ARCHIVE: Concierge Key AA Premium Service
May 2, 2007, 4:21 am
#31
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Primary: LAX Secondary: JFK and LHR Currently: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Admirals Club, TrueBlue, AF/KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 393
OK, McFlyPHL, will you now add that to your spreadsheet? 
Congrats!
BTW, all, I had an MD-80 flight DFW-SMF last night where the fairly senior (I suspect) FA providing meal service etc. was absolutely top notch! Addressed everyone by name taking drink and meal selections FEBO, and did so several times during and at the end of the flight (when thanking pax for flying AA.) Humorous, personable, warm, welcoming, positive, returning several times to see if people wanted more nuts, a refill, etc. Yes, a bit OT here, but OTOH, that is premium service!
Congrats!
BTW, all, I had an MD-80 flight DFW-SMF last night where the fairly senior (I suspect) FA providing meal service etc. was absolutely top notch! Addressed everyone by name taking drink and meal selections FEBO, and did so several times during and at the end of the flight (when thanking pax for flying AA.) Humorous, personable, warm, welcoming, positive, returning several times to see if people wanted more nuts, a refill, etc. Yes, a bit OT here, but OTOH, that is premium service!
May 2, 2007, 9:06 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Stuck Between the Moon and CLD or SAN, Your local Taco Bell
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLT, DL PM, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,510
I think it's already in 1.9, the version that's posted - functions just like any other challenge, it's just longer
If not, its definitely in the half-baked next version I'm working on. Now, if I could just figure out an efficient way to make status calculation dynamic *AND* accurate.
If not, its definitely in the half-baked next version I'm working on. Now, if I could just figure out an efficient way to make status calculation dynamic *AND* accurate.
May 2, 2007, 11:21 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 940
A new program for VIP pax is coming, according to AA: ConciergeKey Services, beginning May 1 2007.
Customers selected for ConciergeKey services will receive a card in the mail (oh, yeah, one more card!) Some of the services provided will include reroutes, flight and seat changes, airport meeting and assistance, upgrade requests, etc. (But will they help when someone rams your luggage cart in the First Class line?)
I guess recipients will know AA loves them, now "tangibilitized" with a new card. Not to mention, the intent is to help AA keep competitive for these valued folks.
Customers selected for ConciergeKey services will receive a card in the mail (oh, yeah, one more card!) Some of the services provided will include reroutes, flight and seat changes, airport meeting and assistance, upgrade requests, etc. (But will they help when someone rams your luggage cart in the First Class line?)
I guess recipients will know AA loves them, now "tangibilitized" with a new card. Not to mention, the intent is to help AA keep competitive for these valued folks.
May 12, 2007, 9:42 am
#34
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 15
1/ From what I am reading the service is designed to provide more of a day of departure service to VIP's. The information provided to us is that the number of VIP's has been greatly reduced , the list appears to have been reduced by 50% . Given the small number of VIP's and the fact that they dont all fly everyday I dont think there will be that much of an impact.
A couple of excerpts from the propaganda sent to me:
American Airlines ConciergeKey representatives are on hand at major airports around our system[...] Since your itinerary indicates you are a ConciergeKey customer, our representative will attempt to meet your flight or locate you in the boarding area if there is a schedule change, weather delay, or other unforeseen circumstance. Of course, you are invited to call the ConciergeKey hotline and speak with a telephone representative anytime you need assistance[...]
As a ConciergeKey customer, you can skip the ordinary lines at the airport and step to the premium service positions wherever available. You are always welcome to use the premium lanes regardless of your AAdvantage status or the type of ticket you hold.[...]
If you use ticket counter check-in, you are always welcome to use our First and Business Class counters where available.[...]
Use the premium security lane, available at more than 30 airports around our system.[...]
As a ConciergeKey customer, you can skip the ordinary lines at the airport and step to the premium service positions wherever available. You are always welcome to use the premium lanes regardless of your AAdvantage status or the type of ticket you hold.[...]
If you use ticket counter check-in, you are always welcome to use our First and Business Class counters where available.[...]
Use the premium security lane, available at more than 30 airports around our system.[...]
May 12, 2007, 10:23 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,630
The program is primarily aimed at CEO's, CFO's and those that manage/control the AA contract within a company. Has nothing to do with how much one travels. AA has been loosing contracts to UA and others by offering special deals (UA has been providing everyone with elite status and 2x milegae for a year - with elite that means 4x). AA thinks by babying the execs, they will remain loyal. There will aslo be a VIP designator in the PNR record, so everyone they deal with know they are to be taken care of. Someone also has to come on each plane and great the person before take off in a focus city. This means people are going to get diverted from their jobs
of supporting the masses to support the elites, by saying hellow I am with AA, how may a be of assistance today. I know the flight is 3 hours late and you have missed your connection but we appoligize.
Last edited by JDiver; May 12, 2007 at 10:35 am Reason: close quote
May 12, 2007, 10:37 am
#36
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Well, zman, I guess MikeTheActuary is the (ConciergeKey) man, and I am not - recipient-wise, anyway. Mike congrats! Speaking for myself, I'd certainly appreciate any reporting of your experiences you'd care to share - these folks will be very busy at ORD and DFW, it would appear.
Mike congrats! Speaking for myself, I'd certainly appreciate any reporting of your experiences you'd care to share - these folks will be very busy at ORD and DFW, it would appear.
May 12, 2007, 10:38 am
#37
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA, UA, DL, LUV, SPG, HHonors, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 3,033
I know that this thread has been dormant, but...I got the ConciergeKey package a few days ago, and was checking in here for the first time in a long time to see what the deal was.
A couple of excerpts from the propaganda sent to me:
And yes, there's a new card and a new phone number.
A couple of excerpts from the propaganda sent to me:
And yes, there's a new card and a new phone number.
May 12, 2007, 1:37 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 15
As to why I got the card -- I'm not sure. I had initially thought it was AA trying to woo a lapsed elite back. It could be that I have pointy hair and travel with others frequently.
Personally, I think it's a stretch to think of myself as a VIP, but I have been treated well by AA in the past, and they've received a fair amount of business as a result.
It's effective marketing, at least. My next trip, a few of us will be going for a change of scenery at DFW, rather than seeing the same old sights at DTW or ATL.
May 12, 2007, 2:06 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, SPG GLD
Posts: 28
Got ConciergeKey also
Can say precisely why I got mine. My Fortune 15 company's travel department got an allotment and identified me as one of its frequent AA travelers. I have a feeling the VIP greeters will be sorely disappointed when they find what a schlub they've come to assist.
May 12, 2007, 2:14 pm
#40
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Platinum Premier, AAdvantage Platinum (1MM Lifetime Gold), Avis First
Posts: 524
Sounds great but out of my reach .... lowly plat
May 12, 2007, 4:51 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Explat / UA Silver
Posts: 600
My step-dad got his conciergekey packet on Tuesday. It seems to be a great sevice! We might use this when we go to the Caribbean and one of our AT7's goes tech in SJU.
Matt
Matt
May 12, 2007, 11:09 pm
#42
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: OW/AA, DL, UA; Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,936
May 13, 2007, 12:47 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Someone I know is a VP for a financial services company, and he decides where meetings and events are held. He does a lot of travel to evaluate conference hotels, and of course is always upgraded to presidential suites, treated to special meals, etc. His experience while evaluating a property has no relation to what the rest of the employees will experience. (By the way, his boss was impressed with how much travel he's been doing, and as a bonus gave him and his partner a vacation with a private jet and private villa.)
May 13, 2007, 12:59 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
It's been frustrating for me to try and stay with AA. My company uses a travel agency that negotiates contracts with two preferred airlines. For more than five years these have been AA and UA. There used to be a roughly 50/50 split between AA and UA flyers, but UA has been offering much lower international business class fares, plus, the UA contract increases the discount we get as they get more of our business. So every year, it gets harder to fly AA. (We need to use the lower fare unless it's pretty close.) Just recently, some of us had to go to Europe, and the UA business fare was ~$3k less than on AA. The only way I could stay on AA was to use an I fare (or coach), which of course can't be upgraded to first. It would be nice if AA got a bit more aggressive and capturing business now being taken by UA.
May 13, 2007, 4:40 pm
#45
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AA UA
Posts: 3
Not just for travel planners and Fortune XX Execs
I am an EXP (1st time) and just received a ConciergeKey package. I think I received it because I fly almost exclusively paid first class.
As far as the airlines trying to retain business - We are a family of four and when we flew UA (we are ORD based) we were all Premier Execs for the last 5+ years. The most I ever flew with UA in one year was 95,000 miles. I currently have over 1.2 million miles in my UA account and over 2 million miles family wise. We switched to AA because UA started Ted and we couldn't buy 1st to some of our favored destinations. UA has never contacted us in any way to try to retain our business and AA has been rewarded with 3 EXP's and 1 PLT.
Way to go UA!
As far as the airlines trying to retain business - We are a family of four and when we flew UA (we are ORD based) we were all Premier Execs for the last 5+ years. The most I ever flew with UA in one year was 95,000 miles. I currently have over 1.2 million miles in my UA account and over 2 million miles family wise. We switched to AA because UA started Ted and we couldn't buy 1st to some of our favored destinations. UA has never contacted us in any way to try to retain our business and AA has been rewarded with 3 EXP's and 1 PLT.
Way to go UA!