 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 Executive card users), reciprocity agreements with other airlines, traveling on certain transcon flights in F or J, or traveling internationally with Platinum or Platinum Pro (oneworld Sapphire) or Concierge Key or Executive Platinum (oneworld Emerald) status or in F or J classes of service - except if flying solely within North America destinations other than MEX as AAdvantage elite or AA elite in Business class. The last is often the greatest source of confusion, despite lounge access rules being described clearly on aa.com.

Admirals Club members paid or Executive primary cardholder members) are entitled guests as follows:

Quote:

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.

Executive card subsidiary cardholders have admission as well.

PLT and PPRO members are eligible for access to all oneworld Business Class lounges, now including Flagship Lounges, including Admirals Clubs; EXP and CK members are also eligible for access to nearly all oneworld First Class lounges, including Flagship Lounges.

For AA status-based access (PLT, PPRO, EXP, Concierge Key),* 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.

Lounges operated by third parties or premium lounges operating outside of oneworld rules (e.g. BA Concorde Room, Qatar Al Safwa or Al Mourjan lounges, AA Flagship First Dining) 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.

Quote:

The following exceptions apply: (in part; for the entire list, see here)

American Airlines and Qantas paid programmes

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 member North American flights

American Airlines Airlines AAdvantage members, regardless of their tier status or class of travel, are not eligble 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 Carribean. For more information, visit, http://aa.com/i18n/travelInformation...miralsClub.jsp

Traveling Flagship® Business Transcontinentalalso gives you lounge access and other amenities:

Quote:

Los Angeles (LAX) - New York (JFK)
San Francisco (SFO) - JFK
LAX - Boston (BOS) – traveling on A321T aircraft only
LAX - Miami (MIA) – traveling on B777-300 aircraft only (through October 26, 2019)

Quote:

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 vice-versa are eligible for lounge access. oneworld 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 who 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:

Quote:

Beginning in early 2017, the Flagship Dining experience will be available in select cities with 3-class service:

● Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) (2019)

● New York (JFK)

● Miami (MIA)

● Los Angeles (LAX)

First Class customers on American’s three class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining.

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, counter snacks and offered food items; 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 flyingoneworld 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 Admirals Club members be traveling on a departing AA marketed flight, otherbthan the LAX / TBIT lounge.

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

Admirals Club Membership + Reciprocal Qantas Club Access (master thread)
Note: Qantas Club access for Admirals Club members has recently CHANGED

Admirals Club members

As an Admirals Club annual, lifetime member, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Card primary cardholder, or AirPass member with Admirals Club privileges, your Qantas Club domestic access has recently changed (again):

Quote:

Select Qantas Clubs when departing on the same day on a

Qantas operated flight or an American marketed flight operated by Qantas.

NOTE: This is different than oneworld access rules and pertains only to Admirals Club members.

Also note Qantas will soon begin selling single admission starting at $49, but these at least initially will be restricted to QF Bronze or Silver members and only available during non-peak times. At this time, AA flyers are ineligible. Link to Australian Business Traveller article.

Previously, members could access Qantas domestic lounges with an Admirals Club card without having purchased the AA codeshare. This is no longer permitted. These changes do not include one world Emerald or Sapphire members.

Eligible Admirals Club members must present the following documentation: [/B]

Government-issued photo ID
Admirals Club membership card
Applicable boarding pass for same day travel

Quote:

NOTE Qantas Club Dress Code: N.B. Qantas Lounges and Clubs will require Smart Casual (sic) dress as of May 2015; those not meeting the standard may be turned away. (No open-toe shoes.) c/o hartlogan

ARCHIVE: HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Which, Access, Rules (2019)

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Feb 19, 19, 8:46 am

#76

teemuflyer

Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Austin

Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond

Posts: 5,913

Quote:

Originally Posted by potus18

My flight from MEX this evening had a 4h mech delay and caused me to misconnect to SFO. I was rebooked onto a flight in the morning. Will I have FL access as an EXP connecting from MEX? Or will it be invalid because I was rebooked for the following day?

I'd suspect they would grant you access, as the re-booking was due to the mechanical delay. One would truly hope that the front desk would have that level of discretion to handle these types of scenarios. Just hold on to your MEX-XXX BP to make it easier for the staff to lookup the into on the previous nights flight.

Feb 19, 19, 9:13 am

#77

potus18

Join Date: May 2017

Location: San Francisco

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 343

Quote:

Originally Posted by teemuflyer

Yep, I was given a FL card. Gave the agent both boarding passes, said I misconnected due to an inbound mech delay from MEX, and she thanked me for having all the details. Thanks all.

serfty, teemuflyer and MarkY123 like this.

Feb 19, 19, 1:35 pm

#78

chitink

Join Date: Mar 2015

Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 385

Question on lounge access. I am flying ORD-YUL-ORD-DOH all on the same day. Will I have access to flagship on the departing ORD flight since I am eventually connecting to a QR DOHA flight?

in addition, the YUL-ORD flight is on Air Canada, purchased through QR (AC flight number), will that cause issues with the Flagship access? (I am EXP and flying International business)

Last edited by chitink; Feb 19, 19 at 1:36 pm Reason: More details added

Feb 19, 19, 6:02 pm

#79

dascc

Join Date: Jun 2014

Posts: 493

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJeffrey

Yep, your MIA-VVI flight in J will get you access to the Admirals Clubs in both DCA and ATL and the Flagship Lounge in MIA.

piggy backing off of this reply... so as long as you have a Business/First international leg in your same day travel, you are entitled to AC access at your connecting airports, regardless of class?

for example, I have SFO-CLT (economy) CLT-MIA (first) and MIA-MAD (biz international), all on AA, would that allow me to access the SFO and CLT Admiral Clubs?

Feb 19, 19, 6:07 pm

#80

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitink

Yep you can access the FL departing ORD, make sure you print out your QR itinerary to show for entry since you wont have your QR boarding passes at that point. The fact that you have an AC segment as part of the QR itinerary has no bearing on lounge access. I just flew YUL-ORD-DOH on Saturday as a matter of fact.

Feb 20, 19, 6:20 pm

#81

jlgab345

Join Date: Aug 2012

Location: SAT

Programs: SWA- A pref

Posts: 29

Can I use DEN AA lounge after my flight?

Headed to DEN tomorrow and land 3 hours before my family. I’m an AA Admirals club member, will I be able to hang out at the lounge to kill a few hours?

Feb 20, 19, 6:22 pm

#82

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgab345

Headed to DEN tomorrow and land 3 hours before my family. I’m an AA Admirals club member, will I be able to hang out at the lounge to kill a few hours?

Yes, the DEN AC is airside and will be easily accessible, just head there after you land in DEN (but before exiting the airside departures area).

Feb 20, 19, 7:02 pm

#83

JDiver

Moderator: American AAdvantage, Mexico, and The Suggestion Box

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis

Posts: 62,952

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlgab345

Headed to DEN tomorrow and land 3 hours before my family. I’m an AA Admirals club member, will I be able to hang out at the lounge to kill a few hours?

Today, yes. After November of this year, you should still be able to access as long as your boarding pass is for the same day on AA..

Feb 23, 19, 5:14 pm

#84

coolcoil

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: MDE

Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP

Posts: 1,505

I think I know the answer to this, but I'm hoping somebody will give me an answer I like better.

I am PLT and will be flying SFO-MIA-MDE. The SFO-MIA is a red eye, leaving at 9:43 p.m. and getting into MIA at 6:00 a.m. MIA-MDE leaves at 10:50 a,m, The flights are on separate PNR's, if that matters. I know I have FL access in MIA, but I am wondering if I can get into the AC at SFO.

I know that I definitely would not qualify in SFO if the flight was not overnight, but I am wondering if arriving at 6:00 a.m. and leaving a few hours later is considered same day. Thanks!

Feb 23, 19, 8:30 pm

#85

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcoil

I think I know the answer to this, but I'm hoping somebody will give me an answer I like better.

This is another instance where technically the answer is no, since your qualifying flight isn't until the next day and leaving after 6am. However in practice you will have no problems accessing the AC in SFO. I've flown SFO-DFW redeyes several times connecting to DFW-Asia, and the AC reps always welcome you in with zero issues. When you enter, just hand them your MIA-MDE boarding pass first and say something like "I'm on the way to MDE"...

Feb 24, 19, 9:35 am

#86

coolcoil

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: MDE

Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP

Posts: 1,505

Thanks @JJeffrey. I'll give it a shot. If I don't get in, I will report back here. Otherwise, future readers can assume that I was successful as well.

teemuflyer likes this.

Feb 24, 19, 5:16 pm

#87

arshi007

Join Date: Dec 2015

Location: Rockies

Programs: UA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy occasionally Bonvoyed Mostly

Posts: 362

lounge access at LAX

Hi all,
I have a question about lounge access at LAX on arrival. My itinerary is DEL-DOH-LAX on Qatar Qsuites J arriving in LAX in the afternoon. I have a separate domestic first connection on AA (LAX-DEN) later in the day (about 4 to 5 hour layover at LAX). Will I have access to the Admirals Club / Flagship lounge in LAX by showing my Qatar J boarding pass on arrival ?

Both of these are revenue tickets and they are separate tickets (one bought thru QR and other thru AA)

thanks in advance

Last edited by arshi007; Feb 24, 19 at 5:52 pm

Feb 24, 19, 6:05 pm

#88

JJeffrey

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2001

Location: RDU <|> MMX

Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS

Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by arshi007

Yep, no problem to access the FL, separate tix don't matter for lounge access purposes but make sure to hang on to your DOH-LAX boarding pass to show for entry.

arshi007 likes this.

Feb 24, 19, 11:42 pm

#89

gateH15

Join Date: Nov 2018

Posts: 1,265

Not sure if rules have changed but I was denied access to Flagship lounge at ORD after completing MEX-DFW-ORD flight. Agent said the lounge is only for departing passengers. I didn’t feel it’s worth arguing and just went home instead of waiting for my friend at the airport who was Arriving 40 min later.

Feb 25, 19, 2:54 pm

#90

Hengilas

Join Date: Feb 2011

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 808

I am EXP with two companions flying LAX-PVG in economy in a few weeks. We are all on the same itinerary. SWUs are waitlisted but...until then...

Will all of us be granted access to the QF lounge?
The OneWorld lounge?
The Aadmirals' club?
Will I need to burn a guest pass for one of my companions to get in to the AC?

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