New to business travel and now I am Concierge Key. What do free upgrades mean?
Dec 12, 2018, 7:07 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
Just putting it out there, do you think its time to have AA consider EXP as the same level as CK in terms of upgrades, and that goes for boarding too?
(not that they probably will)
(not that they probably will)
Dec 12, 2018, 7:21 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 148
Dec 12, 2018, 7:38 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
I really have to question the policy of AA allowing CKs to provide others with CK status. I understand the need to want to obtain very high dollar spend flyers. However, there should be a line drawn. If AA requires EXPs to use stickers to upgrade companions then why this policy? By all means I could see AA giving certain CKs the ability to bestow PLT on certain of their employees. But the highest ultra invite only level to those that might not even re-qualify for GLD on their own?
Dec 12, 2018, 7:53 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
I really have to question the policy of AA allowing CKs to provide others with CK status. I understand the need to want to obtain very high dollar spend flyers. However, there should be a line drawn. If AA requires EXPs to use stickers to upgrade companions then why this policy? By all means I could see AA giving certain CKs the ability to bestow PLT on certain of their employees. But the highest ultra invite only level to those that might not even re-qualify for GLD on their own?
1) Spend a bunch/be profitable- Obviously there's no published criteria and some very high spenders don't qualify, but spend a bunch and you at least have a shot
2) Be a travel influencer or important person at a company which spends a lot with AA.
CK's can't provide others with CK status. If what you're referring to is CK's including a companion in their status for a specific trip, yes, that's the case. And for upgrade purposes, they need to spend stickers/miles to upgrade their companion, just like an EXP.
That said, I know of multiple CK's who NEVER fly AA. Ever. But they are very senior execs at big companies, and the premise is that if they ever had to fly AA, or if irrops on their primary airline kicked them over to AA, they would be treated well. In general, nobody competes with them for upgrades since AA simply isn't their airline of choice.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:33 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
(this assures that I book the correct nights of hotels)
Dec 12, 2018, 9:17 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Bay Area
Programs: WN A-List, AA good-riddance, Safeway Club Card Extraordinaire
Posts: 3,851
Dec 12, 2018, 11:40 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
7M8 I come!
Dec 12, 2018, 1:12 pm
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
There are realistically 2 primary ways to get CK status:
1) Spend a bunch/be profitable- Obviously there's no published criteria and some very high spenders don't qualify, but spend a bunch and you at least have a shot
2) Be a travel influencer or important person at a company which spends a lot with AA.
CK's can't provide others with CK status. If what you're referring to is CK's including a companion in their status for a specific trip, yes, that's the case. And for upgrade purposes, they need to spend stickers/miles to upgrade their companion, just like an EXP.
That said, I know of multiple CK's who NEVER fly AA. Ever. But they are very senior execs at big companies, and the premise is that if they ever had to fly AA, or if irrops on their primary airline kicked them over to AA, they would be treated well. In general, nobody competes with them for upgrades since AA simply isn't their airline of choice.
1) Spend a bunch/be profitable- Obviously there's no published criteria and some very high spenders don't qualify, but spend a bunch and you at least have a shot
2) Be a travel influencer or important person at a company which spends a lot with AA.
CK's can't provide others with CK status. If what you're referring to is CK's including a companion in their status for a specific trip, yes, that's the case. And for upgrade purposes, they need to spend stickers/miles to upgrade their companion, just like an EXP.
That said, I know of multiple CK's who NEVER fly AA. Ever. But they are very senior execs at big companies, and the premise is that if they ever had to fly AA, or if irrops on their primary airline kicked them over to AA, they would be treated well. In general, nobody competes with them for upgrades since AA simply isn't their airline of choice.
Dec 13, 2018, 4:38 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,193
Dec 13, 2018, 11:38 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008