*whinge* about no access Admirals Club even when flying domestic First

[gumpy]

Just to get something absolutely clear, an AA member with emerald OW status will not get AA domestic lounge access? WOW... :shock:

Yeah I was on a RTW J ticket about a year ago and I was surprised not to get into a lounge... I just walked into a cafe and changed all the drinks back to the company anyway so didn't really care though a shower would have been awesome =).

 

[Dave Noble]

Just to get something absolutely clear, an AA member with emerald OW status will not get AA domestic lounge access? WOW... :shock:

Indeed. Though I would say that the value of the unlimited complimentary upgrades on "domestic" flights plus the 8 systemwide upgrades more than offsets the USD250 for Admirals Club membership to get lounge access

Alternatively, possessing an American Express Charge card will entitle one for lounge access when travelling on AA and others in the USA

Dave

 

[serfty]

Just to get something absolutely clear, an AA member with emerald OW status will not get AA domestic lounge access? WOW... :shock:
...

AA EXP's (Emerald) and PLAT's (Sapphire) do get lounge access when in conjunction with same-day travel to/from countries outside North America (or MEX).

... Yeah I was on a RTW J ticket about a year ago and I was surprised not to get into a lounge... I just walked into a cafe and changed all the drinks back to the company anyway so didn't really care though a shower would have been awesome =).

Did you have SG, WP or QP membership at the time? If so (and you had a current membership card) you would have had access.

 

[dk4]

Just to get something absolutely clear, an AA member with emerald OW status will not get AA domestic lounge access? WOW... :shock:

I'm with Dave Noble on this one, unlimited N.A. upgrades; with most EXP (AA Emerald) scoring better than 90% (plus complimentary same day standby - lottery ranked primarily by status level OR freebies from the economy menu, on the odd occasion you don't get an upgrade). Many just pay (or use another method) for lounge access!

(Note: it generally takes a great deal of BIS flying even in premium classes, to get EXP on AA.)

...a shower would have been awesome =).

Particularly with one of these

 

[wandering_fred]

I'm with Dave Noble on this one, unlimited N.A. upgrades; ...
(Note: it generally takes a great deal of BIS flying even in premium classes, to get EXP on AA.)

It actually depends on how creative your ticketing is. 2 LONEx or one DONEx will come pretty close. Using the Y+ to get full mileage on QF/BA longhaul - as well as sleeping better SIN-LHR-Canada(adding USA in Y) in Y+ is about 40K EQP. Routing via NRT instead of SYD to go to the USA (you would do this to use the eVIPs anyway). Paying attention to the double mile promotions. Using CMB and/or TPE to find less expensive J tickets on CX.

Oh yes my problem this year - redeeming miles instead of paying for tickets. I'll qualify PLT but EXP would require serious creativity. :shock: Alas I probably don't have enough time. though double EQM are offered on RT tickets from STL/BNA/PIT and RDU.....
Maybe I should ask AA if a LONE3 beginning and ending in STL is considered a round trip. :shock:

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Dave Noble]

It actually depends on how creative your ticketing is. 2 LONEx or one DONEx will come pretty close.

Unless someone throws money away on a DONE6 to just go as far as possible, it would likely be quite a way short of getting EXP on 1 trip. Platinum status is v easy in just needing to fly 33,334 miles, but to get a routing that gives close to 66,667 flown miles is pretty hard

Getting a LONEx which gives 50,000 flown miles and all on airlines which full EQM mileage is not that feasible even more so if planning the trip on places to go rather than just getting most miles

Getting top status with AA can be easier than getting it with Qantas when travelling in economy but still needs a lot of travel.

 

[drron]

I'm with Dave Noble on this one.One DONE4 gives me AA plat.I need 2 to get EXP.But 1 DONE4 gets mrsdrron to QF WP.We dont fly Y internationally.

 

[anat0l]

I'm with Dave Noble on this one.One DONE4 gives me AA plat.I need 2 to get EXP.But 1 DONE4 gets mrsdrron to QF WP.We dont fly Y internationally.

O/T now...

Well, you could also get it by flying 100 sectors (that qualify).

Still expensive (time and money). Whilst it may be possible to find some really, really cheap shorthaul that qualifies as a sector, the time required to fly them all would be demanding.

 

[wandering_fred]

I'm with Dave Noble on this one.One DONE4 gives me AA plat.I need 2 to get EXP.But 1 DONE4 gets mrsdrron to QF WP.We dont fly Y internationally.

I don't think anyone will argue that QF (and BA) very much are oriented to J and F travelers when it comes to FF program status. But some people consider the options for (and cost of) a redemption to be a major consideration in selecting a FF program. YMMV

If the RTW ticket is simply a means to get from A to a number of points as opposed to an opportunity to do that and visit some places you would never otherwise visit, then yes 30-40K mileage would be expected per ticket. Historically mine have been closer to 45K. And yes getting OW Emerald on one trip a year on a FF program (other than QF / BA) is probably a FF member dream. But that is, perhaps why they are called frequent flyer programs. And all airlines have different competitive markets and different orientations to the flying group they wish to attract / appeal to.

I for one, would rather be able to travel several times yearly, perhaps with the occasional luxury, rather than one big splurge every couple of years.

On a basis of the cost per revenue seat mile - who makes more money on selling annual lounge access packages - QF or AA ?

Fred

 

[cove]

Well Alanslegal I thought about an alternate view.
About 5 years ago AA tried to bump us off our 2 booked First class paid seats.
After that I have always used QF points to go LAX to NYC return.
Now for some unknown reason they give us access to their Admirals Lounge despite us being no one in particular.I never complain about access or need to negotiate.
Keep the money in your pocket and buy or use some points for AA travel.
This airline is not good enough to pay full price for a First ticket.

 

[Dave Noble]

Well Alanslegal I thought about an alternate view.
About 5 years ago AA tried to bump us off our 2 booked First class paid seats.
After that I have always used QF points to go LAX to NYC return.
Now for some unknown reason they give us access to their Admirals Lounge despite us being no one in particular.I never complain about access or need to negotiate.
Keep the money in your pocket and buy or use some points for AA travel.
This airline is not good enough to pay full price for a First ticket.

LAX-NYC is a trans continental flight and so full fare or award business and 1st passengers are entitled to lounge access. The transcontinental services are the exception to the normal domestic lounge access rules

 

[gumpy]

AA EXP's (Emerald) and PLAT's (Sapphire) do get lounge access when in conjunction with same-day travel to/from countries outside North America (or MEX). Did you have SG, WP or QP membership at the time? If so (and you had a current membership card) you would have had access.

Nah I didn't I was a PS =( and no QC or Plat Amex... So glad those days are behind me now =) Problem is life's so good with WP I don't know how I'm going to maintain it after I move on from this role... One more promotion and it will massively slow down... =( quite sad really...

 

[drewbles]

As an aside, if you book a First fare on the AA code for these flights, you most certainly do get access to the AS boardroom lounges - AS grant COS access to their lounges if you have a full fat F ticket (discounted F isn't allowed access) - and codeshares are perfectly acceptable

And the SFO-LAX-SEA run on AA SFO-LAX and AS metal (AA code) LAX-SEA in F book into full F and do grant T3 Lounge access at LAX and at SEA.

Quite nice lounges too

 

[drewbles]

Alternatively, possessing an American Express Charge card will entitle one for lounge access when travelling on AA and others in the USA

Dave

iirc (and someone please correct me if i'm wrong) It has to be a US issued Amex Platinum Charge Card. The starting digits are different, and I seem to remember the access cheat-sheet the AAngents use states 'cards should start with xx' so as to only offer access to the US issued holder.

The OP (or anyone else for that matter) would not have been able to gain access using an Amex Platinum Charge Card unless it met this criteria.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Problem is life's so good with WP I don't know how I'm going to maintain it after I move on from this role

1) I would argue that top tier (OWE) with AA is even better than QF because you get 6 (or is it 8) SWU (System Wide Upgrades) each year.

2) I wouldn't say that QF Plat is "so good", marginal (at best) advantages above Gold or QC even, but that's just me.

 

[Dave Noble]

iirc (and someone please correct me if i'm wrong) It has to be a US issued Amex Platinum Charge Card. The starting digits are different, and I seem to remember the access cheat-sheet the AAngents use states 'cards should start with xx' so as to only offer access to the US issued holder.

The OP (or anyone else for that matter) would not have been able to gain access using an Amex Platinum Charge Card unless it met this criteria.

The personal platinum website doesn't seem to inform on lounge access ( link to find out doesnt work ) but looking at corporate platinum American Express it does state

Airport Lounge AccessAir travel can be stressful at the best of times. It's good to know that as a Platinum Business Card member you are extended a warm welcome in some of the world's most hospitable airport lounges*. Your Platinum Card membership affords you complimentary access to Delta Crown Room Club®, Continental Airlines Presidents Club®, Northwest Airlines WorldClubs® and American Admirals Club®. Simply present your Platinum Business Card and your boarding pass for that carrier and you'll enjoy access for yourself and up to two travelling companions.

* The Platinum member must present his or valid Card, governement-issued I.D. and airline ticket to club agents. Codeshare and affiliated lounge agreements may not apply in all cases. The Platinum Card member must be 18 years of age to enter the airport club lounge without a parent or guardian for American Airlines, and 21 years of age to enter all other airport club lounges. Card members must adhere to all house rules of participating clubs.

Don't see why the personal one should be an exception and do know some ppl who have used it

 

[NM]

1) I would argue that top tier (OWE) with AA is even better than QF because you get 6 (or is it 8) SWU (System Wide Upgrades) each year.

Executive Platinum on AAdvantage receives 8 eVIP upgrades each year. These can be used to upgrade any paid fare type for up to three sectors and can be confirmed at the time of request if availability exists. They book into C for business class and A for first class, so generally plenty of availability and certainly better than looking for the scarce-as-hens-teeth U and P on QF flights. And if no C/A available, can be wait-listed and will be conformed any time that C/A becomes available before departure.

And eVIP upgrades can be given to other passengers. So even though I did not them for myself last year, I was able to give them away to friends and colleagues who travelled on AA flights.

 

[Stafman]

My experience with AA lounge people was quite pleasant.

On a morning flight from JFK to Mexico City in First Class, I attempted to access te lounge as I assumed it would be okay. The lady politely advised that sorry, US to Mexico doesnt qualify even in First.

She offered a day pass for whatever cost, and I declined. She then asked if i was a member with their partners, and I advised I was Qantas club member, but hadnt brought the card with me as I was flying Delta / American on all my legs (have since learnt better).

She then said, no probs, she'll sign me in as her guest for no charge, looked on the system and said, actually, its already here on your flight info and in I went.

Assuming this is because I had my FF account on the AA booking and it shows QC membership. Anyway, being polite will get you a lot further than getting agitated.

 

[straitman]

My experience with AA lounge people was quite pleasant.

Anyway, being polite will get you a lot further than getting agitated.

Stafman,

I have had similar experiences with AA lounge staff. I also agree that as a general rule, being polite will get you a lot further than getting agitated.

 

[gumpy]

1) I would argue that top tier (OWE) with AA is even better than QF because you get 6 (or is it 8) SWU (System Wide Upgrades) each year.

2) I wouldn't say that QF Plat is "so good", marginal (at best) advantages above Gold or QC even, but that's just me.

Yeah well i quite enjoy it, sitting almost right at the front of the plane, getting more points upgrades than i did on SG, F Lounge (this is just freakin awesome) and waiting on average 3 seconds on the phone line with qantas. Double points to get me to the next points upgrade quicker so that is good also.

AA may be a better OWE but as i travel more domestically than int i'm happy with the QF WP.