Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Customer Revenue Information

Last weekend I had a long conversation with a MPC member in AMS. She has been with MPC for 5 years. She finds their service unfriendly, unprofessional, never has been op-upped in those years, only occasionally greeted by name on board, never called proactively by MPC.

My experiece is the exact opposite. I find CX+MPC a very enjoyable way of flying, I have always been treated with the utmost courtesy, sometimes upgraded, always greeted, called actively to announce flight changes, etc... Long story short: we are both MPC Gold, both Caucasian/European. After a while I found out that the only thing different between her and me is that she flies 60'000 miles a year on cheap Y tickets and asks for upgrades everytime at checkin. I on the other hand fly a little over 60'000 a year, most in paid C/J/I, occasionally on H or Y, never on deeply discounted tickets.

Question: is the difference in MPC experience purely coincidental, or do MPC and gate agents see on their screen a little field named "Revenue To Date"?

May I ask if you are a "he"? Your friend is a female, according to the "she" you slipped into one of your sentences, and often that can make a world of difference. Many women elites will often feel second class, and complain they are not taken "as seriously" as their male counterparts. Just venturing a guess here. But also the fact you fly on higher fare tickets, added to your male/caucasian "heritage" may make CX -- and many other airlines and businesses -- take you more seriously, and thus worthy of bestowing these added little benefits.

I really cannot comment but I once 'accidentally' saw my profile when CX brought it up on their screen.

Somewhere on the file, there is a column for comments. Mine states the number of times I have gotten a confirmed upgrade ahead of time and the reason ... usually directly from Customer Relations. It also lists me as the "CX Top 100 PAassengers". Maybe it's just the name because I don't think I travel THAT much. Since the miles mostly go to other FF instead of Asiamiles anyway, I thought that it's interesting that the MPC can track my travels that way.

Maybe on your friends' column it might say something like "asks for upgrades a lot - Beware"

i think "ask for" is the casue of trouble.
upgrades are supposed to be surprise, if you take it for granted it means dilution of revenue.

the other reason is perhaps you should compare the travel habit. i.e. if she has a tendency to travel in mid-week, and non-tourist seasons, when Y is not full. that is probably the main reason.

i am asian male, had switched emralds status from BA to CX to AA. 80% flies on J/D classes, a little on A and econ classes.
i was seldom upgraded when i flew J/D, but got a reasonable # of upgrade when i flew econ. I really don;t think "revenue" makes the big difference, becasue i had always wished it was, but was always disappointed http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif .

and CX can track your profile by linking your other OW FFP #. that is why they know GB is top 100 CX flyer.

I'd be really interested to see that profile as well. I've been through the whole cycle, first flying mostly economy within Asia, and now flying mostly paid J/I trans-Pacific. I thought it was only because the status went up, but there is a noticeable difference in the way I'm treated. Always get greeted inflight, and have had pretty good luck with op-upgrades to F (3-4 this year), while never asking.

I have a friend who's convinced that it's because I'm male, but who knows. Actually, I kind of wish CX would treat people flying Y a bit better, and people like me a bit worse-- I rememember the frustration of getting miles credited for flights a few years ago, and how unhelpful everybody was. Now, most requests are quickly honored. I guess it depends on if they are looking at revenue or loyalty (in which case the long-suffering Y passenger should get better treatment).

One thing though-- it's probably not a good idea to ask for an op-upgrade. CX staff hear it too much, and most (not all) is decided by the computers....Better to ask the gate agent if s/he can have an empty seat next to her in Y.

I would doubt that customer revenue information has any effect on the way one is treated in the cabin. It might, however, determines the priorities of op upgrades at the check-in. For example, if there are 3 silver members and 2 must be upgraded to clear the Y-cabin, it makes sense to me that CX will choose 2 most "valuable" silver members to upgrade.

If there are 3 Silver card members and 2 of them need to be upgraded, then the first two Silver card members that will be upgraded is not based on who is more valuable but whom had checked in before the other. Therefore, on CX, the earlier you check-in, the better the chance of an upgrade! Also, having a higher status with MPO is also an advantage. The higher the level, the better the chance!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by oneworld Fan:
Therefore, on CX, the earlier you check-in, the better the chance of an upgrade! </font>


Maybe I can account my lucky experiences on the fact I always checkin (online) when the 48hour window kicks in. I just like to get these errands out of the way as soon as possible, but I wasn't aware that it has such a "side benefit"!

I've been doing online check-in at the very last minute these days .... coz I sometimes can tell if I'd be upgraded before I reach the airport .... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Actually, upgrades are based on status, and CX's CRS does a sweep about 6-12 hours prior to departure to determine who is marked down for an upgrade.

Checking in early won't help. Sometime as chiangi said, it may help to check in late.

Just remember, at CX, it's better to receive in surprise than to ask.

I am afraid Guy Betsy is incorrect this time.

With CX, if you are holding a high tier status then it is better to check in early via online check-in to get the upgrade.

CX airport staff edit the flights 24 hours prior to departure and depending on the loadings then they determine who will be subject to operational upgrades.

In HKG, the flight operations centre determines the upgrades using customer profiling and the tier status held in respective FFP's.

well guys
a computer is not sexist
I checked in for JNB flight 90 minutes ago and got my C class seat and having dined in the Pier F class lounge a nice CX lady called Lily just gave me an FCL upgrade
Pick the full flights
the Diamond card works, not your gender
TTFN from the Pier

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by oneworld Fan:


In HKG, the flight operations centre determines the upgrades using customer profiling and the tier status held in respective FFP's.</font>

So how does the customer profiling work? Does this look at fare class? Or is just a case of weeding out anyone how might ruin the 'ambience', i.e someone travelling with an infant.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Swanhunter:
So how does the customer profiling work? Does this look at fare class? Or is just a case of weeding out anyone how might ruin the 'ambience', i.e someone travelling with an infant.</font>

it doesnt not depend on fare class.

i think it is basically a sorting according to status, checked-in or not, for confirmed upgrades. therefore, if a GOld got an upgrade 12 hours before checkin, an upgrade shuold have already been reserved for a Diamond who had not checked in. withing the same tier (e.g. both Gold), then it may depend on check in order.