AA Flagship Lounge Access

[Homer]

I’m flying to LAX on Monday on VA, connecting to an AA flight to JFK. My AA flight is a YUPP (or KUPP) “Discount Business” fare.

Looking at the AA lounge access policies online, it looks as though I won’t qualify for entry to the AA Flagship Lounge on the fare basis. Therefore my only way in seems to be to use my recently minted MCP Diamond FF membership as I am (presently) a lowly QF SG...

My questions:

1. Am I reading it right? Does the ?UPP fare not qualify for Flagship Lounge access?

2. If I add my MCP Diamond (OWE) FF number to the booking, should that do the trick?

3. Is the Flagship Lounge worthwhile (I’m familiar with the regular Admirals Club at LAX) for a two-hour layover where I’ll want to shower, etc or should I not bother forgoing my QF FF points in order to gain access?

 

[tuapekastar]

I’m flying to LAX on Monday on VA, connecting to an AA flight to JFK. My AA flight is a YUPP (or KUPP) “Discount Business” fare.

Looking at the AA lounge access policies online, it looks as though I won’t qualify for entry to the AA Flagship Lounge on the fare basis. Therefore my only way in seems to be to use my recently minted MCP Diamond FF membership as I am (presently) a lowly QF SG...

My questions:

1. Am I reading it right? Does the ?UPP fare not qualify for Flagship Lounge access?

2. If I add my MCP Diamond (OWE) FF number to the booking, should that do the trick?

3. Is the Flagship Lounge worthwhile (I’m familiar with the regular Admirals Club at LAX) for a two-hour layover where I’ll want to shower, etc or should I not bother forgoing my QF FF points in order to gain access?

Note: I'm not positive about what I've written below (apologies in advance if I'm wrong)...perhaps someone can confirm/deny as appropriate

1. I think you are correct...need to be full-fare paying transcon F to get access (by ticket)
2. I suspect you don't even need to do that, just flash the (MC) card
3. I've only used the regular AC at LAX, but I've heard the FL is somewhat better (others will be able to advise), and if point 2 is correct, you won't need to forego any QF points

 

[Homer]

Thanks. I was thinking of doing #2 but I was worried that if they looked at the BP and saw a lower status then it might be confusing. I suppose if they say “no” based on that, I could ask them to issue me with a new BP and change the FF number over to the CX one?

 

[drron]

Yes just flash your OWE card.Mrs.dr.ron gets us into the flagship lounges whichever FF number she is using.
And yes YUPP fares do not qualify you for lounge access domestically.
And the flagship lounge does have free food unlike the ACs.And a better class of Yobbo.And showers.

 

[dk4]

"Class of Service" based access to lounges for domestic only passengers, is only valid on selected routes with specific ticket types -

Passenger Type	Admirals Club Lounge	Flagship Lounge
Full-Fare First Class traveling on nonstop, three-class transcontinental flight (booked in F or Z inventory)	Yes	Yes
Guests	No guests	No guests
Full-Fare First-Class traveling nonstop on two-class transcontinental flight (booked in F or Z inventory)	Yes	No
Guests	No guests	Not Applicable
Business Class traveling on nonstop, three-class transcontinental flight (booked in J or U inventory)	Yes	No
Guests	No guests	Not Applicable

[TD="colspan: 4"] Transcontinental* Passengers
[/TD]

Credentials required: Passengers eligible for access must provide their government-issued photo identification and a ticket or boarding pass valid for same-day departure.

Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult having access privileges.

*Transcontinental flights are non-stop flights between the following cities:

Boston / Los Angeles		New York (JFK) / San Diego
Los Angeles / Miami		New York (JFK)/ San Francisco
Miami / San Francisco	New York (JFK)/ Seattle
Newark / Los Angeles	Washington Dulles / Los Angeles
New York (JFK) / Los Angeles

[TD="width: 8"][/TD]

[TD="width: 8"][/TD]

Admirals Club ( R ) Lounge Access

As others have stated though - AA does offer non-AAdvantage oneworld Emerald card holders; Flagship Lounge &/or Admirals Club access, as per oneworld rules (regardless of cabin of service).

 

[Homer]

Great, thanks everyone.

 

[simongr]

+1 on the F lounge over the J lounge - less busy, free drinks of a higher standard. You should also get free wifi but you will need to ask at the desk. I also found the AAngels there the most helpful and friendly of all the lounges.

 

[NM]

as already noted, just flash your OneWorld Emerald card and if they query it just smile politely and say "I am already Emerald in this program and working towards it in this other program. So I want this flight to credit to the program shown on the BP, but would like to use my Emerald status to visit your wonderful lounge facility".

 

[drron]

as already noted, just flash your OneWorld Emerald card and if they query it just smile politely and say "I am already Emerald in this program and working towards it in this other program. So I want this flight to credit to the program shown on the BP, but would like to use my Emerald status to visit your wonderful lounge facility".

But then I could hardly say I used to be Emerald in your program but it was easier to have my wife Emerald in QFs.:shock:

 

[awilcockson]

I wouldn't spend points on getting in, but I seriously enjoyed my time in the Flagship Lounge in LAX.

The booze is awesome, two top shelf bourbons had me entertained for quite a while.

And it's worth it just to be handed the magic swipe card that lets you into the inner sanctum

 

[Sprucegoose]

I wouldn't spend points on getting in, but I seriously enjoyed my time in the Flagship Lounge in LAX.

The booze is awesome, two top shelf bourbons had me entertained for quite a while.

And it's worth it just to be handed the magic swipe card that lets you into the inner sanctum

i thought it was quite ordinary, really. Bourbons not withstanding!!

 

[beardoc]

I've just been noticing, it seems that there's a potential change in rules for AA Flagship access for OWE, particularly when flying YUPPs to the Carribean:

Flagship Lounge(R) / Arrivals Lounge

[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]**American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum/Emerald customers traveling on solely North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.[/FONT][/COLOR]

I wonder if this means that if you're flying through the US on a YUPP as a WP/OWE (non AA EXP), you're going to be refused access at the Flagship Lounges now. This is not good.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I've just been noticing, it seems that there's a potential change in rules for AA Flagship access for OWE, particularly when flying YUPPs to the Carribean:

Flagship Lounge(R) / Arrivals Lounge

[COLOR=#000000][FONT=arial]**American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum/Emerald customers traveling on solely North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.[/FONT][/COLOR]

I wonder if this means that if you're flying through the US on a YUPP as a WP/OWE (non AA EXP), you're going to be refused access at the Flagship Lounges now. This is not good.

I think this just refers to AA Exp who are by default OWE. Pretty sure the intention is for non-AA Emeralds to get access on any class of service as they do now.

 

[beardoc]

I think this just refers to AA Exp who are by default OWE. Pretty sure the intention is for non-AA Emeralds to get access on any class of service as they do now.

I hope so - if they ever change this it might make AA YUPP runs much more painful!

 

[serfty]

I hope so - if they ever change this it might make AA YUPP runs much more painful!

Only slightly as there's not that many Flagship Lounges.

However, I concur with the princess that the point is moot - see here from the oneworld web site:

Lounge access - oneworld

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

...

Access to First Class lounges is restricted to passengers flying in the lounge operator’s First Class cabin or to cardholders with oneworld Emerald status, regardless of which oneworld airline or cabin they are flying.

The following exceptions apply:

2.	American Airlines AAdvantage® members, regardless of their tier status, cannot access lounges when travelling on North American itineraries within or between the U.S., Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean.