Oneworld Emerald benefit questions
 

Hello, apologies if this is the incorrect place or way to ask these questions.

I just flew from LAX to DFW, and am continuing onwards to another city, all on AA. Currently sitting in the Admirals Club at Terminal D with the following questions.

I have LATAM Black, which is emerald. I read that OW Emeralds could utilize the Flagship First Checkin at LAX. When I went to go utilize it, I was told no because it was only for AA international first class and JFK bound first class, even though the AA website says Emeralds can use it when flying on any AA flight, not solely international.

Now at DFW, I've gotten access to the international first dining room on multiple occasions thanks to Emerald, including on flights that were <30 min or less. Now I'm being told it's only for international bound Emeralds, although I cannot find such a policy change anywhere.

Should I have been able to use these benefits? Or is this regular procedure for Emeralds traveling on AA?

My understanding is that as a OW Emerald (not AA EXP) you are entitled to use first class options when flying anywhere on oneworld, including domestic America. I'm not aware that anything has changed.

You were denied wrongly both times.

I'm QF Platinum and regularly use AA Flagship Checkin at LAX since it's my home airport. Access rules are clearly stated on aa.com. Never have been denied or questioned for my domestic flights. They usually look on their list, not find me on it, and I just tell them I'm Qantas Emerald (yes, I've found that's easier for them than Platinum, Black, Gold, etc) and they let you right through.

Never any problem in Dallas either (though the food in there is nothing spectacular).

QF Plat/OW Emerald. I used the AA Flagship Check in at LAX T5 last October, twice, without issue. Was turned away from T4 the year before. Was flying Y LAX-SFO and F LAX-SEA.

When they first started rolling out the new Flagship Dining rooms in 2016, I was given an invite to the DFW room. This was during the period of the Flagship Lounges being renamed to International First Lounges during the refit process. Once the lounge refits were complete and they were renamed back to Flagship Lounges, you need to be flying in AA F on long haul or F on a 3 class transcon to access the Flagship Dining.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...rst-dining.jsp Same rules as the BA Concorde Room/Bar.

At LAX, you would have been better off heading through the T4-TBIT connector and using the QF F lounge.

i think international first dining is not part of emerald benefits.

i think international first dining is not part of emerald benefits.


also, at jfk, there is also emerald check-in area.

Not at the new LAX lounge.
Emerald has previously had access to the small (ex smokers room) at DFW which had an ok buffet and real champagne, rather than the rest of the Admirals Club

Correct. First Class Dining at DFW D is still considered by AA to be an International First Class lounge, and thus Emerald eligible. Please see the bottom of: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...hip-lounge.jsp

They still have access at DFW - used it last month - it's a buffet but the food is very reasonable.

"Flagship Dining" is a Class of service facility with no status based access.

Interestingly, It looks like an area was designed for this at the new ORD Flagship lounge, but AA did not implement it.

It was included in the design when there was still F on some AA international flights out of ORD. They didn't bother changing it when they dropped the F cabins. It is nice and quiet, but gets a bit hot in the sun.

DFW doesn't have the new lounges yet (or international first dining) does it?

They are working on them and the first class dining is a substitute for a Flagship lounge rather than international first dining.

Have just flown on AA SAN-MIA-GCM with a five hour layover in MIA at 5am. As Emerald (BA Gold) I was pleasantly surprised to be invited into the new Flagship Lounge in MIA. In my experience, on past occasions MIA-GCM had not been considered a true "international" flight for purposes of using the Flagship Lounge; this time, even though I was flying Economy out of MIA, I used it - and very pleasant it was, even having had no sleep.

DFW Dining
 

DFW does have First class dining in their Business class lounge.... I was there in February.
I was flying to Mexico as a EXP and got an invite. The lounge said her scan of my boarding pass said I was eligible.

BA Gold is good for Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge access with any Oneworld departing flight, it is not good for Flagship First dining which requires international or certain transcontinental First class.