Jan 6, 2020, 12:24 pm
Last edit by: Microwave
HELP DESK: Lounge Access, Access Rules. Will I Have Lounge Access? (2020)
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
Please read this wiki carefully; some fine nuances exist.
Admirals Club lounges have reopened from the Covid closures, but not all Clubs have reopened, and hours have changed.
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
="3"%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:
Up to two guests or household members (spouse, domestic partner and/or children under the age of 18) may accompany the member.
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.
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
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:
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)
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)
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
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
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:
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.
● 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.
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.
. . . ● 2019 year thread:https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2019-a.html
. . . ● 2017 year thread:https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2017-a.html
="4"%Admirals Club Membership + Reciprocal Qantas Club Access (master thread)
="3"%Note: Qantas Club access for Admirals Club members has recently CHANGED
="3"%Admirals Club members="3"%Note: Qantas Club access for Admirals Club members has recently CHANGED
="3"%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):
="3"%Select Qantas Clubs when departing on the same day on a
Qantas operated flight or an American marketed flight operated by Qantas.
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:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Admirals Club membership card
- Applicable boarding pass for same day travel
- Admirals Club membership card
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
HELP DESK: Will I Have Lounge Access? Which, Access, Rules (2020-2022)
Mar 29, 2022, 1:49 pm
#392
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: ORD/LHR
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, 1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,302
I think I've read so much that I've confused myself, but I can't find any post with the same situation (and apologies if I've missed one):
I have Admirals Club access through the Citi Card, and have no problems accessing the Admirals Clubs or Alaska Lounges when flying AA marketed and operated domestically. Upcoming fully domestic travel has me booked out of ORD on Alaska (booked with Alaska, all AS flight numbers, no codeshares), but I've put my AA FF on the reservation for the upgrades and whatnots. As ORD does not have an Alaska Lounge, will I be granted access to the AC at ORD? Everything I've read leads me to believe that I will, but I just wanted to check before I make the trek over early one morning.
I have Admirals Club access through the Citi Card, and have no problems accessing the Admirals Clubs or Alaska Lounges when flying AA marketed and operated domestically. Upcoming fully domestic travel has me booked out of ORD on Alaska (booked with Alaska, all AS flight numbers, no codeshares), but I've put my AA FF on the reservation for the upgrades and whatnots. As ORD does not have an Alaska Lounge, will I be granted access to the AC at ORD? Everything I've read leads me to believe that I will, but I just wanted to check before I make the trek over early one morning.
Mar 29, 2022, 3:35 pm
#393
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,066
Mar 30, 2022, 6:01 am
#394
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: ORD/LHR
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, 1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,302
Mar 30, 2022, 2:20 pm
#395
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 35
Arriving into DFW from Doha on a Qatar (QR) business-class flight booked with AA points, connecting to an AA economy flight to ELP on the same ticket. No status of any kind.
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Mar 30, 2022, 2:22 pm
#396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
Arriving into DFW from Doha on a Qatar (QR) business-class flight booked with AA points, connecting to an AA economy flight to ELP on the same ticket. No status of any kind.
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Mar 30, 2022, 4:53 pm
#397
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
Arriving into DFW from Doha on a Qatar (QR) business-class flight booked with AA points, connecting to an AA economy flight to ELP on the same ticket. No status of any kind.
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Will I have connecting access at DFW to either the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge based on my arrival flight being international business?
Using AA miles (or points as you call them), has no bearing to the OW benefits based on a J ticket. It's just another currency as far as these things are considered.
Mar 30, 2022, 5:15 pm
#398
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: American, United, Alaska, Hyatt, Marriott, National
Posts: 1
I am considering taking Royal Air Maroc up on the opportunity to match to OW Emerald... If I'm flying domestically in the US on AA metal, will I be required to put down the Maroc FF# at booking or can I use my AA# and walk into the lounge and prove out that I am a OW Emerald with a non-domestic airline. Would obviously rather earn AA miles and would like to have best of both worlds, just not sure if possible!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Mar 30, 2022, 7:31 pm
#399
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: PHL/LAX/MAD (for now)
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, AmEx Membership Rewards
Posts: 874
I am considering taking Royal Air Maroc up on the opportunity to match to OW Emerald... If I'm flying domestically in the US on AA metal, will I be required to put down the Maroc FF# at booking or can I use my AA# and walk into the lounge and prove out that I am a OW Emerald with a non-domestic airline. Would obviously rather earn AA miles and would like to have best of both worlds, just not sure if possible!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Mar 30, 2022, 11:45 pm
#400
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LA
Programs: AA, DL, UA
Posts: 543
Anyone have any luck using another OW frequent flier # (other than AA) to get lounge access for domestic itineraries, but then switching the FF# later to get mileage credit on AA? Is this even possible?
Mar 30, 2022, 11:50 pm
#401
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Ah, booked directly via AA? I don't see why not. For instance, initially book with CX or BA OWS(E), and then call AA to change it back before your flight. However, these days, given the excessive hold times, it may be a little problematic if you have a small window for the 30 - 60 minutes hold time before getting through.
Mar 31, 2022, 4:29 am
#402
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,494
However I can see AA getting tired of this this year if they see a huge influx of normal AA customers turned RAM elites all crediting to AA but using RAM status for lounge access. YMMV, we'll see how it goes.
Apr 1, 2022, 8:50 am
#403
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,087
There have been plenty of reports over the years of folks crediting flights to AA but gaining lounge access via another oneworld program. So your AA# is on your boarding pass, but when you check in to the lounge you just say "I'm a Sapphire with BA", the agent confirms your BA number and status separately, and in you go.
However I can see AA getting tired of this this year if they see a huge influx of normal AA customers turned RAM elites all crediting to AA but using RAM status for lounge access. YMMV, we'll see how it goes.
However I can see AA getting tired of this this year if they see a huge influx of normal AA customers turned RAM elites all crediting to AA but using RAM status for lounge access. YMMV, we'll see how it goes.
Apr 1, 2022, 9:56 am
#404
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Hyatt Globalist (Full), Marriott Titanium, IHG Spire, Wyndham DIA, Hilton Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 701
Apr 4, 2022, 4:55 pm
#405
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 12
Will I have access to Flagship lounge first class dining if flying Qatar business ?
Hello,
I will be flying Qatar business class from JFK-DOH and I was wondering if I will have access to Flagship First Dining at the Flagship lounge at JFK?
If not then are there any food and drink options in the flagship lounge (outside of the flagship first dining area?)
I will be flying Qatar business class from JFK-DOH and I was wondering if I will have access to Flagship First Dining at the Flagship lounge at JFK?
If not then are there any food and drink options in the flagship lounge (outside of the flagship first dining area?)