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)
Feb 17, 2023, 9:41 pm
#1816
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: ConciergeKey 4MM, Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 439
Renewals are being sent now, apparently. At least one documented account of a renewal, issued Feb 14th, has been posted on one of the Facebook CK groups.
Feb 18, 2023, 8:36 am
#1817
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: AA PLT, CO Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 7
While I anxiously await to see if my CK status is renewed, I did notice this week that my Hyatt Globalist status was updated with an expiration of February 2024. Curious if anyone else has seen the same update occur. I rarely stay with Hyatt (largely given the limited number of properties where I travel), so this update has to be entirely on the back of the AA relationship.
Feb 19, 2023, 9:35 am
#1819
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: AA Marriott
Posts: 15
Total spend
Just looked at my total spend which includes tickets bought on my AA card for family who travels with me. 120k total spend all upfront with 75k on me. 1.5 million LP and mix of travel and work spend on AA card. Already have 16 trips planned through May all upfront and 50/50 international and domestic. Just unsure of my chances. Once I made CK this past year I never want to go back 
It’s the best! Just hope I qualify again!
It’s the best! Just hope I qualify again!
Feb 19, 2023, 9:44 am
#1820
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Just looked at my total spend which includes tickets bought on my AA card for family who travels with me. 120k total spend all upfront with 75k on me. 1.5 million LP and mix of travel and work spend on AA card. Already have 16 trips planned through May all upfront and 50/50 international and domestic. Just unsure of my chances. Once I made CK this past year I never want to go back
It’s the best! Just hope I qualify again!
It’s the best! Just hope I qualify again!
Feb 20, 2023, 5:48 am
#1821
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 34
And I guess no clarity on whether an AA issued ticket (AA stock) will count when traveling over the pond on BA?
Feb 20, 2023, 7:37 am
#1822
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Yes - that's the right way to look at it as that is how the historically measured EQDs. As it relates to the BA question, you definitely get credit, but it's unclear how much it's worth to AA when compared to purely AA metal.
Feb 20, 2023, 9:02 am
#1823
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
Short answer for those awaiting CK renewals/invites is that we don't know what it takes. We didn't know before COVID, and there's now even more uncertainty.
- Will previous requirements be relaxed as 2022 still wasn't a normal flight year?
- Will manufactured LP's play a major or minor role in requals?
- Will OneWorld flights and revenue carry more weight than normal, especially on routes AA hasn't resumed?
- Will previous travel patterns be considered (i.e. for travelers who used to be Asia-heavy, since limited flights and quarantines were still pervasive in 2022)?
- Will company contracts still allow CK passengers even if AA revenue fell?
- Have some airports become more/less competitive for AA where they want to hold more people captive?
- etc etc etc
We'll know in the next 30 days and then the data points will appear to help make some sense of AA's thinking.
- Will previous requirements be relaxed as 2022 still wasn't a normal flight year?
- Will manufactured LP's play a major or minor role in requals?
- Will OneWorld flights and revenue carry more weight than normal, especially on routes AA hasn't resumed?
- Will previous travel patterns be considered (i.e. for travelers who used to be Asia-heavy, since limited flights and quarantines were still pervasive in 2022)?
- Will company contracts still allow CK passengers even if AA revenue fell?
- Have some airports become more/less competitive for AA where they want to hold more people captive?
- etc etc etc
We'll know in the next 30 days and then the data points will appear to help make some sense of AA's thinking.
Feb 20, 2023, 10:04 am
#1824
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 13
Short answer for those awaiting CK renewals/invites is that we don't know what it takes. We didn't know before COVID, and there's now even more uncertainty.
- Will previous requirements be relaxed as 2022 still wasn't a normal flight year?
- Will manufactured LP's play a major or minor role in requals?
- Will OneWorld flights and revenue carry more weight than normal, especially on routes AA hasn't resumed?
- Will previous travel patterns be considered (i.e. for travelers who used to be Asia-heavy, since limited flights and quarantines were still pervasive in 2022)?
- Will company contracts still allow CK passengers even if AA revenue fell?
- Have some airports become more/less competitive for AA where they want to hold more people captive?
- etc etc etc
We'll know in the next 30 days and then the data points will appear to help make some sense of AA's thinking.
- Will previous requirements be relaxed as 2022 still wasn't a normal flight year?
- Will manufactured LP's play a major or minor role in requals?
- Will OneWorld flights and revenue carry more weight than normal, especially on routes AA hasn't resumed?
- Will previous travel patterns be considered (i.e. for travelers who used to be Asia-heavy, since limited flights and quarantines were still pervasive in 2022)?
- Will company contracts still allow CK passengers even if AA revenue fell?
- Have some airports become more/less competitive for AA where they want to hold more people captive?
- etc etc etc
We'll know in the next 30 days and then the data points will appear to help make some sense of AA's thinking.
Feb 20, 2023, 10:56 am
#1825
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 510
Feb 21, 2023, 12:24 pm
#1827
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Conflicting Intel
I just wrapped up a call with the CK desk managing a reservation of mine and asked the question on renewals timing. The very pleasant agent told me renewals were going out end of the month. I confirmed which month she meant, and she said February. She followed it up by saying she heard they were going out "next week." We shall see...
Feb 21, 2023, 2:34 pm
#1828
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
I just wrapped up a call with the CK desk managing a reservation of mine and asked the question on renewals timing. The very pleasant agent told me renewals were going out end of the month. I confirmed which month she meant, and she said February. She followed it up by saying she heard they were going out "next week." We shall see...
Feb 22, 2023, 9:26 pm
#1829
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
A nice meal ordering experience I thought I'd share...
I flew STL-MIA this week. I couldn't preorder, as I switched to the flight last-minute. It was an early morning breakfast flight with the choice of a frittata or smoked salmon.
I ended up in an aisle seat in row 4, a seat I'd generally avoid, because it almost feels like you're in coach. I'm a window seat guy, so this seat felt very exposed.
As I was sitting there, not thrilled with my seat assignment, I was pleasantly surprised when the J FA came back to row 4 and asked me which choice I'd like for breakfast. She explained that she was supposed to take orders front to back, but she had several pre-orders, and she wanted to make sure I got my first choice. She thanked me for my business and for being a "Key passenger." She then asked the guy across the aisle on the other side of row 4 what he'd like and thanked him for his business and for being EP. She also gave his wife in the window seat her first choice (seemed like she probably didn't have status). Afterwards, she went back to row 1 and took orders front to back, as would generally be done for a flight going east and crossing a timezone.
Just thought it was interesting. I've gotten stuck with the salmon a few times recently - not that it's bad, I just wanted something else, so it was nice to have the choice of the frittata. Without the FA prioritizing my order as a CK, I likely wouldn't have had a choice.
They did a 5am full PDB also. It's the little things sometimes.
I flew STL-MIA this week. I couldn't preorder, as I switched to the flight last-minute. It was an early morning breakfast flight with the choice of a frittata or smoked salmon.
I ended up in an aisle seat in row 4, a seat I'd generally avoid, because it almost feels like you're in coach. I'm a window seat guy, so this seat felt very exposed.
As I was sitting there, not thrilled with my seat assignment, I was pleasantly surprised when the J FA came back to row 4 and asked me which choice I'd like for breakfast. She explained that she was supposed to take orders front to back, but she had several pre-orders, and she wanted to make sure I got my first choice. She thanked me for my business and for being a "Key passenger." She then asked the guy across the aisle on the other side of row 4 what he'd like and thanked him for his business and for being EP. She also gave his wife in the window seat her first choice (seemed like she probably didn't have status). Afterwards, she went back to row 1 and took orders front to back, as would generally be done for a flight going east and crossing a timezone.
Just thought it was interesting. I've gotten stuck with the salmon a few times recently - not that it's bad, I just wanted something else, so it was nice to have the choice of the frittata. Without the FA prioritizing my order as a CK, I likely wouldn't have had a choice.
They did a 5am full PDB also. It's the little things sometimes.
Feb 23, 2023, 8:40 am
#1830
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 510
A nice meal ordering experience I thought I'd share...
I flew STL-MIA this week. I couldn't preorder, as I switched to the flight last-minute. It was an early morning breakfast flight with the choice of a frittata or smoked salmon.
I ended up in an aisle seat in row 4, a seat I'd generally avoid, because it almost feels like you're in coach. I'm a window seat guy, so this seat felt very exposed.
As I was sitting there, not thrilled with my seat assignment, I was pleasantly surprised when the J FA came back to row 4 and asked me which choice I'd like for breakfast. She explained that she was supposed to take orders front to back, but she had several pre-orders, and she wanted to make sure I got my first choice. She thanked me for my business and for being a "Key passenger." She then asked the guy across the aisle on the other side of row 4 what he'd like and thanked him for his business and for being EP. She also gave his wife in the window seat her first choice (seemed like she probably didn't have status). Afterwards, she went back to row 1 and took orders front to back, as would generally be done for a flight going east and crossing a timezone.
Just thought it was interesting. I've gotten stuck with the salmon a few times recently - not that it's bad, I just wanted something else, so it was nice to have the choice of the frittata. Without the FA prioritizing my order as a CK, I likely wouldn't have had a choice.
They did a 5am full PDB also. It's the little things sometimes.
I flew STL-MIA this week. I couldn't preorder, as I switched to the flight last-minute. It was an early morning breakfast flight with the choice of a frittata or smoked salmon.
I ended up in an aisle seat in row 4, a seat I'd generally avoid, because it almost feels like you're in coach. I'm a window seat guy, so this seat felt very exposed.
As I was sitting there, not thrilled with my seat assignment, I was pleasantly surprised when the J FA came back to row 4 and asked me which choice I'd like for breakfast. She explained that she was supposed to take orders front to back, but she had several pre-orders, and she wanted to make sure I got my first choice. She thanked me for my business and for being a "Key passenger." She then asked the guy across the aisle on the other side of row 4 what he'd like and thanked him for his business and for being EP. She also gave his wife in the window seat her first choice (seemed like she probably didn't have status). Afterwards, she went back to row 1 and took orders front to back, as would generally be done for a flight going east and crossing a timezone.
Just thought it was interesting. I've gotten stuck with the salmon a few times recently - not that it's bad, I just wanted something else, so it was nice to have the choice of the frittata. Without the FA prioritizing my order as a CK, I likely wouldn't have had a choice.
They did a 5am full PDB also. It's the little things sometimes.