LAX Lounge Options Flying AA

[Mumanddad]

Flying YVR-LAX-SYD in May with AA, ticketed by Qantas using FF points, economy, no status. We have some complimentary Qantas lounge passes, but I'm sure these cannot be used.

We have a very long layover and were thinking of getting paid access into an AA lounge. I'm not even sure at this stage what terminals will be used. Are there any better options please? We won't be leaving the airport.

 

[serfty]

We have a very long layover

What is your definition of a long layover?

I have seen many suggestions of getting a day room at one of the many nearby "airport" hotels but really you would need at least eight hours to make that viable.

AA do have "day passes" but at $79US per adult are not cheap.

More here:

Admirals Club access − Travel information − American Airlines

www.aa.com

Priority Pass provides for no lounges access at LAX, but may provide meals in one of the many restaurants.

 

[Mumanddad]

What is your definition of a long layover?

It's six hours.

I'll think about the Admirals Club one-day pass and consider whether it's worth the money. It's a Saturday afternoon/evening so hopefully it won't be at capacity. As I recall last time we went through LAX it was bedlam, and impossible to find somewhere reasonably quiet to sit.

 

[chooms]

It's six hours.

I'll think about the Admirals Club one-day pass and consider whether it's worth the money. It's a Saturday afternoon/evening so hopefully it won't be at capacity. As I recall last time we went through LAX it was bedlam, and impossible to find somewhere reasonably quiet to sit.

We have a 7 hour layover coming up at LAX and we are heading out of the airport for an afternoon drink and bite at Venice beach (even with lounge access, I don't think I could handle staying at LAX for that long).

Personally, I don't think paying for access at an Admirals Club is worth it. Maybe Flagship Lounge... (which you can get with paying for 5 star service) but not Admirals Club.

If staying at airport, I'd plan to wander around all the terminals (airside) sample some bars or restaurants in different places. Do some people or plane watching (I found that can score seats near gate 159 in TBIT and watch the planes take off and land). In what might come as a shock, TBIT isn't as bad as what it used to be but that might be my experience after a few drinks in one or two of the lounges.

 

[NM]

Remember that a paid day-pass to Admirals Club lounge does not get you any real food (just pretzels and nuts generally) or drinks (other than water/juice). So add the cost of real food/beverages.

So if more than one person, consider the alternate value of finding an air-side restaurant and ordering a nice meals and drinks and making a long lunch/dinner out of it. Just might end up being better value. But of course you won't get a shower in a restaurant. You might find a "bar" or cafe with some nice comfortable lounge chairs that you can occupy for a while and order a few rounds of beverages to while away a few hours.

 

[Mumanddad]

We have a 7 hour layover coming up at LAX and we are heading out of the airport for an afternoon drink and bite at Venice beach (even with lounge access, I don't think I could handle staying at LAX for that long).

Remember that a paid day-pass to Admirals Club lounge does not get you any real food (just pretzels and nuts generally) or drinks (other than water/juice). So add the cost of real food/beverages.

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep the suggestions in mind. I will admit we quite like watching the planes coming and going, with the aid of Flight Radar. Last time we did that the time passed very quickly. We'll keep our options open and decide what to do on the day, but a long lunch sound appealing.

 

[NM]

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep the suggestions in mind. I will admit we quite like watching the planes coming and going, with the aid of Flight Radar. Last time we did that the time passed very quickly. We'll keep our options open and decide what to do on the day, but a long lunch sound appealing.

I know you said you did not want to leave the airport, but maybe worth considering a quick pop to In-N-Out Burger. This is also reported as a plane-spotter's favourite location.

Some example for a LAX In-N-Out Burger stopover

https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngeles/comments/vu4l58

You can walk to In-N-Out from LAX - Daniel E. Cook

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. There is an In-N-Out just outside of LAX on Sepulveda Blvd which I had thought was walkable. I was discouraged after reading this thread which suggests the walk to In-N-Out from LAX is not possible during a layover. Turns out, on a decent...

www.danielecook.com

Cheeseburgers and planespotting: My visit to the LAX airport In-N-Out - The Points Guy

I flew to Los Angeles to visit the LAX In-N-Out, a famous AvGeek favorite, to enjoy a cheeseburger and spend a day taking photos of aircraft while finishing off my 2022 elite status.

thepointsguy.com

Note the old "hack" of using the Parking Spot Shuttle was reportedly "closed" years ago when the shuttle service implemented a "customers only" policy to ride their shuttle. Many pre-1995 recommendations for visiting In-N-Out burger provide instructions on using the shuttle for free transport, so check when the recommendation was written.

How do you do an In-N-Out run from LAX or other LA area airports? [merged threads] - FlyerTalk Forums

Los Angeles - How do you do an In-N-Out run from LAX or other LA area airports? [merged threads] - Originally Posted by jackal Seconded! A couple of notes: If you are wheeling a rollaboard and don't want to lug it up/down the stairs, the short feeder street immediately south of the stairs works...

www.flyertalk.com

But ...

The LAX In 'n Out Trick Dies on Monday. Here's a Workaround. - View from the Wing

The LAX In 'n Out is one of the hidden gems of any "in the know" frequent flyer. It's on the edge of the tarmac, but tough to get to. You could always just ride the free Parking Spot shuttle to the garage right next door, though... Starting Monday Parking Spot is going to limit use of its...

viewfromthewing.com

providing the weather is ok, a 20-30 mins walk to the restaurant is probably fine, and the 20-30 mins walk back is probably necessary to burn off some of the calories just attained