Jan 5, 2024, 11:41 am
Last edit by: Prospero
For the latest updates and discussion related to the champagnes on offer, please visit the sister thread linked below
JFK Chelsea Lounge | la mise à jour du champagne
JFK Chelsea Lounge | la mise à jour du champagne
British Airways and American Airlines Chelsea Lounge - JFK Terminal 8
Jun 29, 2024, 9:28 am
#1876
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM CK, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,427
A few photos from this morning’s visit.
We showed up after the morning LHR / west coast departures so it was a ghost town and kind of a dead zone with respect to service. Everyone was friendly, but there were two staff for the lounge snd I believe that their break times were aligned.
I posted in the champagne thread, but the premium bottles show up from the warehouse mid-day and can only be picked up by a manager. Not very premium in my options, but I guess it is centered around the TATL and SA flights.
Omelette. It originally came out with mushrooms (not part of the order) so it was thankfully re-made.
American breakfast.
Menu (apologies for the shadows; hospital lighting is never great
).
We showed up after the morning LHR / west coast departures so it was a ghost town and kind of a dead zone with respect to service. Everyone was friendly, but there were two staff for the lounge snd I believe that their break times were aligned.
I posted in the champagne thread, but the premium bottles show up from the warehouse mid-day and can only be picked up by a manager. Not very premium in my options, but I guess it is centered around the TATL and SA flights.
Omelette. It originally came out with mushrooms (not part of the order) so it was thankfully re-made.
American breakfast.
Menu (apologies for the shadows; hospital lighting is never great
).
Jul 20, 2024, 4:07 pm
#1878
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,816
Jul 21, 2024, 3:25 am
#1879
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,457
I suspect the answer is 'no', but as a GGL travelling from JFK soon, I've got a BA-coded flight to Helsinki. Obviously it's not BA metal, it's Finnair, as BA doesn't serve that route. But does the BA code grant permission for access to Chelsea?
Jul 21, 2024, 5:01 am
#1880
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,681
Your suspicions are correct. But there is always a chance you might slip through the net. A lot of desk staff seem to not be 100% up to speed with the rules. Although errors seem to usually be incorrectly denying entry rather than incorrectly allowing it. I did see on here a while back a GGL claiming he got into Chelsea on a purely domestic short haul job-Flagship AA itinerary. You can try, but it just depends on how much you’re up for risking the potential embarrassment at being sent to Soho.
Jul 21, 2024, 5:56 am
#1881
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,580
I had access anyway from my inbound flight but wanted to check whether they would allow me to enter on an AY flight.
You may get an agent who doesn’t have a clue but in general their default answer is “no” even when you clearly are allowed access.
Jul 21, 2024, 7:50 am
#1882
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,457
Okay, as I suspected. I'll still try with the understanding I'm likely to be sent to Soho (which is generally nicer to be in tbh).
I don't now believe Chelsea access on AY metal is permitted either way, irrelevant of the BA coding.
Ho hum.
I don't now believe Chelsea access on AY metal is permitted either way, irrelevant of the BA coding.
Ho hum.
Jul 21, 2024, 8:52 am
#1883
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: GB
Programs: BA Exec - BA GGL/CCR, UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 85
Keep us posted, I'm in the exact same boat as you and was thinking the same, do I chance Chelsea or just go straight to Soho? For me I think I'll act dumb and say GGL + BA flight number because at the end of the day I don't mind being told to go to Soho...
Jul 21, 2024, 9:30 am
#1884
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Planet C53 (LHR)
Programs: BAEC Gold/ GGL / Avis Preferred/ Hilton Honours Diamond
Posts: 238
I did SFO JFK last week same circumstances, and access was granted no problem, as a precaution I got a printed boarding pass at SFO from AA, just in case, even though I was just carrying on.
Last edited by m8_rotate; Jul 21, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Jul 21, 2024, 10:22 am
#1885
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,580
I actually got told to go to Greenwich which I thought was a novel twist
Jul 21, 2024, 2:52 pm
#1886
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatwick, UK
Programs: UA *G, BA Silver
Posts: 1,691
I was travelling BA F LHR-JFK and then AA F JFK-SFO and I was told, at the First Checkin desk, that I should go to Greenwich rather than the Admirals Club!!
Of course, I had no issues getting in to Chelsea.
Of course, I had no issues getting in to Chelsea.
Jul 21, 2024, 3:00 pm
#1887
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA GfL & GGL, FB Platinum, MB Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,600
I’ve been told the same many times. I don’t argue. I just say thanks and go to Chelsea without any issue. What I do try is to go to a BA agent at the lounge as they should be more onside with the BA access rules than an AA agent.
Jul 21, 2024, 4:21 pm
#1888
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 1,103
A few photos from this morning’s visit.
We showed up after the morning LHR / west coast departures so it was a ghost town and kind of a dead zone with respect to service. Everyone was friendly, but there were two staff for the lounge snd I believe that their break times were aligned.
I posted in the champagne thread, but the premium bottles show up from the warehouse mid-day and can only be picked up by a manager. Not very premium in my options, but I guess it is centered around the TATL and SA flights.
Omelette. It originally came out with mushrooms (not part of the order) so it was thankfully re-made.
American breakfast.
Menu (apologies for the shadows; hospital lighting is never great).
We showed up after the morning LHR / west coast departures so it was a ghost town and kind of a dead zone with respect to service. Everyone was friendly, but there were two staff for the lounge snd I believe that their break times were aligned.
I posted in the champagne thread, but the premium bottles show up from the warehouse mid-day and can only be picked up by a manager. Not very premium in my options, but I guess it is centered around the TATL and SA flights.
Omelette. It originally came out with mushrooms (not part of the order) so it was thankfully re-made.
American breakfast.
Menu (apologies for the shadows; hospital lighting is never great
).
Jul 21, 2024, 7:13 pm
#1889
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 83
Just spoke to the current agents on the front of Chelsea and they said that even if the flight is ticketed by BA or AA, if it’s not on AA or BA metal then you’ll be redirected to Soho.