Jul 25, 2017, 10:25 am
Last edit by: Prospero
How Can I Achieve ConciergeKeySM / "CK" Program
(Concierge Key is by invitation only)
(Concierge Key is by invitation only)
NOTE: For issues relating to services provision for CK members, changes in offerings and all other issues pertaining to current Concierge Key members, please see AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK members (master thread) thread
"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) You can not apply for CK; you must be nominated and invited. According to member Gino Troian, reviews and decisions ~July, December.
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).
Possible ways to gain CK, remembering that as the criteria are not published this is somewhat speculative, based on having several CKs posting here and some members knowing several CKs (in no particular order):
- Arranger of travel with corporate travel contract with AA
- Influencer of travel with Fortune 1,000
- True VIP with significant recognition within an industry or profession
- Air Pass with $60,000 or more prepaid travel
- VFF EXP with high EQD ($75k?) and many high fare flights p.a. on AA
- Nominated by "sales" at AA (may dovetail with immediately above)
- Be sent a targeted "challenge" by AA instead of an invitation (see below)
According to Emily McNutt of The Points Guy, July 19, 2017 (link), AA has selected some high achievers to send a "challenge" type of CK invitation (offer closed 21 Jul 2017).
The offer required the invitee to earn 16,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) on AA marketed or operated flights within the next 90 days in order to get Concierge Key status; successful completion receive Concierge Key through January 2019.
"According to one FlyerTalk user who was targeted, they have 65,000 EQDs (54,000 on AA-operated flights) and 223,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs)." We don't know if AA will make this offer in the future.
SERVICES: Services provided include airport escorts, Cadillac apron or golf cart transfers, 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. CK are First in upgrade and reaccommodation Priority, over EP.
ConciergeKey members receive AAdvantage Executive Platinum status, 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. (From our FlyerGuide AA Wiki page)
CK members have access to Flagship Check-in on any flight. It has been said unofficially CK will have Flagship Lounge access when flying.
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 are pre-boarded 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
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 25 Jul 2017 by JDiver
How do I make / making AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK? (master thread
Jun 8, 2019, 11:10 am
#241
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
Another option AA should implement is being able to apply 2x the SWEs for confirmed upgrades at booking. This would similar concept to Saver vs Anytime miles.
Jul 9, 2019, 1:36 pm
#242
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 100K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 298
Need some advice on CK qualification
I'm based in SEA, and by the end of the year should have at least 58k EQD, 200k EQM, most in J, of which ~5.1k EQD in QR, and 5k in BA (AA marketed), so about 48k EQD in AA metal, or 53k EQD in AA+JV metal.
Additionally I will probably have another trip (probably transpacific) in J. If CK is likely, I would probably just book AA, but if it's not, or it's a coin toss, I might prefer to just fly an Alaska partner to make my requalification for 75k there easier (and to fly a better product like JL or SQ).
What do people think?
Additionally, if CK is within reach, would flying a JV partner like BA or JL, booked through AA, likely count towards CK? Or should just keep to AA metal?
I'm based in SEA, and by the end of the year should have at least 58k EQD, 200k EQM, most in J, of which ~5.1k EQD in QR, and 5k in BA (AA marketed), so about 48k EQD in AA metal, or 53k EQD in AA+JV metal.
Additionally I will probably have another trip (probably transpacific) in J. If CK is likely, I would probably just book AA, but if it's not, or it's a coin toss, I might prefer to just fly an Alaska partner to make my requalification for 75k there easier (and to fly a better product like JL or SQ).
What do people think?
Additionally, if CK is within reach, would flying a JV partner like BA or JL, booked through AA, likely count towards CK? Or should just keep to AA metal?
Jul 9, 2019, 4:28 pm
#243
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
Jul 9, 2019, 4:42 pm
#244
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 100K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 298
Interesting. Were your numbers almost all on AA metal or did you have significant portions on partners?
Jul 9, 2019, 6:42 pm
#245
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
My spend on AA for the last 4 years have been $50k+/- (high of $65k in '17). I wonder if my spend over the last few years, not just a single year, got me the CK status award this past April? Quite frankly, I was quite surprised when I received it.
Jul 9, 2019, 6:55 pm
#246
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP/OWE, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 880
I don't recall, but in 2017 the vast majority of my international flights were on AA metal, with a few flights on JL, although all booked through AA. All domestic flights were on AA. I ended up 2017 with around $65k EQD and over 200 EQM and didn't get awarded CK. I ended 2018 with ~$47k EQD and 210k EQM, all AA metal. When I was award CK in April, my 12-month rolling EQD's was $50k and 218k EQM.
My spend on AA for the last 4 years have been $50k+/- (high of $65k in '17). I wonder if my spend over the last few years, not just a single year, got me the CK status award this past April? Quite frankly, I was quite surprised when I received it.
My spend on AA for the last 4 years have been $50k+/- (high of $65k in '17). I wonder if my spend over the last few years, not just a single year, got me the CK status award this past April? Quite frankly, I was quite surprised when I received it.
Jul 9, 2019, 8:36 pm
#247
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS 100K, AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 298
I don't recall, but in 2017 the vast majority of my international flights were on AA metal, with a few flights on JL, although all booked through AA. All domestic flights were on AA. I ended up 2017 with around $65k EQD and over 200 EQM and didn't get awarded CK. I ended 2018 with ~$47k EQD and 210k EQM, all AA metal. When I was award CK in April, my 12-month rolling EQD's was $50k and 218k EQM.
My spend on AA for the last 4 years have been $50k+/- (high of $65k in '17). I wonder if my spend over the last few years, not just a single year, got me the CK status award this past April? Quite frankly, I was quite surprised when I received it.
My spend on AA for the last 4 years have been $50k+/- (high of $65k in '17). I wonder if my spend over the last few years, not just a single year, got me the CK status award this past April? Quite frankly, I was quite surprised when I received it.
And well, seems like a coin flip for me then. Some have suggested the home airport matters, and hopefully SEA would mean I have a decent shot, but if I don't get CK after this year, next year I'll probably just split my international J flying between AA (including oneworld crediting to AA) and AS partners.
Jul 9, 2019, 8:44 pm
#248
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
Thanks for sharing!
And well, seems like a coin flip for me then. Some have suggested the home airport matters, and hopefully SEA would mean I have a decent shot, but if I don't get CK after this year, next year I'll probably just split my international J flying between AA (including oneworld crediting to AA) and AS partners.
Jul 11, 2019, 2:24 pm
#249
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: EGGX <-> CZQX
Programs: AA CK, UA GS, DL 360, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 414
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Jul 11, 2019, 4:08 pm
#250
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 11
I would hope so I will probably add the same by the end of this month and would hope that I receive CK for the remainder of the year. The only problem I see is that I only started flying AA last July and the lack of history would prevent me from receiving it.
Jul 12, 2019, 7:39 am
#251
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP, 2 Million Miler
Posts: 821
For all your traveling data geeks, I plotted my rolling EQDs (from when I started to record them) and noted when I was awarded the CK status this year (4/30). It is interesting that I received the CK status at the end of the dip in my 12-month rolling EQDs, which was the result of a quarter in 2018 that I did no international travel. We'll see if I get to keep it in 2020.
Jul 12, 2019, 6:55 pm
#252
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DFW Area
Programs: AA ConciergeKey; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 386
Just another data point..
I assume that mid year qualifications are out as I just received my first ever CK invite and CK status expires Jan 31 2020. I have been EXP for only three years and had last year only 40k edq and 120k eqm. Prior two years were about the same.
This year for first six months I have 28k eqd, 75k eqm and 15 segments. I assume they qualified me on my run rate and it was very unexpected. I don’t know what I need to do to keep it but I assume they expect me to end on double my six months stats to do so.
i find this bizarre as I was not on any type of challenge and my home airport is DFW.
Anyone else had this occur occur this year or a prior year?
I assume that mid year qualifications are out as I just received my first ever CK invite and CK status expires Jan 31 2020. I have been EXP for only three years and had last year only 40k edq and 120k eqm. Prior two years were about the same.
This year for first six months I have 28k eqd, 75k eqm and 15 segments. I assume they qualified me on my run rate and it was very unexpected. I don’t know what I need to do to keep it but I assume they expect me to end on double my six months stats to do so.
i find this bizarre as I was not on any type of challenge and my home airport is DFW.
Anyone else had this occur occur this year or a prior year?
Jul 12, 2019, 7:53 pm
#253
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 11
Just another data point..
I assume that mid year qualifications are out as I just received my first ever CK invite and CK status expires Jan 31 2020. I have been EXP for only three years and had last year only 40k edq and 120k eqm. Prior two years were about the same.
This year for first six months I have 28k eqd, 75k eqm and 15 segments. I assume they qualified me on my run rate and it was very unexpected. I don’t know what I need to do to keep it but I assume they expect me to end on double my six months stats to do so.
i find this bizarre as I was not on any type of challenge and my home airport is DFW.
Anyone else had this occur occur this year or a prior year?
I assume that mid year qualifications are out as I just received my first ever CK invite and CK status expires Jan 31 2020. I have been EXP for only three years and had last year only 40k edq and 120k eqm. Prior two years were about the same.
This year for first six months I have 28k eqd, 75k eqm and 15 segments. I assume they qualified me on my run rate and it was very unexpected. I don’t know what I need to do to keep it but I assume they expect me to end on double my six months stats to do so.
i find this bizarre as I was not on any type of challenge and my home airport is DFW.
Anyone else had this occur occur this year or a prior year?