A case where the rules don't overrule common sense at American

Do both lounges offer Diet Coke?

Wait, why wasn't your EXP card good enough to get in the FL? I've used my EXP status to get into the FL even when traveling int'l coach.

Disclose your financial relationship with American.

@ Corey -- Except I was flying domestic.

@ Suspicious -- I'm a customer of their's. I pay them for their services.

I think the fact that you are a popular travel blogger helps Ben. I see how they bend over backwards for you on twitter. I wonder if others would be treated the same. Kudos for thinking of your parents first. I'm a DL platinum based in Tampa and have been thinking of a match to AA because of your positive experiences with them, but I tried to fly them twice and had dismal service on both flights .

@ Winston -- Out of curiosity, how do you think I received preferential treatment in this instance as a travel blogger?

Was the bad service you received with American onboard? I actually don't think their flight attendants are that much better than the competition. It's their club agents, phone agents, and frequent flyer program that make me love the airline.

Yeah Ben, you've got to stop wearing that pajama top that says 'DYKWIA? A blogger. That's who!' when you travel. It clearly gets you preferential treatment!

You people are idiots if you think that AA employees know who Lucky is, and because he is a blogger, they give him special favors.

Please.

Yes it was onboard Ben. I guess the fact that I hate the Miami airport doesn't help. Not really sure if you received preferential treatment but just curious to also see if it makes a difference. Your tweets are very powerful man! 🙂

@lucky You're such a filial piety son and I truly admire you for that.

What's funny is that having had top tier status on UA and AA, I can say unequivocally that the "new" UA (also known as Continental) is a much different lounge experience than AA.

AAngels do go the extra mile for members--in the United Club nowadays its a struggle just to get in, waiting in line--Just find AA lounge experience much more "premium"

The last time I was in an Admiral's club, the AAngel went the extra mile making sure I was ok with using up a day pass at their small location on a short layover - very helpful and caring. The lounge was nice as well. Bar and snacks were rather sparse.

I can't recall receiving anything less than friendly service at a skyclub either, to be honest. Maybe just the UA folk are a bunch of grumps?

for all the crap AA gets, and usually deserved, I do find that the Admirals staff continues to be the best lounge staff in the industry.

The gate agents and FA's are sometimes annoyingly privileged, and I have had plenty of bad experiences mixed in with quite a few good, but I have never met an Admirals Club rep who was not polite, courteous, and willing to bend the rules for me (tons of preferred seat assignments or exit row assignments without status >30 mins out). Even when they can't help, they are usually empathetic and professional.

The problem with bending the rules is that it creates a sense of entitlement and expectation that the rules should always be bent.

Definitely nice of the agent to make an exception for you guys, and agree that the expired card issue is pure common sense. I do think you were pushing the envelope a bit by asking her to let your parents in the FL while you went to the AC, as I suspect you were probably hoping she'd let all three of you in as she did. If she'd gone by the book and only allowed you and one guest in the FL, would you really have left one parent alone at the AC or would you all have just stuck together at the AC? Is the Flagship that special?

I have to say as one of the people that got the presidential plus card during the UA merger and had to fight relentlessly with dragons all over the US to let me in for 3 months while UA continued to not process my membership despite multiple calls and notes on my account, i can truly appreciate this and is just another reason why AA sounds better and better every day!

An AAngel may have lost her job for "breaking the rule", and ultimately because you publicized it on your blog.

the flagship lounge at JFK admitted me and 2 guests (as an exception as well) a month ago!

the food was amazing as I was there for lunch and then the dinner menu changed shortly afterward.

the best italian wedding soup i've ever had was at this lounge

Well done by an agent who felt empowered to make the right decision. That says something about her and, perhaps, about the management above her.

Good post. It's always nice to encounter someone that uses some latitude when dealing with customers regardless of location. For every poor airline agent I keep telling myself there are good ones just like you mentioned here.

Einem geschenkten Gaul guckt man nicht ins Maul. (German proverb)

At JFK T7, I found the agents at the Flagship to be total dragons, but the Admirals Club in the same terminal were Angels.

I just arrived on CX F YVR-JFK. (The rules say F from Mexico City and AA premium cabins get access, but CX Global F does not, unless I could show a HKG boarding pass) I very kindly asked for entry and explained I was connecting from CX888. Instead of working with me, they were extremely rude and unapologetic. I asked if I could at least use the AC, having come in on a global F flight and in need of a shower before my connection. No was the answer, unless I wanted to shell out $50.

I walked to the detached AC, and was admitted without question. I also was admitted to the AC in DCA without question.

@ Kevin - Seems extremely unlikely in a service oriented industry that someone who earned their employer positive publicity through an above average (though far from absurdly so) act of Customer Service would lose their job. If she was giving out entrance to everyone who slipped her a $10 bill, then it would likely be a different story.

@Kevin You are a true champ

@Lucky -- Were you crediting the miles to AA?

I'm wondering if AA allows you to credit the miles to AAdvantage but use another OW carrier's elite status FF card to access the Admirals Club or Flagship Lounge?

I'd guess this wouldn't be an issue, but you never know!

@ John777 -- I was crediting to American. You most definitely can credit to American and still use another program's status to access a lounge.