manymanymiles

I am flying tomorrow on a BA reward ticket on Alaska and I am BA silver (One World Sapphire).

Does this get me access to the Alaska lounge in Seattle.

FlightDetective

Yes. You are oneworld Sapphire which means you have lounge access on Alaska Airlines, no matter which class of travel you're flying. It also makes no difference whether it's paid or award travel.

Have fun - the North Satellite lounge is the new one and the one you should visit (I was there last month!)

Misco60

Is that the case? The Alaska Airlines website says this about lounge access (my bold):I'll be travelling on Alaska Airlines between LAX and SLC in May, on an Avios redemption, and I had assumed that I would not be entitled to lounge access. Hopefully someone can tell me I'm mistaken.

NWIFlyer

I'm delighted to be able to advise you that you're mistaken .

That paragraph is an exception to the usual requirement for North American status holders to buy annual lounge access passes, given even a "short haul" F ticket doesn't qualify. The requirement for an international segment for those people is in line with oneworld rules (and indeed those in other alliances as well).

Status holders from outside the US have no such restrictions and can enter on any itinerary as per oneworld rules.

Misco60

Thank you! I think I understand - I was reading that paragraph as a definitive description of who is eligible for lounge access whereas it is in fact, as you say, an exception clause for AA and AS status holders.

FlightDetective

Everything you say is correct apart from the above.

Buying a short-haul First Class ticket on Alaska does entitle you to Alaska Airlines lounge access in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York - JFK, Portland, or Anchorage. Basically, their own lounges.

You are correct for virtually every other US airline (Hawaiian also has lounges for their inter-island F customers).

NWIFlyer

Yes, thank you - AS are the exception to the exception in a limited number of locations.

Misco60

The rules on lounge access in north America are frustratingly inconsistent. (Or, perhaps, consistent but unfathomably complex.)

FlightDetective

It's actually pretty easy. As a frequent flyer with status on an airline based outside the US, you have access under the same terms as you do at home. Therefore, if you're a BA frequent flyer at Silver or Gold level, you have access to all the business class lounges on any itinerary within North America.

Gold additionally have access to the AA Flagship Lounges and any First Class lounges that may be in North America, again on any itinerary, no restrictions.

NWIFlyer

And additionally oneworld Sapphire (BA Silver) have access to Flagship Lounges. There aren't that many, of course, relative to Admirals Clubs, and it remains to be seen what the arrangement will be at JFK when the terminal share takes effect.

But generally it's pretty straightforward if your status is with a non-US programme - just carry on as you normally would, and if someone offers you something a bit nicer that you didn't know you were entitled to, just take it!

rather_be_on_a_griffin

I had access not long after they joined OW on a BA reward ticket. I found them to be charming but obviously it was unfamiliar and I helped them look up the rules. By now should be easier.

FlightDetective

Keeping me honest! I should have remembered that, as that is how I used to get in!

They're good people at Alaska Airlines, I've found. I really enjoy flying with them (and will again next month to Hawaii!)

AirbusA350

There are multiple reports of AS lounge agents denying lounge access on economy tickets to non-AA/AS OWS/OWE, just politely remind them in this case that you are permitted and have the AS webpage with the info to hand.

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ai...cies-and-rules (listed under the FAQs section lower down on the page, it's the 4th question there)

If they still don't budge, then ensure you email AS Customer Relations. Even though it's been almost a year since AS joined OW, the memo hasn't yet reached all the staff (or if it has, they just aren't aware of the rules properly!). Hopefully as more of us non-AA/AS OW status holders visit the USA and use them more, the more used to it they'll be! AA is a pretty well-oiled machine with this now, promptly granting access with a quick "Are you Sapphire or Emerald?" question each time! Shame AA's systems still don't just pull this info up automatically despite it being coded into the boarding pass itself!

Happy travels. Hopefully you won't have any long waiting lists that AS lounges have been known to have!

efincomputer

Gratefully, I had no issues with the Alaska lounge at LAX in November, as a BA silver at that time.

srbrenna

Is it feasible to visit the AS lounge in the north satellite if you�re flying BA?