GoBirds

I've only done it when flying AA metal, and I would ask the agent at the Flagship/First check in counter at T3 if they could come upstairs with me if the fast track line was long. And I should clarify I wasn't walked through security, just to the front of the fast track line if there was a significant line, but as I said, that was really mostly shortly after they reopened after Covid and I was experiencing those long lines. I've not had to ask them to help me recently as the lines have not been nearly as long as they were then. I will say though they always seemed happy to come up with me when I asked them to, so it probably can't hurt to ask them and see what they say now.

CSRabe73

Same. 670,000 Loyalty Points and no better than Executive Platinum at 200K. Is it time for another tier?

I just came back from Tokyo on a $15,000 ticket. I Googled the wine I was being served. $15 bottle. Makes me wonder why I even care about CK.

HaleiwaFlyer

If you are spending that much coin on a ticket; why not purchase ANA F or JAL F from/to Tokyo?

Being CK isn’t going to change the inflight experience.

CSRabe73

Agreed. My only point is that if I’m earning ExP more than 3X over and yet no better than ExP, then perhaps it’s more beneficial for me to earn that status on 3 different airlines. Chase the service and not that status in other words.

HaleiwaFlyer

I think chasing status died when AA started to monetize CK individual perks that takes precedence over their own CKs getting the same perks at the same given time.

Being CK, is no better than EXP nor a person with no status for the in-flight experience. Currently, FAs don't differentiate elites vs non elites inflight; maybe an occasional thanks, card, or pilot that says hello.

However, the "desire" to achieve and/or maintain invite only status is a very human nature thing, and that is how AA gets you to spend on their metal; as with any top tier elite status, we have an innate competitive nature to try to achieve the best out there.

After being CK, I can say, it is not worth it if you are not getting/spending organically on AA and like their product in the first place. Your money is better spent on getting better food, VIP airport services, and overall a better in-flight experience (BA F vs AA F for example; LPGS vs random Champagne AA decides to serve). QR J/F is hands down better than AA to DOH/Asia. JAL F (not some J) is going to be better than AA to any TYO routes. I would take AA over Finnair in J. Haven't flown Iberia, so can't comment).

As you can purchase meet and greet services that take you to the front of the line at airports, the benefits of flying AA as a CK starts to diminish tremendously when you take into account the time you spent on the airplane vs the time you get CK perks (8 hours on a flight vs that 5-10 minutes of meet and greet/buggy ride).

On the flip side, CK does help when IRROPs occur, nice to have familiar faces (CK agents) whom remember you and provide a humanistic travel experience, and not worrying about hiring VIP services to get you through tight connections are benefits. AA J seats are very comfortable, and meals are decent compared to the US3; but AA starts to fall behind significantly when you start to compare ME3 and other foreign airlines. Sometimes prices on AA are not the cheapest. For example, you can occasionally get EK F for 6500 one way pending the outbound. QR have occasional 4-6k round trip flights out of SFO.

At the end, you have to ask yourself what is important to you.

snydert

Well put.

GoBirds

You definitely have a good point about the Five Star service. First it can take premium services reps availability from us, which is only fair as they paid for the service. But it also gives ex and other non CK members a relatively inexpensive way to get most of the benefits of CK without being CK. If I’m not renewed this year I will probably start using Five Star for many of my flights.

And I, like I suspect many other CK’s here, fly AA as much as I do because their schedule and routes fit my travel patterns very well, so changing my loyalty to another carrier is not as easy as I wish it were.

CSRabe73

Well said.

stant

this qualifying year that just finished is my first as CK. I can definitely say I see a difference in the service as CK vrs executive platinum.

that and if you are going to claim BA is better than AA, well I'm going to have to find your judgment questionable

HaleiwaFlyer

Let me know the routes you take! In all seriousness, numerous combinations of HNL-DFW-LAX-PHX-SFO-JFK; other than some senior FAs who actually know what CK is, and say thank you for your business and keeping us paid, and one pilot who thank me for being CK; I really have noticed zero difference in service during flights. Most FAs are too busy getting the plane ready when they arrive 5-10 minutes before boarding start, and I don't really think the FAs really care about anyone's status as they are too understaffed with their prep work. Zero FAs at the boarding door have any idea about CK pre boarding. Even when CK agents walk us to the plane before people with disabilities, and mention we have a CK on board to the FA directly, there is indifference and the look "that we just killed a kitten" for disturbing their prep work, of "so what?"

I still stand by my British-esque opinion, BA F over AA F anyday of the year Seat is much better for sleep, food is much better and proper; and wine/liquor selection is much better for anyone who drinks. When will AA F carry JW Blue or have LPGS?

I will say, AA does beat BA F on the entertainment remote controller and the middle privacy divider as BA F has made some dubious design choices on those two items

stant

DFW to LHR is probably the most common flight I take, and the FAs have gone out of their way in little ways. like before hand it was hard to get an extra salad dressing in J. now i get a handful of them when i ask. or they save coke zeros for me. in j they would typically run out. the thanks for your business and asks if there is anything else I want have stepped up.

how can you say BA is better when they still have non direct isle access?

HaleiwaFlyer

BA First Class, not BA business class. I haven't flown BA business class on their wide bodies, but the ClubWorld seats look horrendous with the high density layout and no privacy. The Club Suites look much better.

And BA F round trip was cheaper or about equal to AA Business class when I traveled to Romania during Christmas last year...go figure......

GoBirds

Have our expectations for CK status fallen so far that all it takes is some extra salad dressing and Coke Zeros make us happy? I'm actually mostly kidding, and I have experienced similar small niceties from FA's on occasion, such as being asked for my meal choice first before anyone else, and those little things are very much appreciated when they happen. But I have to say that those sorts of things, as well as thanks for my business, were much, much more common pre Covid, and have become very rare over the past 2 or 3 years. I don't know why that is. Are there many more CK's than there used to be, and it's not seen as anything special for FA's anymore? Regardless, I am glad to hear that you've experienced enhanced service and recognition on your TATL flights, and hopefully other CK's will start to have that same sort of experience going forward.


I fly F on both AA and BA TATL fairly frequently. I find the two to be relatively similar, in both service and hard product, but it does depend on what aircraft is used. One of the big differences for me, which may not matter to others, is that AA's aircraft have individual air vents over every F seat, and BA does not, and I'm always too warm on those BA flights. I generally don't eat or drink on long flights, so I can't comment on the food or alcohol, but I find the seats to be fairly similar as well.

stant

well to be fair, there isnt THAT much opportunity to go above and beyond when it comes to good service on a flight.

and YES, ba flights are always too warm in the front of the plane. they have to kee pthe temps lower in back. on one flight I took the liberty of downgrading myself because i was in shorts and teeshirt and literally sweating. The FA said she wouldnt lower the temp because i could just have the vent blowing at me if I was too hot.

fly747first

Have flown BA J six times this year and every single time, Club World food was disgusting. AA may food but not look pretty, but in J, it is substantial and in my opinion way more edible than BA J's.