AA lounge access in North America

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spiggy_topes

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I have a fairly heavy week of travel coming up on AA: Barbados-Miami-Toronto-Chicago-Las Vegas-LA, mostly in business class. Will my Qantas platinum FF card confer access to the lounges? (Prefer to ask here, the lounge dragons tend not to be gracious about refusing entry). Thanks!
 
spiggy_topes said:
I have a fairly heavy week of travel coming up on AA: Barbados-Miami-Toronto-Chicago-Las Vegas-LA, mostly in business class. Will my Qantas platinum FF card confer access to the lounges? (Prefer to ask here, the lounge dragons tend not to be gracious about refusing entry). Thanks!
Absolutely! Should also include Flagship Lounge access in ORD and LAX.

See here on aa.com: American Airlines - Admit Policies - oneworld™ Members

& Here on Qantas.com: Qantas Club Lounge Access
 
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Excellent, thanks for that. I had read something about AA not allowing their first class passengers into lounges when on a solely NA itinerary, but I see it doesn't apply here.

Come to think of it, Qantas used not to allow domestic business class passengers without status into the QP - is this still the case?
 
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spiggy_topes said:
Come to think of it, Qantas used not to allow domestic business class passengers without status into the QP - is this still the case?

The restriction is with AA's own elites on North American only itineraries - not other OneWorld elites. They need to be on an International itinerary to access the AA lounges. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean according to AA.

See "+titleText+"

There are a couple of exemptions for Full Fare F Transcontinental.

Qantas does now allow non-status J pax (domestic) into lounges [except certain non-revver's such as staff and probably a couple of other obscure ticketholder types] . This was changed about 4 months ago.
 
spiggy_topes said:
... Come to think of it, Qantas used not to allow domestic business class passengers without status into the QP - is this still the case?
No, Qantas announced they would allow non status/non-QP J passengers into the domestic QPs a month or three ago.
 
The Flagship Lounges have open bars, but the Admirals Clubs have cash bars. As a non-AA oneworld Emerald you are entitled to drink vouchers. They should give out two at a time, but some will do one at a time. Don't be afraid to ask if they "forget". Also, they should give you more if you run out. This is an undocumented feature, but fairly well understood.

Note that a $1/drink tip is still expected. Not compulsory, but expected.
 
Alan in CBR said:
They should give out two at a time, but some will do one at a time. Don't be afraid to ask if they "forget". Also, they should give you more if you run out. This is an undocumented feature, but fairly well understood.
I only received one voucher on all visits and did not push the issue. By the time I had gone back to reception the staff had changed and I would get another voucher but with a strange, mean, look. I got bored in the MIA AC lounge after 2 drinks and went out into the terminal and spent $10 on buying 2 beers and sat watching people coming and going.

Alan in CBR said:
Note that a $1/drink tip is still expected. Not compulsory, but expected.
In my very limited experience on my last trip this did not appear to be the case. Most people I observed did not leave a tip when using drink vouchers and the ones that did leave a tip would leave a couple of coins, quarters I believe as I did not look too closely.
 
JohnK said:
In my very limited experience on my last trip this did not appear to be the case. Most people I observed did not leave a tip when using drink vouchers and the ones that did leave a tip would leave a couple of coins, quarters I believe as I did not look too closely.

JohnK,

My experience is similar to yours in that tipping was still the go though way below what you would otherwise expect. A few coins or $1 for two drinks always seemed to keep them happy, and friendly, which is important if you want to be served again.
 
The AA lounges certainly make one more appreciative of QC. The Admiral lounge in LAX is particularly grim and in need of an upgrade.

When in SF recently, Qantas business travellers are shunted into the Air France lounge. A much wider selection of food (not only biscuits & pretzel) is provided, plus unlimited drinks (self-serve). It's small, but very functional.
 
JohnK said:
I only received one voucher on all visits and did not push the issue. By the time I had gone back to reception the staff had changed and I would get another voucher but with a strange, mean, look.

That squares with my experience. But this is the country that tried to impose Prohibition...
 
If one looks closely you may spy a one dollar bill tucked underneath the voucher when it is being handed over. I do not think it is a coincidence the vouchers and a US one dollar bill have the same physical dimensions. (Or is that so they fit the standard cash try in the till better :p)
 
serfty said:
If one looks closely you may spy a one dollar bill tucked underneath the voucher when it is being handed over.
As I said my experience is very limited and I tried to observe as many people as possible getting served so that I could get the etiquette right and not one of the people being served handed over any money even discreetly. One guy ordered 2 Gin & Tonics and handed over 2 vouchers and just walked away. I could see the 2 vouchers going into the till and definitely no money handed over.
 
serfty said:
If one looks closely you may spy a one dollar bill tucked underneath the voucher when it is being handed over. I do not think it is a coincidence the vouchers and a US one dollar bill have the same physical dimensions. (Or is that so they fit the standard cash try in the till better :p)
That's how I pay the tip - it's nice and discreet.

I also noticed the similarity in dimensions between the voucher and the banknotes, but I think your parenthetical postulation is likely to be the actual reason. All US banknotes are the same dimensions regardless of denomination, after all.
 
Alan in CBR said:
All US banknotes are the same dimensions regardless of denomination, after all.

As I found out many years ago on my first trip to the US, when for a few minutes I thought I'd given someone a $100 tip :!: :oops: :oops: :evil:
 
I have to admit that I tipped in the DFW AC yesterday.

I was given a chit as a AA EXP on an into itinerary without asking.

in other news currently posting this from my new iPod touch wirelessly in New York
 
simongr said:
I have to admit that I tipped in the DFW AC yesterday.

I was given a chit as a AA EXP on an into itinerary without asking.

in other news currently posting this from my new iPod touch wirelessly in New York

[OffT] Neat. What do you think of the screen? It seems the LCD is bit darker than the iPhone and that video on it varies from muddy to unwatchable. I'm waiting until it's jailbroken it before I plunk down the $$$.
Trust Apple to make the best PDA since the Palm V and then prevent any 3rd apps from running on it.

[OnT] I have exactly 2 experiences with AC in the US - SJC and LAX T4. The former was Friday a/noon and I got exactly one chit and tipped $1. Perfectly decent service.
The latter was at 6:30AM on a monday with the wife in tow, so asking for chits would have got a glare, but not from the AA employee. ;)

mt
 
straitman said:
They say that everyone that is anyone now has an iPod.

That makes me a very secure nobody :!:
So is it better to be a "nobody" or to be an "anybody". Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me :confused: .
 
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