Jul 25, 2017, 10:25 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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 / CK / 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)
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
Jan 8, 2017, 3:08 pm
#16
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I'm global services with UA. Will probably spend about $100k this year out of SFO so may have a chance to get UA/GS and AA/CK if I decide to diversify. Two questions:
- does CK only count AA metal PQD or includes codeshares? I fly between US and Australia in business class quarterly and see a lot of QF flights with AA codeshare
- anyone ever successfully pulled off a status match from GS to CK?
- does CK only count AA metal PQD or includes codeshares? I fly between US and Australia in business class quarterly and see a lot of QF flights with AA codeshare
- anyone ever successfully pulled off a status match from GS to CK?
If you look at Business Extra and buy sufficient advance flying, assuming a significant part of your current flying is last minute, you might be able to secure CK. Be prepared for big advance spend, likely north of $60k (from recent reports).
We can discuss COM etc. as well as anyone, but the CK qualifying criteria are completely opaque - so we can only speculate and rely on what others report, regardless of how we spice it up with formulae and sophisticated sounding guesses.
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 8, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Jan 8, 2017, 3:37 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SJC/SFO (previously BNE, SIN, SHA/PVG)
Programs: UA GS/MM, Marriott TE, National EE, Global Entry/TSA-Pre, APEC BTC
Posts: 162
You earn EQD on all eligible oneworld and partner (e.g. AS) fares, not just AA marketed ones (you don't need the AA flight operated by QF, and in fact might be credited more EQD flying directly as QF).
If you look at Business Extra and buy sufficient advance flying, assuming a significant part of your current flying is last minute, you might be able to secure CK. Be prepared for big advance spend, likely north of $60k (from recent reports).
We can discuss COM etc. as well as anyone, but the CK qualifying criteria are completely opaque - so we can only speculate and rely on what others report, regardless of how we spice it up with formulae and sophisticated sounding guesses.
If you look at Business Extra and buy sufficient advance flying, assuming a significant part of your current flying is last minute, you might be able to secure CK. Be prepared for big advance spend, likely north of $60k (from recent reports).
We can discuss COM etc. as well as anyone, but the CK qualifying criteria are completely opaque - so we can only speculate and rely on what others report, regardless of how we spice it up with formulae and sophisticated sounding guesses.
Jan 8, 2017, 4:28 pm
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Jan 9, 2017, 9:11 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
Examples of criteria used to determine eligible flights:
BA operated + BA flight prefix
BA operated + other flight prefix
Other carrier operated + BA flight prefix
IB operated + IB flight prefix
I'm staggered 204k EQM could be earned for so little. Is that "raw" cash outlay from you or does it include bump vouchers or similar?
Jan 14, 2017, 8:00 am
#21
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PHL and beyond
Programs: AA CK, Marriott Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 247
Also anecdotally, 250k BIS miles is a lot for $60k. There are people here who fly a LOT of discount flights and never make CK. Maybe you mean EQM with paid F, so 85k BIS?
Jan 17, 2017, 6:40 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
And yes, more like 100K BIS; don't think I could handle over 200K BIS in a year!
Jan 23, 2017, 7:45 pm
#23
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
As mentioned above, we can only speculate because AA does not publish CK / KEY criteria. My guess is $60k and 250k EQM on three airlines isn't going to get anyone CK unless they are influencers of travel with a significantly large corporation.
Feb 25, 2017, 9:40 am
#24
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 161
Concierge Key - Key Decision Makers
I ran across new descriptions of the Concierge Key Program, and wondering exactly what this means and who exactly you're supossed to contact at American Airlines concerning this.
"ConciergeKey members receiving their status through sales, as influencers of major corporate travel spend, don’t travel as frequently"
"ConciergeKey is also given out to decision-makers of big corporate contracts."
I am a key decision maker / founder for my company, and am curious what determines this and who to speak to at American regarding this.
"ConciergeKey members receiving their status through sales, as influencers of major corporate travel spend, don’t travel as frequently"
"ConciergeKey is also given out to decision-makers of big corporate contracts."
I am a key decision maker / founder for my company, and am curious what determines this and who to speak to at American regarding this.
Feb 25, 2017, 10:43 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 122
From what I understand it is invitation only based on your past history, not future promises to fly XXXXX and you cannot contact AA to request it.
Maybe some CKK members can chime in here and tell us how they achieved it- ie, what they spent, markets flown, how long as EP prior to CKK etc.
Maybe some CKK members can chime in here and tell us how they achieved it- ie, what they spent, markets flown, how long as EP prior to CKK etc.
Feb 25, 2017, 10:46 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
Feb 25, 2017, 10:48 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
From what I understand it is invitation only based on your past history, not future promises to fly XXXXX and you cannot contact AA to request it.
Maybe some CKK members can chime in here and tell us how they achieved it- ie, what they spent, markets flown, how long as EP prior to CKK etc.
Maybe some CKK members can chime in here and tell us how they achieved it- ie, what they spent, markets flown, how long as EP prior to CKK etc.
Feb 25, 2017, 11:02 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 82
I imagine if you're negotiating a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract with AA, CK status for the decision makers would be on the negotiation table. Of course, those type of negotiations would be confidential so I doubt anyone could post here with concrete examples.