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)
Nov 14, 2016, 8:04 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: CX Diamond, AA CK (quit 2018), Starwood Platinum, National EXC Elite
Posts: 283
$60k spend and 375k EQM's. All on AA metal in paid J (other than when re-booked on CX due to IRROPS's) all this years travel was on SJC-DFW-HKG / SJC-LAX-HKG. Not a peep of a CK invite. Now transferred all biz to CX out of SFO / LAX.
Nov 14, 2016, 10:35 am
#47
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
I think the one thing most people forget about is that CK wants to see consistent spend in the $50k-75k range. One year at $60k will not get you CK unless you go and get an AirPass (and even then I'm not sure if it still will). I'm sure AA would gladly forsake consistency for profit if you are spending in the $100k-120k arena. Just my thoughts.
Nov 14, 2016, 10:40 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: CX Diamond, AA CK (quit 2018), Starwood Platinum, National EXC Elite
Posts: 283
Nov 14, 2016, 11:22 am
#49
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
Then my guess would be that you will get your CK invite this year if you're really spending that much on AA metal purchased as AA tickets and no codeshares. For me, it took 3 years of a certain level to be invited, but as always see the disclosure below
Nov 14, 2016, 9:22 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
I think the one thing most people forget about is that CK wants to see consistent spend in the $50k-75k range. One year at $60k will not get you CK unless you go and get an AirPass (and even then I'm not sure if it still will). I'm sure AA would gladly forsake consistency for profit if you are spending in the $100k-120k arena. Just my thoughts.
The thing that surprises me is the delta between base EXP EQD in 2017 ($12k) and the sorts of numbers people are talking about spending to get CK ($50-100k).
It's an example of how segmentation works, but also a surprise to me that AA don't offer a DEXP in the middle, at say $25k spend. Guess there aren't enough members to make this worthwhile.
Nov 16, 2016, 9:02 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Has anyone gotten CK outside the US without a US corporate connection? Airpass doesn't make sense for longhaul international really and given necessity of partner spend for other locations, it's a bit difficult to hit these domestic targets despite spending in this range on AA metal. Even my (former) UK corp travel agent had zero ability to even find someone at AA UK to talk to about this.
Nov 16, 2016, 9:08 am
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Has anyone gotten CK outside the US without a US corporate connection? Airpass doesn't make sense for longhaul international really and given necessity of partner spend for other locations, it's a bit difficult to hit these domestic targets despite spending in this range on AA metal. Even my (former) UK corp travel agent had zero ability to even find someone at AA UK to talk to about this.
Nov 16, 2016, 11:09 am
#53
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
Has anyone gotten CK outside the US without a US corporate connection? Airpass doesn't make sense for longhaul international really and given necessity of partner spend for other locations, it's a bit difficult to hit these domestic targets despite spending in this range on AA metal. Even my (former) UK corp travel agent had zero ability to even find someone at AA UK to talk to about this.
Sometimes you won't find a Y-UP, and those times you could buy the lowest cost J on anyAairline.
Nov 18, 2016, 12:20 am
#54
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
LHR-JFK RT on Y-UP to J is $2800+taxes on Airpass. In my opinion that's great value for a fully flexible ticket. If you are flying 17 of those a year, you could negotiate CK with Airpass, I'd think.
Sometimes you won't find a Y-UP, and those times you could buy the lowest cost J on anyAairline.
Sometimes you won't find a Y-UP, and those times you could buy the lowest cost J on anyAairline.
Nov 18, 2016, 5:30 am
#55
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
DFW-HKG $5835+taxes RT
Definitely East Coast is the better deal, but the numbers aren't horrible, especially considering the flexibility. Really depends how much you want to guarantee CK, of course.
Nov 18, 2016, 10:57 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 141
Has anyone gotten CK outside the US without a US corporate connection? Airpass doesn't make sense for longhaul international really and given necessity of partner spend for other locations, it's a bit difficult to hit these domestic targets despite spending in this range on AA metal. Even my (former) UK corp travel agent had zero ability to even find someone at AA UK to talk to about this.
As far as CK, you can ABSOLUTELY get it based on spend even if you are not an "influencer". Don't ask me how I know
. Although JonNYC or one of the other contributors may have insider knowledge that making it on spend alone is a complete outlier / anomaly. I will let them comment on that....~TG
Dec 19, 2016, 11:58 am
#57
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541
Looks like I didn't spend enough this year to fully retain for next year. I just got a note in my inbox about extending my membership. Need 14,000 EQD between 1/9/17 and 4/9/17 to keep it through January 2018.
While that number isn't usually an issue, it all depends on travel schedules and ticket prices. Have to average $1,167 a week domestically since no international travel planned for Q1. Lovely!
Sounds like everyone should be finding out if they are renewed (or new) any minute.
While that number isn't usually an issue, it all depends on travel schedules and ticket prices. Have to average $1,167 a week domestically since no international travel planned for Q1. Lovely!
Sounds like everyone should be finding out if they are renewed (or new) any minute.
Dec 19, 2016, 12:25 pm
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Looks like I didn't spend enough this year to fully retain for next year. I just got a note in my inbox about extending my membership. Need 14,000 EQD between 1/9/17 and 4/9/17 to keep it through January 2018.
While that number isn't usually an issue, it all depends on travel schedules and ticket prices. Have to average $1,167 a week domestically since no international travel planned for Q1. Lovely!
Sounds like everyone should be finding out if they are renewed (or new) any minute.
While that number isn't usually an issue, it all depends on travel schedules and ticket prices. Have to average $1,167 a week domestically since no international travel planned for Q1. Lovely!
Sounds like everyone should be finding out if they are renewed (or new) any minute.
)
Dec 19, 2016, 12:41 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA CK, Marriott LT Ti, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 541