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)
Jul 12, 2020, 5:46 pm
#976
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA CK EXP 3MM, National EE, Hertz Plat
Posts: 320
Has anyone else noticed the bulkhead aisles in First being reserved for FAs as jump seats recently? This has happened on a few of my last flights and go forward reservations. Are they stacking more FAs on routes now? Just curious. Would be unfortunate to lose two seats in First on a go forward basis...
Jul 12, 2020, 9:36 pm
#977
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Today ORD-CLT, moved to an earlier flight only seats in F open were the window bulkhead. Switched to 1F, re-ticketed, saw there were still 3 FC seat for sale in most/all FC fare classes but aisle seats show occopied/blocked. Aisle seats were taken by a uniformed pilot and my seatmate had FA type luggage, didnt see any ID. Not that I care at all, just a data point that I did notice today as I was in that area, typically sit at the end of the cabin so not sure if this is new/different, ect...
Jul 13, 2020, 10:05 am
#978
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
The seats are still being blocked in system for preselection. However they're being filled at gate with passengers on all my recent flights, no FA sitting in F.
Jul 13, 2020, 10:25 am
#979
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Frustrating they block those two seats in advance now, especially since they are preferred seats for many frequent flyers.
Jul 13, 2020, 1:38 pm
#980
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philly
Programs: AA, BA, NH, TP
Posts: 739
This is my experience as well - aisle seat front row in F is blocked - sometimes both seats. First time I have seen AA seats blocked on Expert Flyer - as noted above generally flight leaves with seat empty or filled by passengers not in AA uniform.
Jul 13, 2020, 3:39 pm
#981
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
Talked to a Liaison and got to the bottom of this. For the foreseeable future/duration of pandemic, the two bulkhead aisle seats will be blocked from purchase as a way to keep those passengers that would otherwise be seated closest to FAs in jump seats and galley away. It's a social distancing measure for FA safety. That being said, they make exceptions for last minute upgrades, cabin crew, etc., so essentially a senseless measure. It becomes the call of the ground crew/gate agents.
Jul 13, 2020, 5:09 pm
#982
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Jul 13, 2020, 5:28 pm
#983
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Don't worry, AA's newer "Oasis" configuration has extra-tight seats throughout all cabins, including first, and especially the bulkhead. On a 737, if first class is rows 1-4 instead of 3-6, it's Oasis. I'm not sure how to tell for an A321.
Jul 13, 2020, 5:58 pm
#984
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
I thought the Oasis configurations were the 5 row, 20 seat first class cabins? I think they show up as the Airbus NEO classification when you're booking.
Jul 13, 2020, 6:27 pm
#985
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
On a 737, first has four rows. Before Oasis, those were numbered 3-6 (rows 1-2 were not used on 737s for historic reasons), after Oasis, they are numbered 1-4. On A321s, not counting the transcon layout (which has three cabins), the legacy AA configurations all have four rows of first, rows 1-4, while two of the legacy US configurations have four rows (1-4), one has five rows (1-5), with no power and tight pitch. The Oasis A321 does have five rows (1-5) with 20 seats, and power.
Jul 13, 2020, 6:49 pm
#986
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: DFW
Programs: AA ConciergeKey, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 366
On a 737, first has four rows. Before Oasis, those were numbered 3-6 (rows 1-2 were not used on 737s for historic reasons), after Oasis, they are numbered 1-4. On A321s, not counting the transcon layout (which has three cabins), the legacy AA configurations all have four rows of first, rows 1-4, while two of the legacy US configurations have four rows (1-4), one has five rows (1-5), with no power and tight pitch. The Oasis A321 does have five rows (1-5) with 20 seats, and power.
Jul 15, 2020, 3:42 am
#988
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
Now, I'll take a tarmac transfer any day.
Jul 15, 2020, 5:37 am
#989
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
I have declined it more times than not because I like the walk before getting on the long international flight. I have even declined the tarmac transfer to do the walk instead.
Jul 15, 2020, 5:49 am
#990
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA Concierge Key, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diam
Posts: 510
