Andriyko

OW EMDs board after the premium cabins.

flyer0123

OWE flying in economy cabin is Group 2 on a 2-class domestic aircraft and Group 1 is reserved for F cabin. I am an AA EXP (OWE). Also Group 1 boards after pre-boarding, CK and Military

gormless

As a BA Gold you're Group 1 on AA (actually, probably not - since I'm usually in Business/First). Other perks are as others have stated. However, you're definitely not given any consideration when IRROPS happen.

Recently had a near meltdown with AA due to a trip from IAD to CLT to PLS (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos). Had a 2-hour layover in CLT, "First" (what AA calls "Business" on two-class aircrafft.) All was good.

Then I got an e-mail that the AA reschedule chaos monkey had struck - which changed the IAD inbound to CLT to a much later flight, so the CLT to PLS layover dropped to 34 minutes. That's an inbound commuter domestic (terminal E) to international (probably terminal B), which can be 20 minutes or more walk between terminals.
This was Not Good.

Then I discovered that they also changed the aircraft from CLT to PLS from an A320 to an A319 - 12 First to 8 First. Well, somebody's got to go, so we got bumped out of First. No seat assignments, all seats allocated to others. This was not going to go well.
I called to reschedule the first flight (since there was one earlier that would make the layover possible), and was told that I could not unless I "voluntarily" allowed them to downgrade the entire flight to Coach. No consideration, no refund, no help. Worse, their claim was that since I rejected the downgrade, I had accepted the change they had made, even though I had rejected that. Now they started spouting fare rules and nonrefundable tickets.
I had to rebook, and I'm now fighting for a refund. OWE? Didn't matter.

Say what you will about BA, they've never treated me so shabbily as this.

DominicB

As a BA GGL living in the US, I recognize much of what Gormless told us in the above post. It is plain to me that AA does understand BA status, as in a very few airports, I get the same meet/greet stuff that Concierge Key folk get, but only in a few airports (and not in my local airport, ORD). But other than that, if I hit cancellations/delays, AA doesn't give a damn usually. Sometimes I manage to get through to the CK line at AA, and about 50% of the time that's helpful, but no more than that. One point about which Gormless is incorrect, is that you are only group 1 on AA as a BA Gold if you are in First/Business (whatever they call it). Otherwise you are in group 2.

firstlight

Mco-dca (orlando-washington)

T8191

"Older”, please! I may be 75 next month, but I'm not "Old".

All our AA travel for the last few years (Gold/OWE and flying TATL J/Dom F) has automatically featured TSA Pre✓. Sadly, this week's BA IAD-LHR had no such benefit, and IAD Security was utterly awful ... it took the best part of 30 minutes standing in line, and with the usual miserable/unfriendly TSA agents they employ there.

firstlight

Thanks all for the great information. Really helpful as always!

flyer0123

You are not old, but I believe MSPEconomist is correct, you most likely got it, based on age not on Status or class of travel, unless you have Global Entry. Sorry

mrow

I used to get USA Pre Check without my Global Entry membership. AA enrolled me based on my status (AA Executive Platinum) as they emailed me about it (so they may do similar for OWE but I have no evidence of this as I only got BA gold a few years ago). The first few times I tried to use it I was refused based on my UK passport. I haven’t had that problem for a few years now and have been a Global Entry member since they did the trial opening up to UK passport holders.

PUCCI GALORE

Darling, Uncle T - you are as old as you act. By that measure I should be Sweet Sixteen - that said, to the young people out there we are their Grannies and GrandDads age and they treat us accordingly. I love being around young people as they are so full of energy and I love to listen to their interests, problems, musci (well, some of it anyway) and motivations. One thing I will say - the people who ask me if I need help putting my case into the overhead locker - are invariably young.

I blather on because at our age, if they think that we are old enough to have distinct recollections of Jurassic Park, who cares. At our age take all the discounts and benefits going.

Toodle Pip

Whistler's Mum

Right - on topic. Flying in F in the USA is now as much fun as getting on the 17.30 Liverpool St to Norwich. If the Lead Flight Attendant is feeling so inclined you may be offered a drink of your choice (there's isn't much but at least there's Bombay Sapphire), or a glass of juice. They may or may not take and hang your coat. I cannot tell you what happens in Y as I do not fly there that often unless the journey is so short that there's no point in parting with much money. If the flight is under 250 miles they may very well announce that "Due to the short duration of the flight there will be no service" . It is another world.

MSPeconomist

Old << older << oldest. Older is older than old.

T8191

OK, Mr. Nitpicker!!

In which case, I am an Elder, but not Old (at least in my head, and most of my body) as I refuse to acknowledge, or aubmit to, the passing of time.

La PUCCI is, of course, perpetually young, thanks to that portrait in her attic.

Fraser

One rather nice benefit at the bigger hubs is Flagship Check-In access, this is separate from First Class or priority check-in and is for international FC/transcontinental FC passengers.

At JFK, MIA and ORD it's a separate roped off check-in area
At LAX it's a different curbside entrance

IME, LAX you get an escort to the front of the security line 100% of the time, at JFK (my home airport) it's about 50% of the time. I've only used ORD the once and had to fight with the person manning it that I was eligible ( ) and have only ever connected at MIA.

T8191

At LAX we were once pulled out of the quite short First line by the lady from Flagship and thus processed charmingly.

Did she spot our BA Gold tags on luggage and carry-ons through her one-way glass?

gormless

Correct - I did edit the post realizing that I was in group 1 due to traveling Biz/First. BA Gold gets you Group 2.