OW Lounge Access
 

so i'm going to be embarking on a 4continent rtw trip in January ... i imagine that lounge access is a big time convinience on these sorts of trips, so i'm if it's possible to achieve those sorts of access privledges to the various airport lounges? any suggestions --- (i am not a very frequent flyer on AA or BA ... so i have limited miles in their programs)

Status gets you lounge access (e.g. AA plat status). You might be able to earn it in as little as one flight, depending on your rtw ticket. Or you can buy a lounge membership, probably the best to buy is the Qantas Club (which also gets you into BA, AA and US lounges, not just QF).

For more on status, search on "AA platinum challenge" (or pick a different plan and research it).

Alternatively, you could purchase a Priority Pass which gives you access to over 500 lounges, irregardless of airline or class flown.

http://www.prioritypass.com/

Or, of course, buy a business or first class ticket!

Careful, it looks like starting in January, only AA flights will count towards the challenge:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=621901

Most of the priority pass lounges are quite poor compared to most of the "free" airline lounges. Generally the best of the PP lounges are equal to the worst airline lounge (of course there are exceptions), also on some airports the PP lounge may not be accessible from the airline that you are flying, so having a PP lounge at the airport does not mean you can use it despite having membership.

All very fair points you make above ^

However, if it's a choice between the airport general area, and a 'not great' lounge, I'd still go for the lounge :)

And as you say, there are exceptions, the LHR T4 Holideck Lounge and IAH Terminal E Continental Presidents Club come to mind.