Are you an AA EXP?

NRT-LAX on AA?

LAX - TBIT oneworld Lounge Access (Combined thread)
 

Yes, I'm an AA EXP. Flew AA on all segments. Same ticket.

My understanding was with an international ticket, lounge access was granted even on connecting domestic segments

Deleted as wrong!

You should have had access to the J lounge.

In this case, your access is not based on EXP... but rather it is based on J ticket class:

This from the one world site

When was this?

If between Oct 17th and Nov 10th staff had been given incorrect information (basically being told to deny access to anyone on AA flights).

This has been rectified.

If I were you I would reply to Qantas citing the above oneworld connecting flight/international information and again asking why access was denied given oneworld rules. Make sure you use the reference number.

Does anyone have any recent experience as an non-AA OWS or OWE getting into this lounge on a domestic AA itinerary?

Will be flying through LAX next Tuesday on a PVG-LAX-SFO itinerary so curious if this issue has been fixed...

It was before Nov. 10 so will do

I have come across anecdotes in the last week or so that the issue has been rectified, although it apparently took two attempts for management to re-educate staff.

No, Gberg is connecting from NRT, so the AA élite exception does not apply, and he should have been admitted to the F lounge just like other EMDs.

Hi all,

I just left the TBIT ow J lounge. The issue is not completely fixed. I flew in on a PVG-LAX-SFO flight. I am ow Sapphire -- showed the dragon my AA LAX-SFO ticket and airberlin card, and the AA ticket seemed to still be an immediate cause for alarm. At first, she hesitated, then had to go back to check with her manager, and then eventually said OK because you were on an international long haul flight. I let her know that it should be okay even if I was flying short haul, but she seemed to ignore me.

Anyways, I think the conclusion is: expect resistance if you have an AA ticket, and you'll probably have to fight a bit with the agents if you're on a domestic only flight (unless someone has experience otherwise). Probably the agents need another round of re-education. Don't expect a warm welcome from this lounge.

About 11am this morning tried to gain access to the TBIT Qantas First Lounge as a BA Gold Guest List card holder on a AA domestic flight from LAX to ORD. Apologetically denied entry. Informed that to gain access the itinerary has to be connected to an incoming or outgoing international segment greater than 5 hours. Not in the argumentative mode today, but would like to see the "rules" posted on the Oneworld website so there is no confusion about access to this lounge.

As has been discussed before the rules are posted on the Oneworld website and say nothing about an international segment. The only explicit requirement is that the departing flight is operated by a Oneworld airline which, as far as we know, AA is - even for domestic flights. Your case is essentially the same as my report from October and people on FT were of the opinion that access should be allowed. The improvement in your case was that they were apologetic!

A post from Australian Business Traveller:

It seems like the problem still exists!!! BA Gold (oneworld Emerald) denied entry into the LAX first lounge yesterday. They stated I needed to be on a international flight or a domestic flight over 5hrs, very confused. Pointed out the oneworld rules but they didn't accept that response. I dont really understand why this is so hard for them. At least the cops weren't called on me.

Plus ca change.........

this experience (and boogen's) matches my recent experience as a non-AA ow elite flying on an AA ticket, even internationally, expect scrutiny if you present a ticket on AA stock. Recommend getting your AA ticket printed on other stock if possible, but if you're flying AA solely domestically, won't work.

Maybe someone needs to print the oneworld rules and stick them to the wall next to the lounge... or AA (or QF) needs to stop pretending that they are part of oneworld

Out of interest - which FF details were in the booking (on the BP)? Was it showing your AA or BA number on the BP itself?

Also - would you mind PM'ing me so that I can follow this up for you?

I know you were asking boogen, but for me usually the AA# is on the BP but I show my AB OWS card. In my experience, upon seeing an AA BP they don't even bother to scan the ticket and just say no. (When they scan the ticket in their machine, a big OWE logo pops up on their screen, from what I've seen.) In the times that they've let me in based on AB status, they've happily punched in the # on my AB card.

Anticipating a problem with the AA number on my boarding pass, I had the BA number on it to no avail and I wanted the tier points anyway. Two strikeouts as the fight ended up credited to AA regardless.

Wow... just wow... this is mind blowing. How hard can this be and why aren't some heads being cracked to get this fixed?

Absolutely bizarre...

Regards

Hi,
I will be flying next month from LAX to LHR on AA. I am BA gold (OWE) and will be flying business class, on BA stock (operated by AA from T4, but flight was purchased as BA1509 with a 125 ticket number).
So my questions are the following :
- Will I get access to the first lounge ?
- My sister will be flying on the same flight as me, also on BA stock, but in economy. She should be granted entry too, as I am allowed to one guest right ?
- Will we have any issues crossing security in TBIT, if we show a ticket for a T4 flight ?
- How do we get out of TBIT afterwards ? I believe we cannot take the AA/QF shuttle nor use the connector yet ?

Thanks for your help !

I don't think you will be able to get into TBIT given that you will be flying from Terminal 4. And honestly, though I very much like the restaurant in the First Lounge, I'm not sure it would be worth all the hassle. AA has a decent Flagship Lounge that you will be able to use. Food won't be anything to compare, but the seating is more comfortable.

You should have no trouble getting into the AA Flagship lounge in T4 or getting into TBIT but you do have to do that land side. The Oneworld lounge and the Qantas F lounge are another matter, though you should be entitled to at least the OW lounge.

You shouldn't have any issues getting into TBIT, if asked just say you're going in for the better shopping (not much in T4).
To exit basically same way as you came in at TBIT, there is a path along the wall next to the security lines.
Then exit the front of TBIT turn right, and into T4.

Downside is having to go through security twice.

Under the rules you and sister should get access to the FL (I would even say the same if you were on a domestic AA flight). Whether it is worth the effort however is another matter.

I highly suspect that there's more going on than just a matter of how to interpret the rules. There's almost certainly some other issue, probably involving payment (or lack thereof) to QF for use of the lounge by AA domestic passengers. Either QF doesn't want to provide access gratis when they should as per whatever the internal oneworld rules are, or AA doesn't want to pay for its domestic passengers to access the QF/oneworld lounge.

Thanks for the detailed answer !
We will see how long before we will be arriving at the airport. If we have enough time and security is not too crowded at TBIT, we will have a look at the OWF lounge, otherwise AAFL will be good enough. My sister does not travel a lot and does not know much about lounges etc... I think that one is a nice one to see before a 10 hour flight in Y !

moa999 is correct - Since May last year, all one needs to go airside a LAX terminal is a same day boarding pass for a flight departing any terminal. (Other anecdotes I have come across indicate this is available at other airports including ORD and JFK.)

Recent experience
 

To let those interested know of my recent experience, I'm BA gold (OWE), and flew last week on AA domestic first class from TBIT connecting to AA business class to Central America. I was greeted warmly at the OW lounge and graciously admitted without drama. However, when I requested admittance to the first class lounge, I was first told that I was not allowed, as I was not flying internationally. When I showed my connecting ticket to Central America, I was then directed to the entrance to the Qantas GC lounge. When I asked, I was told that if you are OWE and flying AA domestic, you are only allowed into the business lounge. I wanted to point out that this was in contravention of the rules, but seeing as I didn't have a lot of time and she seemed quite sure of their rules, I did not press the issue. I also did not point out the inconsistency that I was not flying international long haul. I wa admitted into the FC lounge without incidence.

It still seems like they are making it up as they go along. For what's it's worth, I found the FC lounge quite sterile and as I did not have much time, felt the restaurant style service slow and would have preferred the usual buffet. Next time I know just to slum it in the business lounge and move on.

As a further aside, I find it a bit annoying that AA tells you on line that you are departing from TBIT but neglects to tell you that you must still check in at T4.

I'm not sure that Central American flights are considered international flights when it comes to lounge access. I've just searched for the appropriate rule, and found this:

OneWorld Lounge Rules

Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:

First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).

How long was your international flight?

The rule for status based access in that reference is:

Enjoy exclusive access to premium airport lounges around the world with oneworld Emerald or Sapphire frequent flyer tier status. Members of oneworld airline frequent flyer programmes with the equivalent of oneworld Emerald or Sapphire tier status can use lounges offered by oneworld airlines when departing on any flight marketed and operated by any oneworld member airline, regardless of cabin class being flown (exceptions are noted below).

Emerald tier frequent flyers can use First Class, Business Class or frequent flyer lounges.

So Qantas are still making things up or have opted out of Oneworld rules for their lounges. The exceptions have to do with lounge memberships.

MadPhil is right; access for non-AA OWE does not require an international flight. What I thought odd was that they then went, incorrectly, and applied an international flight requirement, but did not follow the OW long haul requirement that SanDiego1K quotes (which while not correct, would have some logic). Policy really does seem to be rather arbitrary and leaves the passenger not knowing whether he has access to a lounge when travelling AA domestic from TBIT.

I suspect that the problem is that AA and QF have paid lounge memberships whereas Oneworld uses class of travel or elite status to govern lounge access. AA lounges seem to have no trouble handling this but it appears to be beyond QF's ability.

Have anyone tried to proactively get a written/email confirmation from Qantas regarding the access rules prior to getting to the LAX Qantas F lounge? Rather than doing it after the fact (trying your luck)?

I am OWE on AAdv, but I will be flying out of LAX T4 to NRT (SAN->LAX prior), and also will be coming into LAX T4 from PVG (then continue later LAX->SAN). One of them will be Y, and the other will be J.

As far as I can tell, with the international flights and with the OWE, I should have access to the Qantas First Class lounge, right? Will I have a problem?

Also, according to Qantas website, one should be able to bring a guest, and two kids (under 10) of your family into the lounge, right?

Until the connector opens, its still a pain to switch terminals, having to go through security twice.
Going out you should be fine,
coming back there is no entitlement to arrivals access.

I thought "the rules" (in real life may be a different story) stated that OWE should have lounge access (both biz class / first class lounge) in between international long haul and domestic connection, whether it is inbound or outbound?

If you have a connection yes theoretically.. You didn't mention that.

Oops.... sorry, my bad.... yes, I have a connection PVG->LAX then LAX->SAN

Has anyone had success entering the oneworld TBIT First Lounge recently on a domestic AA flight with no international segment as a non-aa oneworld emerald? I'd love to know as I have a domestic flight coming up soon and already had the unpleasant experience of being turned away a few times last year.

Send your question via fax to the lounge on 1(310)348 0751. Mention the fact that you have been denied access on previous occasions and keep a copy of the response when you fly.

Thanks! I'll be sure to try that and report back :-)

Thread in AA forum is now saying the T4-TBIT connector is looking at a mid-March opening.

After last year's debacle, the staff appear to have been properly educated.

To generalise, Business lounge access is available before departure for:

• Non AA oneworld Sapphire or Emerald before traveling oneworld marketed and operated same day flight.
  
• AA oneworld Sapphire or Emerald before traveling oneworld marketed and operated same day on an "international" itinerary ¹.
  
• Any PAX travelling non AA oneworld First or Business Class.
  
• Any PAX travelling on or connecting to an "International" AA First or Business class segment ¹.

First/Flagship lounge access can be available for Emerald and First passengers along the lines of the above.

There is some vagueness in the oneworld rules for AA three class transcontinental operations in relation to AA Elites or First / Business class PAX.

¹ "International" is anything other than North American flights within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.