hotelbreakfast

My wife and I were traveling from DFW to GRU via MIA this past weekend for her birthday and I had been checking this thread for details on the DFW FFD for a couple of months but hadn't found much so I wanted to help that situation. We got to the lounge about 12:30 and they were serving Piper Heidseick at the entrance which I prefer to the Lanson I've gotten at MIA and JFK. We immediately were escorted to the FFD and we had a great time, the girls working in there were all super fun. I imagine that their usual clientele is a little more businesslike but after I told them it was my wife's birthday the party was on. The "mixologist" Helen brought us multiple birthday shots and the LPGS was free flowing as well. My wife had the shrimp and grits and I had the pork chops and both were good. Before we left they brought out a tray of birthday desserts and even sang a song for her, it was all great. I would post pictures of the menu but as a new member I'm not yet allowed. As an interesting side story, after a rather average flight service wise from MIA to GRU, as we were about to get off the plane, the flight attendant came over and asked if I was "my name", EXP, and I said yes, and he asked if it was my wife's birthday, and I said yes, and he handed me a bottle of the Charles de Cazanove champagne they were serving in F on the flight wrapped up tight in one of those thick gray plastic bags that they have and said "tell her happy birthday". Ha, it was a little strange but appreciated and we drank it tonight and it wasn't bad.

SCChris

AA has indicated that it no longer views LAX as an Asia hub. While Asia may be reopening to tourism, AA doesn't seem to be in any hurry to add back any flights, especially with the 77W. SYD is a 789 now and goes away at the end of the month until October. HND doesn't come back until October (on 789), ditto with AKL. Everything else is gone through EOS.

The only Flagship First routes out of LAX right now are to BOS, JFK and LHR and I don't see that changing much in the near to intermediate future. They may very well choose to reopen FFD to service the domestic FF routes, but given how long it took them to reopen even the FL, plus the fact that neither UA or DL provides anything beyond standard club admission on their premium transcons, I'm not holding my breath.

Visconti

I had forgotten about this but now I do recall a shift away from moving SE Asia flights to DFW. So, yeah, in this case, there's even less motivation to open up LAX's FFD.

RE: FD Access

Though things my have changed (for instance, I wasn't aware at any time in the past that AA F had access to LHR's Concorde Lounge), the qualifying non-AA "international routes" for FD, at least in my experience, had been very limited. For instance, CX F from JFK - HKG would qualify for FD but, say, JL (or, any other OW F) F on the same route would not. In CX's case, I'd imagine it was because their JFK HK flights departed from T8 in JFK and they were willing to pay for it.

dkc192

Personally I would consider shifting some of my transcon business (back) to AA if they reopened LAX FD, but who am I to them in the grand scheme of things!

happiest_at_40000

I was about to reply with that link but yes thats a total bummer you were wrongly denied. Although the only thing I am thinking is does maybe the new rule change where any OW carrier in F gets you in apply only to the departing airport. Leave it to AA not to make that clear of course. What they told you about DFW direct to LHR was obviously wrong based on the new rule but I am curious if when on a OW carrier if its just from the departing airport.

happiest_at_40000

With the new rule they put on the 28th now any OW carrier can access although how does that work if you are not in the same terminal, i.e. JL F from JFK.. This rule chance really doesnt mean much until LAX FFD opens b/c then you have fairly easy access w/ a 10 min walk from Bradley.

I'd like to get some clarification on the new rule, as mentioned above.

AA has so many rules for FFD, FL, & FFCI I doubt they even can remember them, no wonder its such a mess w/ all the wrong denials & confusion.

johnaalex

Is ORD open yet? If not is there a date for the re-opening?

TIA

Visconti

Is the new "rule" access for any int'l OW F? I thought, maybe it was just for BA F because of the Concorde Lounge reciprocity?

Ah, not that anyone is infallible but, in due time, it's been my experience--at least the JFK FD--while some confusion may ensure during the initial stages a new rule implementation, they eventually sort it our pretty quickly. Once that happens, anyone during check in eligible for FD will be offered to be guided to the dining room. By the way, not that one has to dine at that exact moment but, at least at JFK's, they like to print your boarding pass and walk you to the check in with the FD's host(ess). You can always leave, return later, or revisit however many times you like for that day.

worldtrav

No and no again. The latest WAG is April 15 to April 30 but AA is pretty tight lipped about the ORD FL.

happiest_at_40000

Yes its a nice touch at JFK they walk you there. I def like the agents and check in at the lounge process more at JFK. I also recently on multiple occasions have gone in, left, come back with out any issues, hours laters too.

The new rule now says any OW F gets you in. However, clearly DFW doesnt know yet b/c the poster above said they said even if he/she was leaving from DFW to LHR they wouldnt have got in on BA F.

What I am most curious on is do you get in when connecting to the OW F or what about arriving and then before a domestic flight home. AA is so vague.

DMPHL

I don't think the "new" rule really says that all OW F grants access to FFD. It specifically says "on a qualifying international or transcontinental" flight. That specific language would mean that some international and transcontinental and flights are qualifying, and some are not, not that int'l F is sufficient as a qualifying condition. So, I think it actually ends up that the access rules will be the same, with specific carveouts for specific airlines at specific stations if and when agreements are re-established. This also might be a way to craft the language for what will be the joint BA CCR/AA FFD at JFK T8.

BlooJoo

What "new rule" is being discussed? Did I miss an announcement that FFD is now a OW F lounge?? I certainly hope not.

happiest_at_40000

Someone linked it above, maybe 5-6 days ago. It was a release AA put out on March 28...

Way down it does say OW F you access to FFD. However, maybe I did get too excited as the points by DMPhl make sense and are valid.. However, I wasnt thinking like Mexico or SA. I was just thinking JL F, QF F, BA F across the board, which would be more/better than just the specific special carve outs that exist. However if you think about it with out LA FFD and CX sort of off the grid right now the only non OW F route that isnt already a carve out is JL F from JFK.

Visconti

Is this limited to JFK to LHR, or would it include, say, DFW or LAX to LHR? So, I take it that, at the very least, the next time I'm on AA F from JFK to LHR, I can access T8's CCR?

JJeffrey

Yes and no, lots of discussion here:

Concorde Room Access with AA F