By now, almost everyone knows airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and even fast food chains have loyalty programs. Airlines, in particular, design those loyalty programs to reward frequent flyers through award miles, upgrades, waived fees, and lounge access. United has the MileagePlus program, Delta has the SkyMiles program, and American Airlines has the AAdvantage program. Within each of those programs, Airlines publish certain levels of elite status and associated benefits for reaching each level.
For example, it’s widely known and accepted that the American Airlines AAdvantage Program has four published levels. Those levels of elite status are Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum. However, what isn’t as widely known is that many programs, AAdvantage included, have secret invitation only levels of elite status.
Airlines reserve these secret elite statuses for those who travel the absolute most with a given airline. We’re talking about the 1% of airline passengers who fly and absolute mind numbing number of miles each year. Not to mention, these passengers also spend the most with the airline as well. By some reports, American only selects passengers who spend upwards of $60,000 a year with the airline for their invitation only level of elite status; Concierge Key.
What Is American Airlines Concierge Key?
Concierge Key is American’s highest, now official, elite status. This invite only level of elite status ranks above Executive Platinum and is reserved for those who fly with American the most. Concierge Key is also the elite status made popular by the 2009 film, Up In The Air, staring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick.
Some may also know about the program from a popular YouTube video from Casey Neistat in which he explains why American did not renew his Concierge Key status a few years back. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, that video is no longer available on YouTube.
Essentially, Concierge Key is that invite only level of elite status offered by American Airlines. To earn Concierge Key you have to fly a ton with American. Not only that, you also have to spend a ton with the airline each year. Generally, American will only invite you to the program after a few years of extreme loyalty.
Until this year, the only way to learn about Concierge Key benefits was to receive the welcome kit. However, this year, American has decided to move their welcome kits online and has therefore made it easy for everyone to see all of the benefits offered by this unpublished tier of elite status.
The American Airlines Concierge Key Benefits Website
Finding this site was a bit easier than expected. When I was checking out my Executive Platinum benefits website I noticed the website address was simply https://exploreamerican.com/executiveplatinumstatus/. After noticing that I simply deleted Executive Platinum and typed in Concierge Key. Sure enough, it worked. When I hit enter I reached the Concierge Key welcome page!
The Concierge Key welcome page highlights nearly all of the benefits offered by American Airlines Concierge Key. Over the past serval years I’ve become fairly familiar with the program so none of these benefits necessarily come as a surprise. However, it’s pretty cool to finally see American publish all of these benefits in one place.
When you first reach the Concierge Key welcome page you’ll find another beautiful AAdvantage benefits website featuring an iconic picture of a businessman walking with roll-aboard in tow.
As you begin to scroll down you’ll find some text, introducing you to what Concierge Key status entails.
According to American, traveling as a ConciergeKey member is virtually unlimited! As you scroll down you’ll find the outline of a window which, as you scroll down, will allow you to look inside the world of a Concierge Key member.
Again, I think American has done an amazing job with these AAdvantage elite benefits websites for 2019. All of them are visually stunning.
What Exactly Are Concierge Key Benefits?
As you scroll more you’ll reach a section of the page which highlights a few of the primiary benefits offered from Concierge Key elite status.
For example, Concierge Key members receive a dedicated phone line reserved specifically for Concierge Key members. When you call a Concierge Key representative you’ll reach a team of the best reservation AAgents at American Airlines.
That personalized level of service also continues at the airport. When at the airport you’ll basically have a, um, concierge personally escort you through the airport. This includes getting you from check-in to the lounge and then onto the plane.
You’ll maybe even get a ride on the special Concierge Key golf carts found in many American hubs.
As you continue down the Concierge Key benefits page you’ll also notice that CK members have access to Flagship First Class Check-In and receive priority boarding. In most cases, priority boarding means being the first person on the plane.
Also, Concierge Key members receive car service transfers at select American Airlines hubs. So, when traveling through LAX, CLT, DFW, JFK, or PHL a car may get you from your arriving gate and take you to your connecting gate. It’s a bit like the car service offered by Lufthansa First Class.
After introducing a few of the premier benefits offered from Concierge Key status, the website continues with a few other benefits that come with this exclusive level of elite status.
Complimentary American Airlines Executive Platinum Elite Status
Now, I can’t imagine most Concierge Key members don’t already maintain Executive Platinum elite status, but I suppose it happens. So, if you aren’t already, American Airlines provides Concierge Key members with the same benefits offered by Executive Platinum elite status.
With Executive Platinum status also comes OneWorld Emerald elite status. This means that Concierge Key members also receive several benefits when traveling with OneWorld partner airlines.
Primarily, OneWorld Emerald benefits include complimentary seat assignments, waived fees, and international First and Business class lounge access.
Again, if you’re earning Concierge Key it is likely that you’re already traveling in Business or First Class so there is probably a lot of overlap in benefits when traveling with OneWorld partner airlines.
Complimentary Lounge Access For Concierge Key Members
Finally, toward the bottom of the Concierge Key benefits page is a section for lounge access.
CK members receive a complimentary Admirals Club membership which allows access to any Admirals Club location when traveling with American Airlines.
Likewise, when traveling through select cities, CK members also receive access to Flagship Lounges when traveling with American Airlines. Unlike Executive Platinum customers, this benefit includes domestic travel. This is an incredible benefit, especially if you’re based in a city with a Flagship Lounge.
One thing I noticed is that American does not mention if CK members receive receive access to Flagship First Dining. American has added and taken away Flagship Dining from CK members a few times over the past few years. So, at the time of writing, I’m not sure if CK members receive complimentary access to Flagship Dining. Either way, if you’re a CK member, it might be worth asking when you arrive at select Flagship Lounges.
Concierge Key Benefits Summary
As with the other elite status benefits websites, at the bottom of the page is a nice summary of the benefits offered from Concierge Key status.
This page continues to include a “Concierge Key member login” button.
Out of curiosity I clicked the button and reached the below page. Unsurprisingly, I was not admitted entry to the page. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to see what’s beyond this stubborn log-in page.
At the very bottom of the benefits page was a snapshot summary of the lounge access offered by Concierge Key status.
As you can see, as a CK member you’ll receive an Admirals Club membership, Flagship Lounge access, and access to International First Class lounges. All in all, the benefits offered from Concierge Key are quite impressive.
Final Thoughts
To those familiar with the Concierge Key program nothing on this page is groundbreaking. In fact, seeing the benefits listed on a page may actually seem a bit underwhelming. However, it’s what you don’t see here that makes Concierge Key so valuable.
I wrote about this a while back, but for the amount of travel that I do each year, Concierge Key just isn’t worth it… for me. Yet, for the busy professional who flies 150+ segments a year or who does weekly runs between the US and Europe, Asia, South America, or Oceana Concierge Key is incredibly valuable. Most of all because if anything goes wrong, the CK agents will get you to where you need to be. Sure access to lounges, upgrades, and priority boarding is nice, but having someone at American looking out for you during travel disruptions is significantly more valuable.
