If you have AAirpass individual (as opposed to pooled AAirpass miles among multiple colleagues), CK comes with it (and Platinum comes with that). If you have shared Aairpass, CK does not come with it (nor any status).

Interesting -- I wasn't aware of this! Does that mean that it is theoretically possible to buy CK status prior to travel? For example, buy a personal AAirpass, get CK and Platinum status thrown in for free, and then fly like a boss? :D

It is not the miles it is the money
 

I have 109,000 qualifying miles already this year. Two J trips, Europe and Singapore. The rest is domestic at the lowest fare I can find. I am sure that CK is an invitation I will never get.

Go Stars!!!!

You are right on that one. I have over 128,000 EQMs so far for the year, but only 87,000 EQPs, with all travel booked in Y and I don't expect to get a CK invite anytime soon.

This is the first I've heard of this.

Anyone else heard of this? Would be great if true!

Just replied to your PM. I can't confirm that this is a permanent promotion but it was offered to me around six weeks ago. Ultimately, I chose the corporate option as I travel much more than a colleague who was also doing AAirpass and sharing the miles made business sense. That said, I lobbied to get CK extended to the shared corporate deal and they wouldn't do it. The offered to change us back to individual but would not offer it for corporate.

Unexpected CK
 

A colleague, who barely made EXP last year and travels the same pattern this year, was unexpectedly given CK recently. When we tried to figure out why, it appears that a golfing buddy who runs a large tech company with lots of traveling employees was talking to the CK desk to sort out some IRROPs one day and happend to say "this friend of mine is a major flyer with AA and important at his large company, you should give him CK".

A week or two later, the colleage received a call from our Procurement group, letting him know that AA had reached out to find out what he did at our company and would it be appropriate that he receive CK (I believe our Procurement VP, CEO, etc. have it as we have a large AA contract). This colleage is mid-level management in technology so Procurement told AA no, he wasn't an appropriate person to get CK on behalf of our large company.

Lo and behold, he suddenly got CK. Apparently it helps to have friends in "high" places!

When I2 Technologies was alive and well 5 of their top execs got CK without any real qualification OTHER than the employees were all travelling AA. So the execs got the CK on the back of the real travelers. Not complainin'…just sayin'.

Go Stars!!!!

My wife received CK about a month ago. No way did she spend that kind of money on fares over any 12 month period in the past 2-3 years. On the other hand, I have flown as much as her - actually more BIS miles, but not nearly as much international. So who knows how they make their decisions.

Are there any members outside the US?
I would be tempted to put all my travel through AA if there were but the 100,000 BIS 130,000 points so far this year did not have anything other than the usual envelope.
At least I know that commercial opportunity is more important than safety to AA when it comes to CK invitations ;)
Happy landings

So, I definitely received my Concierge Key Dear John letter confirming that AA was unable to extend my CK membership for 2011. HOWEVER, whenever I call the CK number, I do get connected to the CK desk. Further proof that despite the letter, I may still be in the program - occurred last week. I flew on AA from LAX to LHR and the CK gate meet-up I had requested occurred as scheduled. CK rep met me upon landing at LHR and escorted to me to Terminal 5 security for my connecting flight.

Either AA's computer system needs to catch up with management's decisions, or I wasn't really booted from the program.

Safety? What?:rolleyes:

Huh? What does CK have to do with safety?

Be sure to let us know how it turns out (even though I'm just a spectator regarding CK). Also, when you say AA escorted you to T5 in LHR, did someone drive you across the tarmac? They didn't ride the bus with you, I assume.

There are at least two people in my company who are CK. AA contacts procurement and our folks who negotiate airline deals, and they ask us to nominate folks annually. It goes to one of our brand Presidents and our CTO - both of who travel well over 100k miles BIS annually with significant domestic and international.

CK on boarding pass
 

Why isn't CK status listed on the boarding pass? Isn't one of the benefits to get on the plane whenever you want? Shouldn't CK be able to board with F class?

Seems odd - when I'm at ORD - someone is greeting me early and offering to walk me onto the plane. When I'm boarding in AUS - I just get to wait out my PLT status, which doesn't always get called ahead of Priority Access.

Anybody hear the reason why?