An intoxicated American Concierge Key member reportedly started assaulting other passengers and employees, but was largely excused, on account of his elite status. If there’s any truth to this incident, then American Airlines needs to be a little bit less coddling of its elite members…
In this post:
Concierge Key member demands golf on TV, or else
View from the Wing flags a Reddit user’s account of a wild situation that reportedly happened on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the American Flagship Lounge at Chicago O’Hare (ORD). This traveler was with another man, and he claims this all started over a disagreement regarding what was being shown on TV in the lounge:
“The man came into the lounge in a ritz hat and concierge key membership and said he wanted to change the channel to golf. He was belligerently intoxicated. The agents said no to changing the channel after several of us said we were watching the cubs game. He said he has higher status, and even took photos of the agents’ name badges as to report them. They told him that status does not come with free rein of the TV, after which he said we shouldn’t watch little kid baseball.”
Then after the game finished, the Concierge Key member threw a beer cap at the two men, and then when they left and waited by the bathroom, he walked by and said “why don’t you go fi**er your boyfriend you fat f*ck.”
So the Reddit user then went to the front desk to report this incident (as the offending passenger was belligerently drunk), and the agent told him that the offending passenger is a Concierge Key member, and “very VIP.” As it turns out, the Concierge Key member assaulted American employees as well.
He apparently took a picture of the badge of an American agent when she told him that Concierge Key status doesn’t come with TV changing benefits, and then he grabbed the TV-changing iPad from the other agent. The traveler was obviously disappointed by the lack of action on the part of the employees at the lounge, and asks how he should report this.
My take on this strange Flagship Lounge situation
If the details presented are true, then this is obviously really problematic. It’s really sad, but some people definitely feel that their status makes them beyond reproach, and that they can do whatever they want. Also… “why don’t you go fi**er your boyfriend you fat f*ck.” To each their own, but that’s his homophobic slur of choice? That’s, umm, unusual.
Regarding the Reddit user’s question, how should a situation like this be handled? It’s not often I recommend this, but I think this is one of those situations where you get out your phone and (subtly) start recording, and then publish that online, and let justice be handled that way. If someone loses it this much over a TV station, then I’m sure there’s a pattern of repeated behavior there.
Bottom line
A Reddit user claims that an American Concierge Key member lost it when he couldn’t decide what everyone should watch on TV in the Flagship Lounge. So he started making homophobic slurs, taking pictures of employees who refused to follow his orders, and more.
The bizarre part is that when this was reported, lounge staff apparently did nothing, due to the guy’s elite status. This is only one version of events, but if true, this is absurd.
What do you make of this American Flagship Lounge Chicago incident?
The cops should have been called. Mr CK was a disorderly drunk.
Maybe it's time the lazy agents do what the customers want. Shaquaqua only learns one way.
Was at the flagship lounge the same day after first missing my flight the night before and then sitting on the rebooked flight on the tarmac for 5 hrs watching a huge thunderstorm passing right over ORD shutting down the airport until the crew timed out.
Overheard another CK member on her phone with customer support after learning her flight to PHL for canceled. After being told that all remaining flights of the day were...
Was at the flagship lounge the same day after first missing my flight the night before and then sitting on the rebooked flight on the tarmac for 5 hrs watching a huge thunderstorm passing right over ORD shutting down the airport until the crew timed out.
Overheard another CK member on her phone with customer support after learning her flight to PHL for canceled. After being told that all remaining flights of the day were oversold already and the earliest flight out would be next day she demanded to kick off some lesser status passengers to make room for her husband and herself. She got quie angry with the agent when this didn't happen citing her status in every second sentence and complaining that it is not right that somebody else got to travel and not her having CK status... Not sure if this is an official AA CK perk but the sense of entitlement was mind boggling...
One makes no apologies whatsoever for standing up to the bullies of this world. One makes no apologies whatsoever for defending those who cannot defend themselves against others who wish them harm. One makes no apologies whatsoever for verbally “Slapping down” the rude, crude and revolting people who think that their ‘status’ entitles them to treat others badly.
Some might think that by standing up to such bullying, such antisocial behaviour, or, the terrorist like...
One makes no apologies whatsoever for standing up to the bullies of this world. One makes no apologies whatsoever for defending those who cannot defend themselves against others who wish them harm. One makes no apologies whatsoever for verbally “Slapping down” the rude, crude and revolting people who think that their ‘status’ entitles them to treat others badly.
Some might think that by standing up to such bullying, such antisocial behaviour, or, the terrorist like actions of those obnoxious self-proclaimed ‘status’ entitled individuals, is wrong. Some might accuse a person with a social conscience of being a “Pompous a**hole”, “Haughty”, “Nasty” or “Entitled”. Those who have been the victims of the bully, suffering physical violence, etc, or, have witnessed the abominable actions of these entitled individuals, rather than revulsion, they show eternal gratitude for the actions of those who stands up for them.
As an Englishman who is accused of not being such by a demented website troll is shocking, pathetic, demeaning and outrageously disrespectful. Such an attitude displays the levels of contempt and hypocrisy one only expects from those who inhabit the sewers of this planet. A truly lowlife contributions from one who would not survive beyond infancy in the real world. One who is insignificant and incapable of standing up to be counted.
Given the Karma farming on Reddit, I want video or it didn't happen.
This guy will pick on the wrong person one day and he will not get fi**erred, he’ll be royally f**ked.
Impressive to already be drunk as a skunk before even walking into the lounge. Maybe he had too many mimosas in the terminal first?
The biggest act of stupidity here is going into an airline lounge IN CHICAGO and thinking you can turn off a Cubs game. Talk about bad choices...
Where are the "kids running around" when you need them? That's many people's go-to move when complaining about poor lounge behavior, right?
I once saw this guy yelling at a LATAM airport agent in Sao Paulo. He was asking her “do you have an idea of who I am?” in reference to his alleged Delta status. This is so stupid. Airline status doesn’t give you the right to harass other people.
Also, status on a different airline!
He might have Delta SkyPESO status, but in Brasil the currency is the 'Real' !! First class A-hole !
ORD_is_my_second_home has AA Status? Who knew.
ORD is an AA hub? Who knew.
Pretty sure ORD_is_my_second_home is a United girlie like me
"All of our passengers have tablets, so we're ripping out IFE" - Doug Parker.
One would think Mr. Rich CK would have his own tablet to watch his golf...
Heck, last time I was at the ORD flagship none of the TVs were working. I didn't throw a fit, instead I streamed game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals from my ipad
Rest assured this will be escalated internally and handled by the AA executive team. I say the lounge team did the right the thing.
Sounds like negligence by the lounge staff, assuming they didn't all the cops to have him ejected for drunk/disorderly conduct.... Alleged 'victims' should have done likewise when it was evident that lounge staff was not requesting law enforcement assistance....
But I imagine the lounge staff are minimum wage contracted non-AA employees so what can one expect ? And I wouldn't expect much from the so-called 'AA excecutive' team either...
Throwing a scene and dropping a slur because your elite status didn't entitle you to have the TV changed to golf? Wow! It sounds like a fake FT thread from 2011.
We had a Marriott Platinum member (or highest status at the time) at a hotel I worked at in Hollywood who was strung out on drugs and would trash the suite during their stay. They would never call the police .
If I ever saw someone harassing a gay couple in public I’d get in their face that’s not ok.
I don't even necessarily think this was a gay couple. I'm pretty sure this CK member is just someone who uses homophobic slurs as a way insult people generically because they think it's a way to demean someone.
Why are you citing Reddit as a source? Reddit is filled will delusional people who have an loose association with the truth. It has become literally a place where group think takes hold and people are rewarded for lying via Karma points. Come on OMAAT, you are better than this.
So, a belligerently drunk man had a melt down in the club because he couldn’t watch pasture pool, and the club representative did basically nothing about it. Extrapolating that lack of any action on AA’s part would indicate to me that at some point he left the club to stumble off to his gate to then become the flight attendants problem. Well done AA, well done…
Those who seek “Status” and expect respect have much to learn. Respect has to be earned and should not be expected.
‘Slapping down’ those who act abominably because they believe themselves to have ‘status’, has long been an act which gives me a great deal of pleasure.
He’s earned my respect by putting up with flying AA….
…. :-) …. mine too Toby, mine too …. :-)
Look which anonymous “guest” user is back..
“ ‘Slapping down’ those who act abominably because they believe themselves to have ‘status’, has long been an act which gives me a great deal of pleasure.”
Which makes you just as haughty, nasty, and entitled as the one you’re slapping down
“Look which “guest” troll is back”.
It bumps its gums like a demented little juvenile who needs putting back in its pram. Whomever gave it an electronic device on which to spread its pathetic venom has much to answer for. Still, the entertainment value is immense and good for Ben’s click-count. Not to mention the “Great deal of pleasure” one enjoys when “Slapping” it down verbally.
When some unfortunate people read a word like “Slap”,...
“Look which “guest” troll is back”.
It bumps its gums like a demented little juvenile who needs putting back in its pram. Whomever gave it an electronic device on which to spread its pathetic venom has much to answer for. Still, the entertainment value is immense and good for Ben’s click-count. Not to mention the “Great deal of pleasure” one enjoys when “Slapping” it down verbally.
When some unfortunate people read a word like “Slap”, they immediately go into overdrive believing it to mean a physical violent action. Little do they realise that many English words have different meanings depending upon what one is wishing to convey. Little people with little understanding of the English language do tend to make fools of themselves by jumping to the wrong conclusion …. right Plain Jane?
The troll accuses one of being “Haughty, nasty and entitled”, however, it is quite obviously referring to those who demand unearned respect because they believe that they have status. Status is one important factor in Ben’s article, something the troll fails miserably to acknowledge. Putting a vile creature back in its box can never be described in the manner the troll attempts to indicate, yes?
I never assumed you were physically slapping anyone. Simply an observation that your "great deal of" enjoyment at the humiliation of others, regardless of their actions, puts you in the same league as those you dislike.
Only pompous a**holes take great pleasure in the demeaning of others, whether that person is a CK at ORD or a comment troll pretending to be British and constantly using other login names to feel important to demean others...
I never assumed you were physically slapping anyone. Simply an observation that your "great deal of" enjoyment at the humiliation of others, regardless of their actions, puts you in the same league as those you dislike.
Only pompous a**holes take great pleasure in the demeaning of others, whether that person is a CK at ORD or a comment troll pretending to be British and constantly using other login names to feel important to demean others while using a guest profile over and over.
But thank you for your lesson in the English language based on a comment you did not understand or self-awareness you don't possess.
…. your ignorance is my bliss …. :-)
So I take it we won't be rubbing shoulders at the Royal Ascot, Trooping the Color & other demanding social obligations, ole chap ?
...lol
ATMOS IS COMING!!!! #Alaska
Super odd take to suggest recording and publishing. Not everything is for clicks (for most people, at least).
Another unpublished benefits of CK.
lol! Brilliant