msm2000uk

As per the current AA F Sale to GRU, I've got flights routing through DFW (outbound) and MIA and JFK on the inbound - en route to LHR.

Should I assume that I'll be met as I walk off the plane at DFW and MIA, or is it pot-luck?

M

orbitmic

You certainly can't assume: totally pot luck. In fact, even though MIA has been a rather good stop for me, I've never been met when it would have really helped which was when I had to go through immigration on my Europe to Mexico, Argentina, and Caiibbean via Miami in either j or f.

As as been noted above we are a distant priority only if they don't have enough ck people to help and I suspects mostly when a ba-aa connection is involved rather than pure aa.

msm2000uk

Ah, shame.

I quite like being driven to/from the plane (even in a Cadillac).

M

orbitmic

I actually never got the car at MIA either. Some people mentioned buggies but in my case, it's always been on foot!!

Basically escort through security, then to the lounge, then to the plane to board before anyone else under the highly reproving stare of wheelchair passengers!

msm2000uk

I usually find there are buggies waiting at the doors at MIA (when flying in from LHR).

They are basically waiting to be paid by someone, so I give them $10-$20 which saves me a long walk, and means I skip ahead of everyone else!

M

orbitmic

yes, there are some, and people with airport assistance also get buggies, but in my case, every time Special Services have fetched me or escorted me, they were just on foot.

Peter M

The BA flight arrival gate at MIA is so far away from the Immigration facility that the Golf Cart is recommended, even if you have to give a gratuity for it. Sane people just never assume that there will be a two mile walk at an airport to reach the Immigration facility, but at MIA there is. Similarly, connecting MIA passengers arriving into LHR also get to enjoy that lovely T3 to T5 transit. The LHR T5 the connecting lines have been so long this summer I have been using the arriving passport e-gates to enter the UK to bypass the connections, especially since the fast track line was removed up to the passport point. ;(

Many BA crews into the US are still unaware that many US airports have the passport machines now to expedite arrival, and still give nightmare warnings about arrival delays. I highly recommend Global Entry and on AA it mostly gives pre-check when your number is entered into the reservation. I can't say always because sometimes the dreaded SSSS (secondary security screening) appears.

My special services experiences are very limited: Once at MIA I was called at the gate for special services pre-boarding. Once at JFK I was seated on a departing flight, and a red coat came onboard to wish me a good flight. Neither of the two unrequested special services experiences was useful. More appreciated were operational upgrades on AA without any fuss, just called to the gate for "a message" (i.e. a seat change). AA doesn't seem to like doing the magic bleep that BA prefers.

dylanks

Received my first CK treatment on Sunday. Nothing exciting... I had a 40 minute connection at LAX (the gates were right next to each other so I had plenty of time) and as my boarding pass was scanned, my name was called over the PA system. The CK agent wanted to make sure I'd made my connection and told me that she had protected me on the next flight in F as well.

It's interesting that others have reported FinnAir agents recognizing their GGL status as well, which makes me wonder if the joint venture partners are now sharing the higher status level information?

martyndavid

I too have received excellent treatment from AA CK on recent internal flights in the US. The first was a delayed flight when the aircraft had a technical problem at the gate. CK made a back-up reservation on the next flight if the problem was not resolved. It was sorted, but it was reassuring to know that there was a plan. The second was on a delayed flight into CLT and being met and whisked off by CK to my BOS flight which was due to depart in 15 mins (it involved a short cut through the Admirals Club).

I received much better treatment from AA CK than last week by BA at LHR when I was off loaded from my BOS flight (more than five hours untill the next one) because we were prevented from getting to conformance on time (missed it by 5 mins) by a combination of arriving 10 mins late at a remote stand from DUB, a 10min wait for a bus and no HAL agent to let us through international connections. Couldn't BA see there were many people who were going to miss connections without the kind of help that CK provide? It cost them 1200 euros in compensation and lots of champagne for Mrs MD and me, and there were at least 15 others too who missed connections because of a lack of planning and proactive help.

Calchas

Indeed, sometimes that's what you really want as a passenger. ^

Gshumway

On my last 4 trips through ORD, I had someone from the CK team 3 times looking for me. Twice a quick few words just after my boarding pass was scanned, once the person came on board to inquire if everything is ok or if I needed something.

My next set of flights is tomorrow, SFO-PHL-MIA-LIR, see if I get any recognition again.

chris1979

have we got to the bottom if this only works on BA tickets or also on AA tickets?

i've had a few CK treatments in JFK and LAX but not in ORD last time, not in MIA and it's not always been in JFK or LAX - I think it's mostly been when I have been on BA tickets rather than AA tickets.

did we get to the bottom of this?

martyndavid

[QUOTE=chris1979;27407816]have we got to the bottom if this only works on BA tickets or also on AA tickets?

My good experience (above) was on AA tickets

corporate-wage-slave

It is on both and other types of tickets (e.g. IB).

Schiehallion

Just arrived at JFK T8 connecting on transcon to LAX and lounge angel has told me CK colleagues are looking for me. Adds a little bit of excitement

This is on an AA ticket incidentally.