AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey / CK members lounge (master thread)
 

Newbie to FT but experienced traveler here.

I have couple of questions for the seasoned INTERNATIONAL travelers.

1. Anyone with CK experience in HKG, can you share your experience?
(I have a 1 hr 20 min transit to China Airlines and I always get lost in HKG so I have requested for a CK rep to assist but little worried...)

2. Does AA offer baggage check-through on SEPARATE TICKET on a NON-OW airline? (I emailed CK and they said YES until end of Jan. 2015. However, there was a thread on FT that says NO...)

2. AA interlines to CI so should be no problem if before Feb 1. Always at discretion of check-in agent however

1. Did CK desk confirm that they have that facility/availability at HKG?

Thanks for ur reply JonNYC.

Yes, CK confirmed they'll have a rep waiting upon my arrival to HKG but they asked for my baggage to check-through otherwise I might not have enough time...
I guess my question is how helpful are the HKG CK reps? Will they assist me with speedy custom/security check, luggage retrieval (if needed), re-ticketing (if needed), etc...

ah, this makes sense to me. Quite a few from my office, including me, did in fact get CK after three consecutive years at exp. For me two more years at exp, then last year dropped to Plat. so I didn't do another 3 years in a row. I did get my exp back for 2015. But haven't seen CK again since 2011, nor anyone in my office since work travel has deceased considerably.

I have been met by CK twice in HK, after coming off 137/138 in Business. Very helpful and very quick. Just as a note- requesting it gets you nothing, its all "random" and based on connection times and such. Everytime I have called to request it I never get it, but im batting about 60% on intl meets just saying nothing.

I have had AA able to do it from AA>Alaska, but beyond that I am of no help as I never check bags.

Thank you for sharing your experience IWRT.

I'll keep that in mind so I don't wait around for the CK rep if I don't see one waiting for me in HKG. My fingers crossed that everything goes well.... I've had some real bad experiences at HKIA...

If they meet you, it will be literally after you walk off the Jetbridge, their would be a agent with a tablet (ipad?) with your name on it. That is how it was for me in HK and most recently in LHR.

On another note, I have also been met in DFW with an agent that offered me a sooner boarding pass that my current (DFW to SFO) but I guess they didnt see that I was traveling with a friend (picked her up in DFW from AUS), and it was an award ticket. Very nice service. I have yet to encounter anyone in the CK program that doesn't deserve applause for going above and beyond.

AA Concierge Key / ConciergeKey (Summer 2013 & later, consolidated)
 

Received a box of chocolates from the CK team today. Nice touch.

Not sure where you are connecting to but if connect to Cathay/Dragon you would avoid any issue whatsoever.

same here. thought it was the 2015 card in an oversized box but it was the same thing you got. Very nice touch indeed!

Looks like I have something to look forward to when I get home. I'm guessing membership packets will be in the mail in late January.

Received chocolates also. My staff ate them all today. Reports were they were quite good quality.

Arrived today and also received the nice touch by CK.

Just got back from my DFW/HKG/TPE/China trip and here is my CK experience.

DFW - Nothing special. I was able to check my luggage all day through TPE although my second leg was on China Airlines but this was not because I was CK. No greet or special recognition

HKG - I was met by CK rep in HKG and to assist me with my transfer. (I requested for this via email prior to my flight) My arrival flight was delayed so I only had 50 minutes to go to the transfer desk, get new boarding pass and get to the gate. CK rep walked me to the China Airlines ticketing desk and helped me to get the new boarding pass. It made things lot easier since she spoke Cantonese. Then she escorted me through CREW security check point and got through without waiting in line. I got to my new gate with ticket in hand within 30 minutes. Very happy with her service!

On return flight to DFW, I was met by another CK rep in HKG during my check in. He said Hi and identified himself as the CK rep and.... that was it. Since the immigration line was fairly long, I was hoping he could escort me to the CREW line but nothing... I saw him again at the gate and he said Hi again and... nothing. Since most of Asia has one of the worst boarding procedures, I was hoping he would allow me to board early but didn't happen.

All in all, I only felt special during my transit which I really appreciated.

BTW, I was notified before Christmas but nothing in mail yet... No chocolates nor welcome kit with card. Hopefully today.

Do CK invites always happen via email or do they sometimes call you by phone? Anyone recently invited via a phone call?