AA afficionados (TRB - I need your help!) - has anyone noticed this regarding the AA Arrivals Lounge in LHR? Things post-US merger are changing rapidly at AA; this just caught my eye in that section of the AA site:
Flying on British Airways, Cathay Pacific or Qantas? Access to the AA Arrivals Lounge is complimentary for:
* AA EP or US Chairman’s lounge plus F & J pax on AA/US
* British Airways First, Club World, Premier and Gold Executive Club customers arriving in LHR on the same day on a long distance flight operated by British Airways or a regional affiliate marketed by British Airways.
* Cathay Pacific First, Business Class customers and those holding an invitation from Cathay Pacific arriving in LHR on the same day on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific or a regional affiliate marketed by Cathay Pacific.
* Qantas First, Business Class and Qantas Club members arriving in LHR on the same day on a flight operated by Qantas or a regional affiliate marketed by Qantas.
Firstly -:
Unless I am very much mistaken, this is a new thing for QC members to be allowed access (given I once gave it a Red, Hot & Rhonda try with QC membership in my pre-elite AA days, and was flatly told no) , and I am surprised by the lack of access therefore for QF Platinum/Gold, as well as the equivalent Cathay elites (although reading between the lines, the ‘invitation’ CX can supposedly proffer may possibly be given to their elites; there is no mention of QF ‘invitations’ though). I’m a Platinum with AA but have no access if only flying back of the plane, as I’m not Executive. I do have QC as a backup though, so this would give me access under these terms. Seems a little odd that AA would not give their own Platinum elites access to their own lounge though (given 99% of them would NOT have QC, of course) based on the supposition that Qantas Club is roughly equivalent to AA Platinum.
Anyone got any idea about the rationale behind this?
Qantas Club membership is more analagous to Admirals Club membership, rather than AA Platinum. It seems that access is being granted for passengers in Business and First on affiliate airlines and those with paid lounge memberships (I think Admirals Club card holders have access as well).
The top-teir AA and BA access is probably to give the joint venture customers a little extra bang for their buck, and thus doesn't extend to QF Plat/Gold or CX Marco Polo club members.
I must say this took me by surprise too. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
It would appear that AA has recently updated the Arrivals Lounge section of its website. It use to look quite different and without the provisions for BA, CX and QF. Incidentally the provisions for BA pax/EC members are a lot more explicit than what BA has on its website for AA pax/Aadvantage elites (this will upset a lot of people on Flyertalk!).
If this is in fact true, the Qantas Club membership will be a lot more valuable than an Admirals Club membership. It would seem AA is not even allowing Admirals Club members in the Arrivals Lounge! I share your annoyance regarding the lack of access for Platinums (ow Sapphire), although I am not surprised as the suite of benefits for Platinums are generally less flash than they are for Exec Plats. What is surprising is access for Qantas Club members.
I have a feeling that this is in fact an error. The AA website technicians have been known to make fundamental errors like this. For example when MH joined oneworld, the rate of mileage accrual detailed on the AA website was inaccurate. I had contested and obtained missing mileage based on inconsistent information on the website. Suffice to say the information on the AA website was shortly updated.
The best thing to do is to test the system and obtain anecdotal evidence from Qantas Club members. To that end, could readers to this forum please test if access is granted. Would appreciate if you could please report back. I suspect feedback from ground staff at the Arrivals Lounge will eventually result in an update to the AA website.
nathanjordan
nathanjordan
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Aug 2013
Total posts 47
AA afficionados (TRB - I need your help!) - has anyone noticed this regarding the AA Arrivals Lounge in LHR? Things post-US merger are changing rapidly at AA; this just caught my eye in that section of the AA site:
Flying on British Airways, Cathay Pacific or Qantas? Access to the AA Arrivals Lounge is complimentary for:
* AA EP or US Chairman’s lounge plus F & J pax on AA/US
* British Airways First, Club World, Premier and Gold Executive Club customers arriving in LHR on the same day on a long distance flight operated by British Airways or a regional affiliate marketed by British Airways.
* Cathay Pacific First, Business Class customers and those holding an invitation from Cathay Pacific arriving in LHR on the same day on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific or a regional affiliate marketed by Cathay Pacific.
* Qantas First, Business Class and Qantas Club members arriving in LHR on the same day on a flight operated by Qantas or a regional affiliate marketed by Qantas.
Firstly -:
Unless I am very much mistaken, this is a new thing for QC members to be allowed access (given I once gave it a Red, Hot & Rhonda try with QC membership in my pre-elite AA days, and was flatly told no) , and I am surprised by the lack of access therefore for QF Platinum/Gold, as well as the equivalent Cathay elites (although reading between the lines, the ‘invitation’ CX can supposedly proffer may possibly be given to their elites; there is no mention of QF ‘invitations’ though). I’m a Platinum with AA but have no access if only flying back of the plane, as I’m not Executive. I do have QC as a backup though, so this would give me access under these terms. Seems a little odd that AA would not give their own Platinum elites access to their own lounge though (given 99% of them would NOT have QC, of course) based on the supposition that Qantas Club is roughly equivalent to AA Platinum.
Anyone got any idea about the rationale behind this?
RealKid
RealKid
Member since 20 May 2014
Total posts 91
Qantas Club membership is more analagous to Admirals Club membership, rather than AA Platinum. It seems that access is being granted for passengers in Business and First on affiliate airlines and those with paid lounge memberships (I think Admirals Club card holders have access as well).
The top-teir AA and BA access is probably to give the joint venture customers a little extra bang for their buck, and thus doesn't extend to QF Plat/Gold or CX Marco Polo club members.
That's just my guess as to the logic.
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
RealKid,
Admirals Club members do not get access to the Arrivals Lounge as detailed through its omission on the Arrivals Lounge page of the AA website.
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
Nathan Luke,
Thank you for the confidence *blush*
I must say this took me by surprise too. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
It would appear that AA has recently updated the Arrivals Lounge section of its website. It use to look quite different and without the provisions for BA, CX and QF. Incidentally the provisions for BA pax/EC members are a lot more explicit than what BA has on its website for AA pax/Aadvantage elites (this will upset a lot of people on Flyertalk!).
If this is in fact true, the Qantas Club membership will be a lot more valuable than an Admirals Club membership. It would seem AA is not even allowing Admirals Club members in the Arrivals Lounge! I share your annoyance regarding the lack of access for Platinums (ow Sapphire), although I am not surprised as the suite of benefits for Platinums are generally less flash than they are for Exec Plats. What is surprising is access for Qantas Club members.
I have a feeling that this is in fact an error. The AA website technicians have been known to make fundamental errors like this. For example when MH joined oneworld, the rate of mileage accrual detailed on the AA website was inaccurate. I had contested and obtained missing mileage based on inconsistent information on the website. Suffice to say the information on the AA website was shortly updated.
The best thing to do is to test the system and obtain anecdotal evidence from Qantas Club members. To that end, could readers to this forum please test if access is granted. Would appreciate if you could please report back. I suspect feedback from ground staff at the Arrivals Lounge will eventually result in an update to the AA website.
nathanjordan
nathanjordan
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Aug 2013
Total posts 47
Have just confirmed with AA's official Twitter - access is indeed now allowed to the Heathow Arrivals Lounge for Qantas Club members - oh happy day!