Lounge stopover advice in USA
Nov 14, 2019, 4:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London and Brussels
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 170
Lounge stopover advice in USA
Dear all,
I would appreciate some advice on an upcoming trip to the USA in relation to lounge access please.
Im doing London (BA F) > Chicago (AA F/J) > West Palm Beach and then West Palm Beach (AA F/J) > Dallas (BA F) > London, with a four hour stopover one each side.
- I did look at the lounge database and it mentions AA Flagship first dining is only for AA First - is that correct ? Then the presumption is that BA First is treated like BA Club?
- No advantage to be a BA Gold either ?
- Do AA have the similar rule where you can access the first lounge even when arriving to the airport on a F flight, like the CCR ?
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
I would appreciate some advice on an upcoming trip to the USA in relation to lounge access please.
Im doing London (BA F) > Chicago (AA F/J) > West Palm Beach and then West Palm Beach (AA F/J) > Dallas (BA F) > London, with a four hour stopover one each side.
- I did look at the lounge database and it mentions AA Flagship first dining is only for AA First - is that correct ? Then the presumption is that BA First is treated like BA Club?
- No advantage to be a BA Gold either ?
- Do AA have the similar rule where you can access the first lounge even when arriving to the airport on a F flight, like the CCR ?
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance!
Nov 14, 2019, 4:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
Yes, AA Flagship First Dining is only for AA marketed and operated flights. However, you would be able to use the AA Flagship Lounge in both ORD and DFW. Having been to both in the last few months I can say they are very good.
When you land in ORD upon arrival from LHR you will need to clear immigration and customs first, then change terminals and clear TSA before accessing the lounge ahead of your onward flight to West Palm Beach.
As you're Gold / OWE you would have access via status irrespective of class of travel (although as you are travelling F on the long haul sectors you would also have access based on class of service).
When you land in ORD upon arrival from LHR you will need to clear immigration and customs first, then change terminals and clear TSA before accessing the lounge ahead of your onward flight to West Palm Beach.
As you're Gold / OWE you would have access via status irrespective of class of travel (although as you are travelling F on the long haul sectors you would also have access based on class of service).
Nov 14, 2019, 4:39 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,198
There are threads on the AA board (where this post might get moved to) on acess to AA flagship lounges and flagship dining
The AA website also descrives their lounge access conditions clearly
The AA website also descrives their lounge access conditions clearly
Nov 14, 2019, 4:47 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFWex-BOS
Programs: AA PLTPRO, 2MM, Bonvoy PLT, NYT Monday crossword puzzle solver extraordinaire
Posts: 1,456
As Geordie405 stated above, you will have access to the Flagship Lounge, just not FFD. FL is still pretty nice, I went through the DFW one a couple weeks ago. Buffet style dining, self service bar, and much more quiet subdued atmosphere than an AAdmirals Club or Galleries Club Lounge,
Nov 14, 2019, 6:21 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Why not just take a look at the clear and concise description and access rules on the AA website:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp
Nov 14, 2019, 6:27 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFWex-BOS
Programs: AA PLTPRO, 2MM, Bonvoy PLT, NYT Monday crossword puzzle solver extraordinaire
Posts: 1,456
Why not just take a look at the clear and concise description and access rules on the AA website:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp
I hope we can keep this a community of help, and not just "do a search!"
Nov 14, 2019, 6:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,559
As OWE/Gold you should have access to the AA Flagship lounge - and as noted above, the whole experience is very positive - and the buffet is very good.
(I was surprised at being access it flying AA economy internally - and also guesting another person in...)
(I was surprised at being access it flying AA economy internally - and also guesting another person in...)
Nov 14, 2019, 6:47 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,198
Why not just also shut down FT and keep anyone from having personal interaction, too? Search can be very frustrating and non productive at times. This seemed like a fairly basic question to me, but I've been in situations where I was like the OP.
I hope we can keep this a community of help, and not just "do a search!"
I hope we can keep this a community of help, and not just "do a search!"
FT search function can be (no is) frustrating but not google and 'access to aa flagship lounges' comes up with the relavant page on the AA website in the top 2 or 3 results and the thread on the FT AA board not far behind.
People are willing to help but surely it's reasonable to expect people to use google etc first?
Nov 14, 2019, 7:04 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFWex-BOS
Programs: AA PLTPRO, 2MM, Bonvoy PLT, NYT Monday crossword puzzle solver extraordinaire
Posts: 1,456
FT search function can be (no is) frustrating but not google and 'access to aa flagship lounges' comes up with the relavant page on the AA website in the top 2 or 3 results and the thread on the FT AA board not far behind.
People are willing to help but surely it's reasonable to expect people to use google etc first?
People are willing to help but surely it's reasonable to expect people to use google etc first?
I searched, and once in a while I asked some questions, when the search answers seemed implausible. I'm glad to have the combined knowledge of this board, thanks to all.
Nov 14, 2019, 7:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,086
At least one blogger has said that BA gives its own F passengers AA Flagship First Dining at DFW. It's not on AA's website though.
Nov 14, 2019, 8:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
At least one blogger has said that BA gives its own F passengers AA Flagship First Dining at DFW. It's not on AA's website though.
Nov 14, 2019, 9:40 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Even though the AA website says what it says, AA has granted me access to Flagship First dining on BA F flights in both directions (i.e. connecting coming off a BA F flight and going onto a BA F flight; both times in MIA). Flagship First dining is really nice. Bottom line is it doesn't hurt to ask nicely with no expectations. There is no Flagship First dining at ORD b/c AA doesn't have Flagship First flights from Chicago. But DFW is possible.
Miami Lounge confusion
DFW lounge status
Nov 15, 2019, 5:51 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Incorrect. For instance, CX F pax departing JFK can use FFD. I *think* BA F pax departing DFW can also use FFD, as has been reported once or twice. Neither of these are mentioned on the AA site, so everyone telling the OP to look there are doing him/her a disservice.
Nov 15, 2019, 6:28 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London and Brussels
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 170
Indeed - I would have never found out about the F passenger possibility just looking in the usual places! And I did check the AA website before posting! Thank you again! This forum is the best! 