For whatever reason, there’s a not-insignificant portion of the frequent flyer community that finds invitation-only status with US airlines to be sexy. I’ve gotta be honest, I don’t really get it. Is there any other context in which overpaying for the pleasure of indulging in American’s domestic first class catering, lounge cubed cheese, and cheap…
Continue reading: American Airlines Concierge Key: What Is This Invitation-Only Status?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
And finishes with... "Please enjoy this complimentary mini-bottle of Aviation American Gin and a tube of Radio Bombay hand-soap."
I got it last April (April to April) very surprisingly. Didn't ask too many questions. I usually buy premium or cash upgrades rather than play the wait at the gate and hope there's a no show/misconnect game. Even with that I'm no huge spender. I have all the co-branded CCs so that surely helps.
My LPs will be higher for the current qualifying year so even with that I'm not uber confident luck will reign down on me again next April.
The FL access and the phone number you can get through even during busy times are great. Where there are ACs having a Premium Services Rep either to meet you at the gate or escort you onto the plane is very hit and miss, mostly miss. Most of the time you get a text telling you what you already know. I've had just 2 SUV transfers. If I have a connection I always try to book a longer connection, at least two hours, because history has told me betting on a 45-60 minute connection will usually disappoint. So, the lack of a SUV or the cart has never been an issue for me.
Seems like the main benefit is being #1 on the upgrade list for a domestic F cabin with 0 available seats ?
Last earning year I had just under 500K LP. That's why I think having all AA cobranded CCs came into play. Also, I've been an EXP for 15 of the past 17 years but not again a high spend EXP.
BTW, the Escalade is at limited airports. I think only DFW, PHL and LAX. No MIA, CLT, DCA, or PHX. Not sure about JFK.
I don't think there's one at JFK, but can't confirm. I've never had it myself. Not sure how helpful it would be - even with the tunnel its worst case a 10 minute walk between the two ends of T8, and many JFK connections have to clear CBP anyways.
Well a lot of airline premium is a bit of a charade. Can joke about cubes of cheese and mini bottles of gin but think about paying to upgrade to Air France first. You get a bed worse than a hostel and a curtain for privacy. You don’t get your own bathroom or shower… what would you pay for that if it was a hotel listing? $50?
And a two min tarmac transfer in a fancy car. Hardly experience of a lifetime.
Flagship first dining? Basically a middling meal in a dank restaurant.
Hard to critique CK and not take a perspective on all the other experiences we rave about.
Mick, did you just throw-shade at the La Première suite? Haven't flown it, personally, yet, but I did just fly J on AF's updated 773 (with the doors), and all of it seems quite nice to me. If La Première isn't good enough for you, I don't know if you can be pleased. I'd certainly take AF over Flagship First with AA, any day.
I dined in Flagship First JFK in Feb 2020. It was a very good meal, up there with some of the better non-airport restaurants I've dined at, although not on par with a restaurant with even one Michelin Star). The views with windows overlooking the tarmac were nice. Can't comment on how it may be now.
Hahah yes I did! I haven’t flown it yet either and can’t see that I will in the foreseeable future. But have apartments booked for Jan. It’s been 7 years!
There's actually another unit within AA that extends an even higher level of service.
What good is getting 120 hour in advance upgrades. I am EXP and while I have gotten upgraded to first on many of my home airport flights, they come thru mostly during the night before the flight or at the gate. The only one that cleared early was one where there were 16 seats in first and only 2 were sold. I want the steak, not the sizzle.
My husband had it in 2023. He always pays cash for biz class fares and travels long-distance within North America almost every week. It wasn't renewed in 2024. He's a very low key flyer, other than being the first person boarding -- which he seemed to enjoy -- he didn't feel there was any value for him (doesn't drink, doesn't eat on planes -- even takes his own water bottle, etc.).
I think the spread of Concierge vs EP is much higher. I’m an EP and every flight I’m on there might be one or two Concierges but at least 15 to 20 EP’s.
That's nice, dear. There's a ton of CKs out there and as Ben mentioned, you can literally become CK by buying toilet paper at Costco.
It's not all that, trust me.
Im just saying even the creme de la creme (af first) is like a $50 hotel room. Can’t throw shade at aa ck and then say other elements of the hobby are to die for. Ben paid x $k to upgrade a short transatlantic for better or else.
I am CK based in MIA. I've had 5-6 SUV transfers this year (they have Suburbans at MIA..have never seen an Escalade) with golf cart rides fairly regularly being offered including even upon arrival at MIA to the airport exit. I have booked tighter connections at specific airports (eg DFW, LHR) that offer CK services since I would be more likely to make the connection and it has worked out well although I know it's not a guarantee to get a ride. The difference vs EP is nearly always the ground experience and customer service during IRROPS, whereas in the in-air is usually nothing above what you'd experience as a non-CK (which is 100% ok - sharing for those who were curious).
I recently had SUV transfer at JFK from Soho lounge to one of the gates past the tunnel. It was proactively offered to me so I said yes but the walk otherwise wouldn't have been bad.