AA's Admirals Club 30-day Membership: QF lounge access?

[gizzard]

Update November 17th:

This was published by Kangarucci which indicates the AA membership has become much less useful for QF travelers:

View attachment 59387
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Update 10 Aug 2015:
Looks like this has changed and now access is again available for a member and a guest before Qantas operated flights: (Lounge Access | AA.com)

Select Qantas Clubs when departing on the same day on a Qantas operated flight or an American marketed flight operated by Qantas

Which is a bit of tautology because "an American marketed flight operated by Qantas" would describe a subset of those flights that could be described as "a Qantas operated flight".

The "ADL" page indicates similarly: (http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/adl-club.jsp)

Must present your membership card (or 30 Day Membership receipt) and boarding pass at lounge check-in counter for same day travel on a Qantas operated flight or an American marketed flight operated by Qantas.

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NOTE: This opportunity has been 'Enhanced' and is unlikely to be useful to any great extent in Australia. See post #219.

Looks like the 30 day membership (and perhaps A/C membership in general is to take a big hit as far as accessing Qantas Clubs and International Business lounges)

Hat Tip to JDiver on FT:

Originally Posted by JDiver
At least as recently as November 2014, flying QF domestically, for instance, Admirals Club (annual and thirty day) members were iirc able to use Qantas Clubs the day of flight. Am I misremembering?

The new wording on aa.com:

Select Qantas Clubs when departing on the same day on an American Airlines operated flight or an American marketed flight operated by Qantas. Link Looking at a specific lounge, ADL / Adelaide:

Looking at a specific lounge, ADL / Adelaide:

The Qantas Club

Must present your membership card (or 30 Day Membership receipt) and boarding pass at lounge check-in counter for same day travel on an American Airlines or US Airways operated flight or an American Airlines marketed flight operated by Qantas.

The previous wording was:

Access to nearly 40 Admirals Club locations worldwide and over 30 international lounges operated by oneworld® partner Qantas (must be traveling on Qantas operated flight for access to Qantas lounges). And as an added benefit, Admirals Club members also now have access to 18 US Airways Clubs.

This change will severely reduce the usefulness of this for Oz residents.

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I thought that I'd provide a bit of info on this as I couldn't find much in the forum.

If you're a "lowly" NB or PS with QF then you don't get the "luxury" of lounge access. I'm on a YUPP run soon on AA but it will take me 2 QF flights and 7 AA flights to reach SG. If the SCs aren't added immediately then it could take me another 3 flghts on AA before reaching the goal. I figured out that would be at least 24 hours sitting around airports.

With that in mind I thought that the 30 Day membership would be useful. Even better if I could get one before leaving Oz and try and use it accessing the QPs on my international leg at both MEL and SYD.

One problem, as stated elsewhere on this forum, is that you aren't issued with a card as such. You can buy these passes at an Admirals Club but, as I say, I wanted to get one before leaving Oz.

The link on the web-site Admirals Club Expands | AA.com simply took me to the AA login page. I didn't want to necessarily become an AA member so I phoned up to see what I could find out.

IMPORTANT - you can ONLY order the pass by being a member. This became clear once I signed up but wasn't before then.

Also, although I haven't confirmed this yet as I haven't ordered the membership, it looks as though it's valid immediately from the time of ordering and it's not possible to forward date it.

It took ages to get the information from the AA rep I spoke to as they clearly had no idea. Having found out how to order I then also found out that a print out of the pass once ordered online is what I need to show at the QP but, again, no guarantee on entry as officially the dragon/angel needs to sight a card.

I'll see how I go in a couple of weeks time.

P.S. Wanted - an abbreviation for Admirals Club (AP is the obvious one)

 

[kempvet]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

I finished a SC run a few days ago in the US, I made use of the 30 day AC membership so can relay my experience.

I do not know about entering the QP before you leave, I am almost sure that you would need some sort of pass mailed to you (or printed off the net?), and this may not be practical. In addition Qantas would need some sort of number in their system to verify that your card is genuine. The T&C of the 30 day membership said that you have all the rights of a normal AC member, therefore in theory if a AC member can enter the QP here in AUS, so should you if you have a 30 day pass. However as you suggest, nobody may really know, as this condition may be rarely tested in the past.

As far as I know, you have to be a AA member, not a real problem as I joined here from AUS. To enter the AC you need to have a pass, now I suppose that they could mail this to you somehow, but for me to get my pass they needed to check my ID (passport before they would issue the 30 day pass). I get the feeling that AA expects people to join at the first AC which they enter.

The actual print out looks like a BP and they simply write your membership number onto the pass that they issue. Every AC which I entered (about a dozen in all) all entered the code into the computer and said, OK, enter, not many of the AC lounges asked for ID. As far as I know, once the card is ordered, it becomes active, this is why they suggest that you simply get the card when you visit the first AC lounge.

If you are doing a SC run in the US, you need the AC lounges, I would not worry about the QP here in AUS, just concentrate on how to best use the AC 30 day membership in the US. Also a useful idea is to do some homework on the actual AC lounges, not all airports have them, some airports have them, but no showers, and the airports that have more than one AC lounge, often have a great difference in the quality. For example, in MIA one of the AC lounges is tiny and crowded, with a wait on the showers, while a few minutes on the sky train, sends you to another AC lounge which is three times the size and far less crowded and the showers are free all the time. I got caught out at MIA, when to the smallest AC lounge on a 60 minute layover, missed out on a shower and sat on a stool as there were no free comfortable chairs.

 

[serfty]

...

P.S. Wanted - an abbreviation for Admirals Club (AP is the obvious one)

Already is - A/C or AC.

See abbreviations thread in the "Your questions" forum


Posted on a wing and a prayer

 

[ozdunker]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

I finished a SC run a few days ago in the US, I made use of the 30 day AC membership so can relay my experience.

I do not know about entering the QP before you leave, I am almost sure that you would need some sort of pass mailed to you (or printed off the net?), and this may not be practical. In addition Qantas would need some sort of number in their system to verify that your card is genuine. The T&C of the 30 day membership said that you have all the rights of a normal AC member, therefore in theory if a AC member can enter the QP here in AUS, so should you if you have a 30 day pass. However as you suggest, nobody may really know, as this condition may be rarely tested in the past.

As far as I know, you have to be a AA member, not a real problem as I joined here from AUS. To enter the AC you need to have a pass, now I suppose that they could mail this to you somehow, but for me to get my pass they needed to check my ID (passport before they would issue the 30 day pass). I get the feeling that AA expects people to join at the first AC which they enter.

The actual print out looks like a BP and they simply write your membership number onto the pass that they issue. Every AC which I entered (about a dozen in all) all entered the code into the computer and said, OK, enter, not many of the AC lounges asked for ID. As far as I know, once the card is ordered, it becomes active, this is why they suggest that you simply get the card when you visit the first AC lounge.

If you are doing a SC run in the US, you need the AC lounges, I would not worry about the QP here in AUS, just concentrate on how to best use the AC 30 day membership in the US. Also a useful idea is to do some homework on the actual AC lounges, not all airports have them, some airports have them, but no showers, and the airports that have more than one AC lounge, often have a great difference in the quality. For example, in MIA one of the AC lounges is tiny and crowded, with a wait on the showers, while a few minutes on the sky train, sends you to another AC lounge which is three times the size and far less crowded and the showers are free all the time. I got caught out at MIA, when to the smallest AC lounge on a 60 minute layover, missed out on a shower and sat on a stool as there were no free comfortable chairs.

Hey, i am about to do a status run in the States. I am Qantas Gold already. When booking the first class/business class flights with AA do you have lounge access? Or do I need to hope i can use my Qantas Gold Card?
Thanks

 

[serfty]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

Hey, i am about to do a status run in the States. I am Qantas Gold already. When booking the first class/business class flights with AA do you have lounge access? Or do I need to hope i can use my Qantas Gold Card?
Thanks

As a QF SG, you are oneworld Sapphire and can use any open AC you can physically access at the departure airport before any oneworld flight - irrespective of the booking class.

 

[ozdunker]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

As a QF SG, you are oneworld Sapphire and can use any open AC you can physically access at the departure airport before any oneworld flight - irrespective of the booking class.

Phew. Great.
Going to requalify for Gold, and hopefully get to Platinum.
Cheers

 

[kempvet]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

Phew. Great.
Going to requalify for Gold, and hopefully get to Platinum.
Cheers

As mentioned, you are OK for AC lounge access with a oneworld flight and also priority boarding (if you don't have the F or J ticket), make sure that the AA people have your QFF number printed on your BP, which should also show that you are sapphire. I would spend a little time to research the ACs at each airport, they are not all the same, nothing worse than getting crowded at the smallest AC in a large airport when there is a less crowded larger one a few minutes away.

 

[kempvet]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

Hey gizzard,
I think that you need to look at the AA AC lounges locations and permissions on their website, they seem to have performed a major upgrade on the site in the last few days, they now have a 30 days pass drop down list in the menu, and it show access to SYD T2 and T3 and not T1, same with LHR T3 and T4 and not T5. I am not sure where you want to leave from but it may influence your decision when to purchase the pass.

 

[gizzard]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

Thanks Kempvet. I've taken a look at the changes and they don't make much sense to me. It means that you only use the AC pass when travelling domestically within Oz from Sydney. For MEL it doesn't mention whether or not you can use the lounge from the international terminal T2, only how to get to it if travelling domestically and even sub-heads Melbourne Aiport as Adelaide.

I think that they've just taken a list of the domestic terminals and added them in. It doesn't matter if you're on a 30 Day pass or a Full Annual membership you get the same terminal options so that would mean that they're now stopping AC members using QP.

What's good though is that they mention that the receipt print out is good for the lounge and it doesn't require a card to be produced. I think that I'll get in ok but will let you all know.

 

[kempvet]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

I think that somewhere and somehow, QP staff would have to be able to system recongise this AA 30 days membership number, I had no problem as I only used the 30 day membership to enter AC lounges and was in their system (they checked my number every single time I entered a AC lounge). Otherwise, I think that you need to be a little prepared, and perhaps print from the AA website the rights that you have with this temporary number, but how QP staff are going to know that this number is genuine, I would be interested to know.

 

[grussellt]

AC 30-day Membership: QF lounge access?

Has anyone used an Admiral's Club 30-day pass to access Qantas Lounges in Australia? The terms on AA suggest you have access as long as you have onward flight travelling QF but in Sydney only refers to T2 and T3 . My question is, if departing Sydney International on QF (with AC pass) do you have the same lounge access as if you were a QP member (i.e access to Business Lounge)?

 

[samh004]

Sounds like it was designed to be used after a flight to Australia, connecting to a domestic flight.

Never heard of it so don’t know.

 

[grussellt]

I 've answered my own question. The very helpful response from Suzy (QP) and Grant (International Business Lounge) is yes - you do have acccess, if travelling on QF.

 

[TtiGeR]

Just called T1 International Business Lounge to double check this and a guy told me rudely (very loudly and repeatedly) that (for AC) "NO PLASTIC CARD NO ENTRY". He kept saying "been working here 10 years, NEVER HEARD of this", even after I politely explained this is a new membership being offered by AA. I then asked if I may speak to Grant and he lied to me that Grant is not on duty today. As I didn't catch his name when he answered the phone, I nicely asked if he would mind telling me his name again, but he cut the line straight away.

I called again and was answered by a lady, she was aware of the short conversation I had with the previous agent and she put me through to Grant. Grant said that he could not say on behalf of the company but personally he thought it should be okay if it's a proper AC membership (i.e. if it's not a complimentary pass). He suggested me to double check with QP which I haven't got time to have a chat with yet.

Anyway, I was quite disappointed (and even a bit scared) by the first guy's rude attitude.

 

[grussellt]

I agree it's always worth ckecking the rules of lounge access (and double-checking). The appropriate comments from AA are:

"If you have several upcoming trips, a 30-Day Membership has the same benefits as above PLUS all the great benefits of our annual members, but are limited to only a consecutive 30 day period." and

"*The 30-day individual membership provides access to all Admirals Club lounges. At partner lounges, guest access is subject to the policies of each lounge partner. No membership card will be issued. The membership fee is $99. No discounted renewal rates are available. Membership will commence the day of purchase. Must be 18 years of age to purchase or hold an Admirals Club membership. Membership may not be purchased with AAdvantage miles. Membership is non-refundable and non-transferrable."

Ulimately it's probably the decision of the lounge attendant on the day (and some are more helpful than others) but maybe a print-out of the relevant AA website page would be useful. or its electronic equivalent.

 

[dk4]

Delta's USD90 Pass comes with 30 days of access to Virgin Australia Lounges, so you would think that American would want to offer the standard membership inclusions to its customers too.

The 30-day membership grants access to all Delta lounges, Virgin Australia Lounges and Alaska Board Rooms, as well as select Air France and KLM lounges with the use of the temporary membership card.

 

[TtiGeR]

Thanks grussellt. I wasn't too sure because you mentioned "if travelling on QF". My upcoming flight is an AA coded flight operated by QF. That's why I called to confirm.

 

[grussellt]

Thanks, TtiGeR. We're not travelling until September so please let us know how you go with access. I have asked AA to amend the website to include access to the lounge in T1 (and to correct the location of Melbourne Airport from "Adelaide" to "Tullamarine").

 

[gizzard]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

I was able to purchase the Membership online having signed up for as an AA member.
Note that I paid with a credit card with an Australian address and didn't have to enter an American address to do this.


An update on using the 30 Day Membership in QF lounges.

I had no problem getting in to MEL QP nor SYD International Business Lounge with it. In each case the first person wasn't sure what to do but the second just allowed entry. As mentioned before, the AC site doesn't indicate that you can use the pass in the International terminals but this, I would think, is an ommission.

I don't know how long this Membership will be around as clearly it is rarely seen. I've since shown it in LAX, DFW and MIA and all are surprised to see one but very welcoming.

 

[kempvet]

Re: 30 Days Admirals Club Membership

I think that the real acid test for AC 30 day pass would be getting past the BA staff at one of their lounges where this pass is supposed to let you in!!