As of September 1, 2012, American will be updating their lounge access policy for transcontinental flights. With American's current policy, they allow all two-cabin full fare first and business class transcon passengers (those booked in F, Z, J, and U fare buckets) Admirals Club access, and three-cabin full fare first class transcon passengers Flagship Lounge…
Continue reading: American updates their transcon premium cabin lounge access policy
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Well, that continues American's giant "go to h***" message to DC-based travelers. With Delta having hugely scaled down its presence at DCA through the USAirways slot swap, I would have thought there might be an opportunity for AA to try to appeal to stranded Delta loyalists. But instead, in a matter of weeks they've shuttered the IAD Admirals Club and taken away premium-ticket access at DCA for pax traveling on the (hugely convenient) DCA-LAX nonstop.
@ ES -- On the plus side (assuming you're not on full fare govt. fares) American is the only one of the major three that doesn't upgrade full fare low tier elites over discounted fare top tier elites.
This policy just aligns them with the ps policy on UA (plus transcontinental to MIA). I mean why on UA do I get lounge access for SFO-JFK but not SFO-EWR? Could you not make the same argument?
The airlines are trying to create premium routes it really has nothing to do with distance.
@ AdamH -- The one aspect of this that I find strange is that only a couple of flights a day MIA-LAX have "premium" aircraft, while the rest are 737s/757s. I find it interesting they give you lounge access if you get an upgrade on a 737 or 757 on MIA-LAX, but not MIA-SFO.
But yeah, I agree with you...
As an AC member who flies 762s in "A" occasionally, this is a good change in my book. Last time around I paid around $630 for a discounted business fare LAX-JFK-SJU-JFK-LAX which I upgraded to F but of course didn't include Flagship Lounge access. I had to sweet talk my way in with a deactivated key card.
It is still a load of bull that CX888 YVR-JFK in 3 Class F is not admitted to the Flagship.
so it is bad for me that I live in DC and fly IAD--LAX or soon DCA-LAX
Lucky I have the Amex Plat
@ ffi -- If you have the AmEx Plat you still have Admirals Club access, so if anything it helps you since the lounges will be emptier.
This is fantastic news for folks like me in the entertainment industry who do a lot of JFK-LAX with sticker upgrades! This is enough to make me not renew my Amex Plat card. I don't think it's fair for WAS to complain, since the Flagship routes & service are a unique beast unto themselves. Great move, AA.