Qantas Club member access to American Airlines lounge

[Bluewave]

(Sorry to not use all the correct abbrev/monikers here)
I'm a Qantas Club (paid) member, with QFF Silver and Points Club. I've purchased QF econ tkts BNE-LAX rtn next year (one mth stay), and was looking at booking QFF reward flights LAX-LHR during the time there. As it will be a separate booking, I am only seeing QFF reward flights on AA, BA, and some other OW airlines.

My question is: If I book a reward trip on AA economy, will I have access to AA Admiral's Lounge due to QC membership?

The QF website seems to indicate "NO" if my tkts are not on QF flt # (as not eligible by other means, eg Gold status, Biz class tkts).

I recall in previous trips to USA where I had AA domestic econ flights (not part of QF itinerary) I was able to use AA lounge as a QC member. Has this changed? I also saw this in a recent AFF article:

 

[muppet]

You should be fine:

When travelling with American Airlines, as a Qantas Club member you and a guest are welcome at American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. Simply present your Qantas Club card together with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. Both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on a flight marketed5 and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit.

 

[Bluewave]

Thank you, but that #5 footnote says: "Includes American Airlines operated flights with a QF flight number on your ticket."

I don't remember seeing this condition in past years, and it never was a problem gaining reciprocal rights entry when flying AA domestic. Maybe it was always there, and I'm just reading it differently now? I may be flying LAX-BNE on same day I return on LHR-LAX, so that could be fine. It's just the LAX-LHR flight that will be a stand-alone.

Or is it that I will get a QF flight number when booking QFF rewards on AA metal?

 

[Thibault]

We were able to enter AA Admiral lounges throughout the US on AA-issued tickets with AA flight numbers with QF QC.

 

[Bluewave]

Thank you. That's been my previous experience too, so I will hope for the best!

 

[serfty]

Thank you, but that #5 footnote says: "Includes American Airlines operated flights with a QF flight number on your ticket."

Thank you. That's been my previous experience too, so I will hope for the best!

Here is the actual link:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/benefits.html

5. Includes American Airlines operated flights with a QF flight number on your ticket

That footnote 5 references access that is in addition to the benefits listed in the paragraph quoted by @muppet.

 

[Bluewave]

Thank you, that's great to hear.

 

[insomniaphd]

Wondering whether there have been any changes here in the last couple of months.

There used to be specific language about Qantas Club access to American Airlines lounges on the Qantas Club benefits page, which used to state that: "When travelling with American Airlines, as a Qantas Club member you and a guest are welcome at American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. Simply present your Qantas Club card together with your boarding pass at the lounge reception. Both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on a flight marketed5 and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit."

This was inconsistent with the general rules about partner lounges, but I found it always worked without question. I took advantage of this during 2023 as a paid Qantas Club member.

I can see that the current version of the Qantas Club website no longer contains language like this. However, it's not clear to me whether this represents a true (very quiet) policy change, or something that was unintentionally dropped.

In other words, has there been a change to Qantas Club members' ability to gain Admirals Club lounge access on AA-numbered flights (which are not QF codeshares)?

 

[Bluewave]

I would love to know the answer to this question too.

 

[SYD]

Not aware of any changes. The AC / QP reciprocal arrangements as “paid” lounge memberships have been around for years - independent of OW lounge privileges.

You’d expect some announcement if that had been revoked?

 

[DymoFF]

No issue accessing AA Admirals lounge DFW as QFS with QC as of March 2024. Internal USA flights booked/ticketed direct with AA (i.e. not QF codeshare or AA connecting flight to QF booking).

 

[Bluewave]

No issue accessing AA Admirals lounge DFW as QFS with QC as of March 2024. Internal USA flights booked/ticketed direct with AA (i.e. not QF codeshare or AA connecting flight to QF booking).

That's great to hear! Thanks for posting.

 

[insomniaphd]

That's great to hear! Thanks for posting.

I've also had success (Qantas Bronze with Qantas Club) on AA-numbered flights in March 2024.

 

[flying_koala]

My wife, 2 young kids and I rocked up at LAX Admirals club on our connecting flights (BNE - LAX - CLT - ...). I was told that the agreement with Qantas Club only allows one guest (either adult or a child). So technically we were 2 people too many. The lounge staff let me in this time as an exception. He said because the kids were still very young (4yo and 6yo).

However, at CLT connection, we were welcomed without any mention of this "agreement" and they even gave my kids an Admirals Flyer badge each.

My understanding is domestically (in Australia), I am allowed one guest (my wife) + 2 kids into a Qantas lounge.

So what's the actual rule? Are the kids not allowed as additional guests at Admirals club?

EDIT: I found the answer here:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/at-the-airport/airport-lounges/access.html#children

 

[DC3]

My wife, 2 young kids and I rocked up at LAX Admirals club on our connecting flights (BNE - LAX - CLT - ...). I was told that the agreement with Qantas Club only allows one guest (either adult or a child). So technically we were 2 people too many. The lounge staff let me in this time as an exception ..

Yes, they were wrong and these things sometimes happen. Being familiar with access rules always helps. I hope that you had a great holiday in the US.

 

[insomniaphd]

I've also had success (Qantas Bronze with Qantas Club) on AA-numbered flights in March 2024.

Success again this week (Qantas Club card; American Airlines; US domestic AA flights). One thing I found was that some agents are not familiar, and they need to scan the boarding pass before checking the Qantas Club card, at which point the computer grants access. One agent started with the card and couldn't see a way to let me in until she scanned the boarding pass and then went back to the Qantas Club card - at which point, the computer told her I was good to admit to the lounge.

 

[henrus]

So what's the actual rule? Are the kids not allowed as additional guests at Admirals club?

The old QF Club website used to clearly outline that all children are counted towards guest numbers:

Eligibility and Access to The Qantas Club Lounges | Qantas

Find out about eligibility and access to The Qantas Club lounges, oneworld airline lounges and partner lounges.

web.archive.org

That was removed when they simplified the website but I'm under the impression the rules haven't changed.