Jan 28, 2021, 7:31 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge access policy changes
Effective date: 1 April 2021
According to “Lucky” at One Mile At a Time blog, AA will enact significant lounge access changes on April 1, 2021. These changes are initially called interim changes, which means actual lounge utilization may effectuate further changes to access. Below is a summary of Lucky’s information. Read the full article here.
Admirals Club access for all international flightsStarting April 1, 2021, the following customers will receive Admirals Club access when traveling on any international itinerary to & from the US, plus flights to & from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:
Starting April 1, 2021, the following customers will no longer receive Flagship Lounge access when traveling to Mexico City and Central America, but rather will be directed to the Admirals Club:
Effective date: 1 April 2021
According to “Lucky” at One Mile At a Time blog, AA will enact significant lounge access changes on April 1, 2021. These changes are initially called interim changes, which means actual lounge utilization may effectuate further changes to access. Below is a summary of Lucky’s information. Read the full article here.
Admirals Club access for all international flightsStarting April 1, 2021, the following customers will receive Admirals Club access when traveling on any international itinerary to & from the US, plus flights to & from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:
- Ticketed first class customers
- Ticketed business class customers
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum members
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro members
- AAdvantage Platinum members
Starting April 1, 2021, the following customers will no longer receive Flagship Lounge access when traveling to Mexico City and Central America, but rather will be directed to the Admirals Club:
- Ticketed first class customers
- Ticketed business class customers
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum members
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro members
- AAdvantage Platinum members
- Now anyone flying in a “Flagship” branded premium cabin will get Flagship Lounge access, while all other international premium travelers will get Admirals Club access.
Admirals Club / Flagship Lounge international access changes April 2021
Jan 27, 2021, 12:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Admirals Club / Flagship Lounge international access changes April 2021
https://onemileatatime.com/american-...access-policy/
The list below explains which customers now receive AC access, however, Flagship Lounge access has been cut for MEX and Central America PLT or higher pax. Non-AA OWS/OWE's still have their usual policy.Starting April 1, 2021, the following customers will receive Admirals Club access when traveling on any international itinerary to & from the US, plus flights to & from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:
The list below explains which customers now receive AC access, however, Flagship Lounge access has been cut for MEX and Central America PLT or higher pax. Non-AA OWS/OWE's still have their usual policy.Starting April 1, 2021, the following customers will receive Admirals Club access when traveling on any international itinerary to & from the US, plus flights to & from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:
- Ticketed first class customers
- Ticketed business class customers
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum members
- AAdvantage Platinum Pro members
- AAdvantage Platinum members
Jan 27, 2021, 12:35 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
As a cash paying membership I fine that AA is opening this up to destinations that previously were considered domestic. However, that's based upon AA opening up ACs at hub airports that remain close. In particular if the MIA AC D15 and maybe E (not sure if the renovations were ever completed) aren't open the D30 AC will be out of control. I don't want to get turned away or walk in and find no open seats.
Probably ditto for PHX and LAX.
Probably ditto for PHX and LAX.
Jan 27, 2021, 12:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
From AA.com, for First/Business: For a limited time: Starting April 1, 2021, qualifying international flights will include flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Includes customers in First or Business on a qualifying departing international or transcontinental flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline.*
And then, for EXP, PP, Plat: For a limited time: Starting April 1, 2021, qualifying international flights will include flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Includes customers on qualifying departing international flights marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin).
And then, for EXP, PP, Plat: For a limited time: Starting April 1, 2021, qualifying international flights will include flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. Includes customers on qualifying departing international flights marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin).
Jan 27, 2021, 12:54 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,445
Assume this change was made to align with the upcoming introduction of AS to OW, and an interest by AS in providing lounge access on their Int’l flights. Makes sense, and the loss of FL access on those short-haul Int’l flights (and, I would assume, not allowing newly minted OW elites on AS to overwhelm the FL at LAX) not a major loss.
Jan 27, 2021, 1:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
From the oneworld website:
They probably meant "marketed and operated" there, but it's something.
I think this is definitely to align the policy with Alaska, but it's also possible this signals the end of FL access on domestic / North American itineraries for OWE/OWS members of other programs like BA -- if directing people to the Admirals Club is within oneworld policy, AA will probably start doing that.
Originally Posted by oneworld.com
Limited Time Offer: Effective 1 April 2021, American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum members will be eligible for lounge access when travelling on any oneworld marketed or operated international flight. For more information, visit American Airlines’ website.
I think this is definitely to align the policy with Alaska, but it's also possible this signals the end of FL access on domestic / North American itineraries for OWE/OWS members of other programs like BA -- if directing people to the Admirals Club is within oneworld policy, AA will probably start doing that.
Jan 27, 2021, 1:08 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
As an EXP with AC membership who flies to Central America a lot, this really sucks. This eliminates one of the major reasons I preferred AA over UA to Central America. Seems like a strange time to align customer service downward to match competitors.
Jan 27, 2021, 1:13 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Jan 27, 2021, 1:20 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,268
Jan 27, 2021, 1:43 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,040
I don't want overcrowded Admiral's Clubs either but then again with rice krispie treats and cookies on offer there really isn't a reason to go there. I don't see AC's resuming normal service until well into 2021, if ever really.
Jan 27, 2021, 3:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Assume this change was made to align with the upcoming introduction of AS to OW, and an interest by AS in providing lounge access on their Int’l flights. Makes sense, and the loss of FL access on those short-haul Int’l flights (and, I would assume, not allowing newly minted OW elites on AS to overwhelm the FL at LAX) not a major loss.
Last edited by ashill; Jan 27, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Jan 27, 2021, 4:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,531
Agree though that they need to open up more ACs if necessary to match anticipated demand.
Jan 27, 2021, 5:00 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,040
Would it kill AA to implement a change that would take zero effort in lieu of no IFL access?
Offering premium drink coupons......
I had to pay $7 for a Stella at the D AC in December for my trip to LHR. Come on AA!
Offering premium drink coupons......
I had to pay $7 for a Stella at the D AC in December for my trip to LHR. Come on AA!
Jan 27, 2021, 5:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Yes, but AA hasn't felt the need to match UA (and DL) in the decades in which this has been true. I don't see why UA and DL would suddenly motivate them to change; what's new on April 1 is AS joining oneworld, so it's hard for me to ignore the likelihood that that's the immediate cause. Of course, AS has always offered lounge access on all non-upgrade first class tickets.
Jan 27, 2021, 11:50 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,531
Has there been any word if this policy will continue after they join OW?
Jan 28, 2021, 7:25 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
On my last international trip in Dec20... all FL of course closed.. so you would think that the few AA clubs that were open would have offered "free" [premium drinks... of course not
AA I know has more to worry about.. but when I hear after a phone call from AA.. that a lot of EXP were complaining about this.. failure to take an action.. probably just happy at how much
they are saving... ok time to get my annual physical
AA I know has more to worry about.. but when I hear after a phone call from AA.. that a lot of EXP were complaining about this.. failure to take an action.. probably just happy at how much
they are saving... ok time to get my annual physical