Dec 18, 2015, 12:53 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
American Airlines ConciergeKeySM / "CK" Program (by invitation only)
(Includes Executive Platinum status and Admirals Club membership)
NOTE: For questions such as "How can I get Concierge Key?" or "This is my spend: will I get CK?" Please refer to the How do I make / making AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK?thread
Also see AA Concierge Key invitations / renewal for 2019 status (out early 12/2018).
13 Apr 2020: AAdvantage extends CK status is extended automatically until Jan 31, 2022.
"The ConciergeKey Program is an exclusive program that American Airlines has for our very top customers. This is by invitation only and a very exclusive club." (Billy Sanez for AA)
ConciergeKey Services are provided to a select group of VIPs to facilitate travel on AA. The program is offered on an invitation basis only and is targeted at customers who control travel policy for large organizations. Customers who generate a high amount of revenue for AA may also be invited into this program (possibly those who spend upwards of US$60k a year on travel with AA).
Services provided include airport escorts and pre-boarding (seems variable, more likely during OSO?); assistance with flight changes, seat changes, and upgrade requests via their own dedicated telephone line. In addition, there is the ability to communicate directly with ConciergeKey associates via a dedicated email address. ConciergeKeySM representatives will also monitor day of travel of ConciergeKey members and will proactively reroute or rebook travel when necessary. ConciergeKey status allows check-in at First Class counters, as well as access to elite lines through security at certain airports. Miles and copay upgrades with copay waived.
ConciergeKey is now a distinct elite tier, above Executive Platinum. ConciergeKey benefits include membership to the Admirals Club, international miles upgrades with copayment waived, as well as two additional System-Wide Upgrades (SWU's) as part of CK membership.
CK members have access to Flagship Check-in on any flight, and CK will have Flagship Lounge access when flying a OneWorld airline.
As of 1 Jan 2017, Concierge Key members have upgrade requests prioritized over all other tiers: CK members have an upgrade window of (up to) 120 hours (Executive Platinum member's will retain the 100 hour upgrade window). CK members will board ahead of other passengers.
Regarding Concierge Key tier benefits coming in 2017, please see: New Concierge Key Benefits for 2017: New CK Elite Status Tier
Please: do respect members' privacy by refraining from asking for overly personal information and details relating to ConciergeKey membership or nomination. If your question receives no response, consider the member chooses not to reply, as is his/her right.
Boarding Area's AAdvantageGeek's blog shows the card and documents here.
Previous threads:
ConciergeKey AA Premium Service (ARCHIVED)
ARCHIVED: AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK (2014 consolidated)
Updated 18 Aug 2019 by ikwia to reflect CK being a distinct elite tier and to clarify the FL access requirement
Updated 25 Jul 2017 by JDiver
(Includes Executive Platinum status and Admirals Club membership)
NOTE: For questions such as "How can I get Concierge Key?" or "This is my spend: will I get CK?" Please refer to the How do I make / making AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK?thread
Also see AA Concierge Key invitations / renewal for 2019 status (out early 12/2018).
13 Apr 2020: AAdvantage extends CK status is extended automatically until Jan 31, 2022.
"The ConciergeKey Program is an exclusive program that American Airlines has for our very top customers. This is by invitation only and a very exclusive club." (Billy Sanez for AA)
ConciergeKey Services are provided to a select group of VIPs to facilitate travel on AA. The program is offered on an invitation basis only and is targeted at customers who control travel policy for large organizations. Customers who generate a high amount of revenue for AA may also be invited into this program (possibly those who spend upwards of US$60k a year on travel with AA).
Services provided include airport escorts and pre-boarding (seems variable, more likely during OSO?); assistance with flight changes, seat changes, and upgrade requests via their own dedicated telephone line. In addition, there is the ability to communicate directly with ConciergeKey associates via a dedicated email address. ConciergeKeySM representatives will also monitor day of travel of ConciergeKey members and will proactively reroute or rebook travel when necessary. ConciergeKey status allows check-in at First Class counters, as well as access to elite lines through security at certain airports. Miles and copay upgrades with copay waived.
ConciergeKey is now a distinct elite tier, above Executive Platinum. ConciergeKey benefits include membership to the Admirals Club, international miles upgrades with copayment waived, as well as two additional System-Wide Upgrades (SWU's) as part of CK membership.
CK members have access to Flagship Check-in on any flight, and CK will have Flagship Lounge access when flying a OneWorld airline.
As of 1 Jan 2017, Concierge Key members have upgrade requests prioritized over all other tiers: CK members have an upgrade window of (up to) 120 hours (Executive Platinum member's will retain the 100 hour upgrade window). CK members will board ahead of other passengers.
Regarding Concierge Key tier benefits coming in 2017, please see: New Concierge Key Benefits for 2017: New CK Elite Status Tier
Please: do respect members' privacy by refraining from asking for overly personal information and details relating to ConciergeKey membership or nomination. If your question receives no response, consider the member chooses not to reply, as is his/her right.
Boarding Area's AAdvantageGeek's blog shows the card and documents here.
Previous threads:
ConciergeKey AA Premium Service (ARCHIVED)
ARCHIVED: AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK (2014 consolidated)
Updated 18 Aug 2019 by ikwia to reflect CK being a distinct elite tier and to clarify the FL access requirement
Updated 25 Jul 2017 by JDiver
AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK members lounge (master thread)
Jun 24, 2022, 9:30 am
#1606
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 365
What bothers me is that we have no other option to Australia since AA cut it. I am considering AA to Japan and then Japan Airlines to Australia just to get more AA metal, but it seems silly. I wish AA would just make it clear how they want us to travel since they have cut SO MUCH international that those of us that are traveling have few options than partners (or other airlines entirely).
Jun 24, 2022, 10:09 am
#1607
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
What bothers me is that we have no other option to Australia since AA cut it. I am considering AA to Japan and then Japan Airlines to Australia just to get more AA metal, but it seems silly. I wish AA would just make it clear how they want us to travel since they have cut SO MUCH international that those of us that are traveling have few options than partners (or other airlines entirely).
Jun 24, 2022, 11:47 am
#1608
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
What bothers me is that we have no other option to Australia since AA cut it. I am considering AA to Japan and then Japan Airlines to Australia just to get more AA metal, but it seems silly. I wish AA would just make it clear how they want us to travel since they have cut SO MUCH international that those of us that are traveling have few options than partners (or other airlines entirely).
Jun 24, 2022, 11:55 am
#1609
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,971
I'm not sure I'd go crazy out of your way like that, but can you book and AA code on QF on AA's website? That would be the most proximate to booking an AA flight. Do AA and QF have a JV TPCA like AA/BA TATL? That would further reinforce the "CK credit" of this. We're all just speculating though.
Jun 24, 2022, 11:56 am
#1610
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Yea, but it's double the price, and Im at the mercy of a corporate booking tool. Finnair is often the most favorable option. I think AA owes its top fliers some guidance since they've slashed international flying in the interim. Or perhaps they are just watching to see what people do. Sadly, they won't be able to see the business that got sent elsewhere like a $16,000 J ticket I booked on Delta to SYD last month!
Jun 24, 2022, 12:02 pm
#1611
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Recommend Airpass discussion moved here:
AirPass Prepaid Travel (née AAirpass, not Lifetime Airpass) Master Thread
AirPass Prepaid Travel (née AAirpass, not Lifetime Airpass) Master Thread
Jun 24, 2022, 12:11 pm
#1612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,971
I'm not sure I'd go crazy out of your way like that, but can you book and AA code on QF on AA's website? That would be the most proximate to booking an AA flight. Do AA and QF have a JV TPCA like AA/BA TATL? That would further reinforce the "CK credit" of this. We're all just speculating though.
Jun 24, 2022, 2:20 pm
#1613
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
I've been told it's "the same to us" but I'm not sure I believe that when it comes to CK qualification LOL
Jun 26, 2022, 12:37 am
#1614
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
Since you seem to fly regularly with your Airpass, if you know you'll have the $60k to spend year over year, you really don't need to worry about buying F/J while you have guaranteed CK status from now until 3/31/23.
You could theoretically just save cash now, buy the cheapest Y seats, get upgraded with your CK status, and then, if you decide you're still interested in CK but don't get renewed, you can just buy another 60k Airpass and get the status back. I can't imagine they'd even consider raising the bar price-wise (above $60k) until premium business travel makes more of a comeback.
Jun 26, 2022, 7:59 am
#1615
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756
Jun 27, 2022, 5:11 pm
#1616
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM CK, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
Beyond scheduling aspects where AA is lacking flights or good times, when the cost is generally the same, definitely more inclined to fly BA via codeshare:
Jul 3, 2022, 7:47 am
#1620
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Another thing that just occurred: Back in the day, when I was UA Global Services, one of the things we knew about the qualification was that it was very location deponent. This meant that having a home address near Houston or New York/Newark meant you had to spend more to qualify vs. having a home address in a non-UA focus city (i.e. DFW or, even better, a foreign base.)
I wonder if there's still something to this? As a foreign resident, I've been trying to change my address in AA.com to my real home outside the US, but the website simply says "Please check the address and try again." Guess I'll have to call AAdvAAntage CS.
I know there are approximately 100 CKs in my foreign city of 30M people, so maybe the threshold is lower.
I wonder if there's still something to this? As a foreign resident, I've been trying to change my address in AA.com to my real home outside the US, but the website simply says "Please check the address and try again." Guess I'll have to call AAdvAAntage CS.
I know there are approximately 100 CKs in my foreign city of 30M people, so maybe the threshold is lower.