AA Admiral Club lounge question 1st class ticket
 

I will be flying AA 1st class DFW to LHR (ticket code Z) both on departure and return.

What is the difference between Admiral Club and Flagship Lounge? Can I use either lounges both in Dallas and Heathrow? Before/after flights?
Note: on my arrival to LHR I will transfer to BA (economy) so I know I will not be able to use lounges, but will have a 3 hr. layover.

At present there is no FL at DFW, so the question is moot.

You will have access to the AA Arrivals lounge at LHR; however it is landside (i.e. after passport/customs) so if you want to make a direct airside transfer to your BA flight your time in the DFW AC will be it. If your flight on BA is domestic, or you feel you have enough time to go landside and connect to the departing terminal, then the arrivals lounge is not bad. Doesn't hold a candle to the BA arrivals lounges at LHR, but it is their fortress hub, after all.

Assuming you're returning in First, the good news is that you'll have access to both the AC and the FL at Heathrow. The bad news is that both are pretty lame, the FL depressingly so compared even to average BA Terraces/Galleries lounges for business class.

Thank you Gardyloo. Sounds like it might not be worth the hassle. Several years ago I was able to enjoy the BA lounge, and, yes, it is nice.

Can you explain the difference between Admirals and Flagship lounges?

FLs - free booze, wifi, other perks. FLs admit first class pax on 3-class transcontinental and foreign flights, and certain (full fare) business pax on 3-class flights, plus Oneworld Emerald tier FFers (top tier) and various other classes of lucky winners. ACs admit AC members regardless of fare class/itinerary, and business/first cabin pax on international itineraries, plus Oneworld Sapphire and above (middle tier FFers) except on most North American flights.

The above is far from inclusive and there are numerous exceptions. If you possess morbid curiosity just go to the "Lounges" page on aa.com and you can see all the silliness.

Except in London, the FLs are considerably nicer than ACs, but there are some very nice ACs out there, so no hardship in most places to use the AC instead of the FL.

Wow, thanks for all the information. You must frequent them a lot.

Hopefully, they haven't cut back on the 1st class in-flight amenities i.e. pillow and blankie., and warm bowl of nuts. Ha!

It may be too late, but on your return you could have used the following lounges:

JL First/business - IMHO the best lounge in term 3, very close to AA lounges.

CX First/business - very nice as well. long walk to AA gates.

AA AC and FL - need some work.

Just in time AAFrequentflyer I leave in 2 days! I thought I might hear from you.
Question: what is JL and CX?

JL = Japan Airlines, CX = Cathay Pacific Airlines, both members of the Oneworld alliance, of which AA and BA are also members.

I don't mean to contradict AAFF, but I'm not sure you'll get access to another Oneworld airline lounge if you don't have Oneworld status, and are traveling on an award ticket ("Z" class.) You may, but I'm not positive. I haven't been to the LHR JL lounge, and while the CX lounge is nicer than AA's, it's a very long way from the AA gates, and I'm not sure the hike is worth it. But of course the worst that can happen is they'll (politely) decline you admittance.

<i>Emerald or Sapphire level top-tier members of oneworld&reg; airlines' frequent flyer programmes have access to more than 500 departure lounges across the globe, no matter which oneworld airline you are flying.
In all cases, lounge access eligibility is based on:

* Departing carrier - you must be flying on your next onward segment, on the same day, on a flight marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline AND
* Frequent flyer tier status - you must present a current frequent flyer card equivalent to oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status, <b><u>OR
* Class of travel - you must produce a First or Business Class boarding pass for the journey's international segment on the same day.</u></b> </i>


http://www.oneworld.com/ow/ffp/lounge-access/search



The JL Lounge is right down the hall from the AA's lounges. IMHO it's the best of the 3.

The CX lounge is in a different area of the terminal and a long walk to AA's gates.

CONFUSING! Let me see if I get this right.
Since I am traveling DFW nonstop to LHR (Z tkt)I really don't have an opportunity to go use one of the lounges because I will then change to BA economy tkt. Unless, I get to DFW ahead of time and use that one??

But, on the return LHR to DFW (Z tkt) I could go to one of the Oneworld lounges. And, AAFF you suggest JL? Am I correct? Oh, btw, we will make one stop in ORD on our return. what about the lounges there?
Thank you all for helping me sort this out. Is it always this confusing or am I just dull?

You pretty much got it:

DFW - AA AC lounges, there is one at each terminal, but I have a feeling you will be flying out of D so it's the newest and IMHO the nicest AC in DFW. Don't forget to ask for free drink tickets at the check in desk.

No lounge at LHR on the outbound, except for the AA's arrival lounge, but you would need to clear immigration/customs, and the lounge is only open until about 2pm, so keep that in mind. It's not that special. Breakfast, showers and internet access.

Return:

At LHR you will be connecting from term 5 to term 3 and once you go through all the necessary procedures, you will have access to:

AA AC and/or FL
JL Lounges (the best IMHO)
CX Lounges, somewhat of a walk to AA gates.

Have a great trip!

I believe traveling on an international F ticket you'll also get access to the AC or FL at ORD once you clear immigration and customs.

At the LHR term 3 lounges, liquor is free so no need to ask for tickets. :-D

That's correct. The FL at ORD is small but nice and open bar. It's at the end of concourse K in terminal 3.

I meant to ask earlier, as I'm curious as to why you're flying AA in F and BA in Y? If it's an award ticket then you should be flying BA in J unless there was no availability and you agreed to Y?

Just curious?

You know it's been so long since I booked, I really can't remember the circumstances, but I think BA award 1st was not available. Bummer! Anyway to get around that at this point or at check in??

Are you flying on a UK domestic or Irish route on BA?

Not sure if I know.... I'm flying BA from LHR to FCO and returning BA MXP to LHR. Does that tell you if it's domestic or Irish route?

Let me add another question to this thread. How do you suggest to fight jet lag? I realize this probably deserved a new thread in itself and has been answered 1000's of times, but thought maybe you wouldn't mind answering it here so I don't have to research it before I leave. thanks...

FCO is Rome and MXP is Milan, neither of which are domestic UK or Irish routes...

Both services offer business class, called &quot;Club Europe&quot; by BA, so you should phone AA (I presume these tickets were obtained through a mileage redemption with AA) and ask if there are any available business class seats on your flights to Rome or from Milan. Usually a first class transatlantic award will then involve business class on any connecting flights, unless they're full.

As for jetlag, there really aren't any sure-fire thing. In first class you'll have a very comfortable flat bed for a seat, so the best advice is to try to sleep on the long flight. DFW-LHR is a long leg, so you ought to be able to get some decent time for a snooze. If you have some Ambien, or even Melatonin (available over the counter) many people feel it helps. Otherwise, if you can, try to get up early and go to bed early for as long before the trip as you can, and be sure to drink lots of non-alcoholic liquids before and during the flight.

And don't plan on negotiating any treaties or use sharp tools for the first 24 hours after you arrive. ;)