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

[AusTraveller]

The T&Cs online, at least that I could find, don't explicitly say anywhere that you don't have to use your AAdvantage number. Will have the email from AA on my phone though to back up my claims.

I don't believe they say you have to have the number in the booking either. I.e they aren't clear either way. I think you are definitely doing the right thing by keeping that email.

Also, glad to hear it all worked well on the return.

 

[ajd]

And successfully used it at WLG today - she did say "what's this?" when I showed my membership receipt, but she then proceeded to look up the conditions without my prompting. So that's a 2/3 strike rate so far, I have SYD T3 coming up tomorrow and I'll probably be trying CBR again in a couple of weeks...

 

[ajd]

...and denied at SYD T3. I did challenge him on this (including showing the email), he looked at his folder and also phoned someone and continued to stand firm on it. Given it was only 20 minutes to boarding I left rather than cause even more of a fuss, still a bit annoyed though.

 

[por930]

Seems to be a lot of confusion about lounge entry, especially when using other carriers lounges. We have Qantas Life membership and will be in the states for 3 weeks in October. Will be on 3 internal AA flights, all First Class. We were advised even though Qantas Club members, flying AA First class, we still cant access the AA Lounges unless one of us become a 30 day AA member. Anyway, when there, we will ask at the lounge and see what transpires.

 

[mannej]

Seems to be a lot of confusion about lounge entry, especially when using other carriers lounges. We have Qantas Life membership and will be in the states for 3 weeks in October. Will be on 3 internal AA flights, all First Class. We were advised even though Qantas Club members, flying AA First class, we still cant access the AA Lounges unless one of us become a 30 day AA member. Anyway, when there, we will ask at the lounge and see what transpires.

What flights are you on, as that advice may indeed be incorrect.

 

[serfty]

... Will be on 3 internal AA flights, all First Class. We were advised even though Qantas Club members, flying AA First class, we still cant access the AA Lounges unless one of us become a 30 day AA member. Anyway, when there, we will ask at the lounge and see what transpires.

Who advised you that? Unless something has changed recently, it would be incorrect.

Qantas and American Airlines have had a reciprocal agreement in relation to the paid Qantas Club and Admiral's Club memberships.

A Qantas Club member can access an Admirals Club with one guest before departing on any AA or Qantas flight.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-lounge-access/global/en

 

[por930]

We are on AA176, DFW-DCA; AA327,LGA-ORD;AA313 ORD-LAS; and AA23,SFO-DFW all flights in First Class. Now none of these flights have a QFA number, so Qantas see no connection. Although we arrive in DFW in First class on QF7, because we leave DFW the next day, we break the magical international connection, and as this is a domestic flight, with no QF flight number, the only way we can get access to an AA lounge in DFW is to have a minimum of a 30 day membership of the AA network lounges. When we leave DFW for SYD on QF7, we will be allowed to use the lounge, due to the international connection.

Apparently in the States it is different than here is Australia. Here when we we travel J or F, we get complimentary membership of the lounges and of course access to the lounges. In the states, when traveling AA, J or F this is not the case.

I saw this comment in http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access:

1. First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines or US Airways lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access.

 

[Princess Fiona]

We are on AA176, DFW-DCA; AA327,LGA-ORD;AA313 ORD-LAS; and AA23,SFO-DFW all flights in First Class. Now none of these flights have a QFA number, so Qantas see no connection. Although we arrive in DFW in First class on QF7, because we leave DFW the next day, we break the magical international connection, and as this is a domestic flight, with no QF flight number, the only way we can get access to an AA lounge in DFW is to have a minimum of a 30 day membership of the AA network lounges. When we leave DFW for SYD on QF7, we will be allowed to use the lounge, due to the international connection.

Apparently in the States it is different than here is Australia. Here when we we travel J or F, we get complimentary membership of the lounges and of course access to the lounges. In the states, when traveling AA, J or F this is not the case.

I saw this comment in http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access:

1. First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines or US Airways lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access.

Your access to the AA Lounges is nothing whatsoever to do with One World lounge access entitlements. It is a reciprocal agreement between QF and AA Admirals Club. The link provided in the post above by serfty explains the access

From the Qantas website
"Partner Lounges
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 marketed^ and operated by the partner airline whose lounge you wish to visit."

 

[serfty]

Thanks PF - that quote can be found on the following page: The Qantas Club Benefits | Qantas


(I did not have time earlier to post the correct link)

 

[por930]

Hi PF and Serfty,
Yes I saw this, and thought great...but my AA flights do not have a QF flight number, so thought this precludes us.. ^ Includes American Airlines operated flights with a QF flight number on your ticket.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi PF and Serfty,
Yes I saw this, and thought great...but my AA flights do not have a QF flight number, so thought this precludes us.. ^ Includes American Airlines operated flights with a QF flight number on your ticket.

It also includes flights marketed and operated by the partner Airline, in your case AA.

 

[por930]

Hi PF, OK, I sent an email to AA last night and received a message (referring to my QC membership and flying AA in First), from their Admirals Club, saying no access is possible unless I am a paid up member of the Admirals Club, and or I am traveling on an international flight with Qantas or AA from that port. See their reply:

"Thank you for contacting Admirals Club®. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your inquiry.

For access to oneworld lounges, AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum® members (equivalent to oneworld Emerald or Sapphire) or Premium Class passengers (First or Business) must be departing on a oneworld operated/marketed international flight that day. This excludes AAdvantage members traveling on solely North American itineraries. North America is defined as U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

Due to our paid membership policy, these members must be traveling to/from Europe, Asia, Central/South America or Mexico City on the day of their visit. Please refer to www.aa.com/admiralsclub for more details about our various admit policies, or let us know if you have any additional questions.

The 30-Day Membership is $99 and you set the start date. It is good for 30 consecutive days, and Admirals Club members are welcome to invite up to 2 additional guests or immediate family (spouse and any children under the age of 18) to accompany them. Guests may visit the Admirals Club, regardless of the carrier they are traveling with, so long as security is not an obstacle. This pass can also be used at all Qantas lounges as well.

If you would like to purchase, you can complete the transaction online or at an Admirals Club, or by contacting Member Services at 1-800-237-7971 (select Option 1). We look forward to welcoming you to the lounge soon.

And if you have any other Admirals Club questions, please let us know."

So, it would appear that QC members reciprocal rights with other one world clubs have some onerous restrictions, that make them only applicable when only flying on international connections and/or possibly when you have Platinum status....Extract from the oneworld.com-lounge access...

1. First and Business Class customers who do not hold Emerald or Sapphire tier status are not eligible to access American Airlines or US Airways lounges when travelling on solely domestic flights within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico [except Mexico City], the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean; customers travelling in First or Business class on U.S. transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX, JFK-SFO and MIA-LAX (and vice-versa) are eligible for lounge access.

As my wife and I are self funded travelers, I feel a tad discriminated against by the airlines, as the cost hardship to us to achieve this status is very different to the corporate types who not only get this status free, but are paid by their employer to get it.

Anyway, one of those things....

 

[mannej]

No need to feel discriminated against. By the QF website you will have access regardless of the information being provided to you.

As for the whole self-funded vs corporate status etc, that isn't discrimination by the airlines, just a reward from said companies for those who spend a lot of time traveling.

 

[file51]

Por930 why are you complicating things???

As has been stated numerous times you have access with your PAID Qantas Club membership.

It has nothing to do with OneWorld reciprocal rights. (they are quoting access based on this)

So far this year I have travelled with colleagues who are exactly in the same situation as you, QC members with no status, flying in AA First Class (A/P inventory) and they had no issues accessing the Admirals Club lounge in LAX, DFW, SFO, JFK & MIA.

I use my Emerald status for access, and further access to the Flagship lounge with a guest

 

[Princess Fiona]

Por930 why are you complicating things???

As has been stated numerous times you have access with your PAID Qantas Club membership.

It has nothing to do with OneWorld reciprocal rights. (they are quoting access based on this)

So far this year I have travelled with colleagues who are exactly in the same situation as you, QC members with no status, flying in AA First Class (A/P inventory) and they had no issues accessing the Admirals Club lounge in LAX, DFW, SFO, JFK & MIA.

I use my Emerald status for access, and further access to the Flagship lounge with a guest

Thankyou

 

[por930]

OK guys, Will give it a go when we leave DFW and report back end of October.

 

[Princess Fiona]

OK guys, Will give it a go when we leave DFW and report back end of October.

Excellent, enjoy
My favourite AC at DFW is at the A terminal.

 

[serfty]

Excellent, enjoy
My favourite AC at DFW is at the A terminal.

That is the "classiest" one for sure - it used to be the 'main one' when AA international flights departed from A until earlier this century. Part of it was even a Flagship Lounge back then.

 

[SamR]

Por930 why are you complicating things???

As has been stated numerous times you have access with your PAID Qantas Club membership.

It has nothing to do with OneWorld reciprocal rights. (they are quoting access based on this)

So far this year I have travelled with colleagues who are exactly in the same situation as you, QC members with no status, flying in AA First Class (A/P inventory) and they had no issues accessing the Admirals Club lounge in LAX, DFW, SFO, JFK & MIA.

I use my Emerald status for access, and further access to the Flagship lounge with a guest

Another thank you for explaining this so clearly. I'm SG and will be flying in F on AA domestically in November. The AA website was making me awfully confused about whether I would have AC access or not.

 

[file51]

Another thank you for explaining this so clearly. I'm SG and will be flying in F on AA domestically in November. The AA website was making me awfully confused about whether I would have AC access or not.

Sorry to all parties if my tone came across abruptly or rudely... just it was getting frustrating that the answers being given (away from AFF, by AA) had nothing to do with the actual question being asked.

Based on Oneworld status, you have no access rights at all without Emerald or Sapphire status, however, there is a separate agreement between QF and AA re access, i.e. Paid QC members get access to Admirals Club lounges when the next flight is with AA or US, and for paid Admirals club members they get access to QF pubs prior to a QF or JQ flight.

The explanations are quite black and white on the QF site, just sadly the AA staff did not convey that as they should have.

It may even be an idea to respond to them with a link to the QF T&C's that state what you were advised was incorrect...

...as previously provided, link to Partner Lounge details:- http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/qantas-club-benefits/global/en#in-the-lounge